COQUITLAM, B.C., April 24, 2024 – Following a successful pilot program, Coquitlam will continue to support an electric vehicle-charging network with the introduction of a small fee for Level 1 chargers in City Centre.
Coquitlam’s six Level 1 EV-charging stations serve up to six vehicles at two different locations:
- three units within the City Hall visitor parkade (3000 Guildford Way - opposite existing Level 2 chargers), and
- three at the Coquitlam City Centre Public Library (1169 Pinetree Way - off the initial driving aisle).
During the pilot program, the City observed EV-charging station usage and is now introducing a small hourly fee that is revenue-neutral in order to cover the costs of electricity and maintenance:
- $1 per usage for two-hour period
- $2 per usage for over two hours
Level 1 Chargers
Level 1 chargers are intended for long-duration (four or more hours) or overnight charging.
At the City Centre Public Library location, users can charge their vehicle up to four hours, in line with the current parking restrictions. There is no overnight parking allowed.
At City Hall, the visitor portion of the parkade is open 24 hours, allowing for overnight charging. Enforcement of the standard two-hour parking restriction is in place between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Level 1 EV chargers are particularly useful as a way to support neighbouring residential buildings where existing stratas do not have chargers. EV charging infrastructure has been required for all new multi-family developments in Coquitlam since 2018.
EV Charging in Coquitlam
Coquitlam installed its first set of Level 2 ports (higher-rate AC charging through 240V or 208V electrical service - 30 km of range per hour charged) through Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program in spring 2020. More followed in 2021. The current total number of City-owned, user-pay, Level 2 electric vehicle locations to eleven (serving 23 parking stalls).
To support EV use in the community, the City has posted information and a map of charging stations at coquitlam.ca/EVCharging. All of the City’s public EV Charging stations are also on the Plugshare website.
Corporate Actions to Reduce GHG Emissions
Coquitlam’s Climate Adaptation Strategic Plan augments more than a decade of City climate action, including signing their Climate Action Charter in 2007. The City has steadily worked towards achieving the goals both corporately and community-wide, and through the Environmental Sustainability Plan, has set new targets for corporate and community GHG emissions reduction including:
- Reducing GHG emissions by 45% of 2007 levels by 2030
- Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050
Our Environmental Sustanability Plan, Strategic Plan, Climate Action Plan and Strategic Transportation Plan support this work, and here are some actions Coquitlam is taking around sustainable transportation:
- Requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new multi-family developments
- Building more sidewalks to ensure walkability
- Expanding car-sharing options through partnerships with service providers
- Traffic signal coordination
- Planning for transit service expansion
- Supporting both electric vehicle and e-micromobility adoption to increase transportation choices
- Reducing reliance on private vehicles and encouraging shared use through a shared micromobility pilot in support of a new E-Mobility Strategy (in development as part of the Strategic Transportation Plan update)
Media contact:
Douglas McLeod
Director, Transportation
Engineering & Public Works
epw@coquitlam.ca
604-927-3500
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.