Whereas the increasing adoption of electric vehicle EV ownership has increased the need for accessible public EV charging stations to ensure equitable access for all residents: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to establish and implement province-wide standards for accessible public EV charging stations.
Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions The Province of British Columbia BC is committed to improving access to public electric vehicle EV charging and recognizes that EV drivers of all abilities, including diverse physical abilities, need equitable access to reliable EV charging infrastructure. The Province has implemented accessibility requirements through its programs and is committed to continuously improving accessibility of public charging infrastructure across BC. To support accessible EV charging in BC, the provincial CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program, which provides rebates for direct current fast chargers DCFC, includes accessibility requirements that applicants must meet to qualify for rebates. These requirements align with the best practices for EV charging equipment and site accessibility outlined in BC Hydros EV Fast Charging Design Operational Guidelines last updated 2024, which are based on the United States Access Board Standards for EV charging. These guidelines serve as a resource for the EV charging industry in BC, and the Province encourages all private and public EV charging stations operators to follow them. BC Hydro, a Provincial Crown corporation, operates a growing network of nearly eight hundred EV chargers across one hundred seventy-five sites in BC and is committed to improving accessibility at both existing and new charging stations. Since 2021, BC Hydro has upgraded more than thirty-three existing public fast charging sites to align with its latest design standards.