WELLINGTON COUNTY – A regional electric vehicle charging strategy does not recommend adding more fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Wellington County for the time being.
It does however list locations in Erin and Drayton as priority spots for banks of slower EV charging stations.
The County of Wellington partnered with the City of Guelph and the counties of Perth, Dufferin, Huron, Bruce and Grey to develop a regional EV charging network strategy so EV users can effectively travel through the region.
Currently, the region has 22 fast EV charging stations, called Level 3 chargers intended to be used at quick stops, and 145 slower charging stations, called Level 2 chargers meant for those parking a while and visiting a locale, available for public use.
Karen Chisholme, climate change and sustainability manager for the County of Wellington, explained a resulting report does not recommend any new Level 3 chargers although ones recommended in neighbouring municipalities benefit travel in Wellington County as well.
“You can see the pathways, those travel routes are increased in Wellington County with our neighbours installing the Level 3 chargers,” Chisholme said.
“We have more people able to travel across Wellington County, even if they’re not using our chargers, and explore what Wellington has to offer.”
The Drayton municipal parking lot and the site of the future Erin Library are noted as priority locations for Level 2 chargers in the report because of the “opportunity of the EV driver to participate in nature appreciation be it through close access to trails, natural spaces, parks, etc.”
Chisholme said the partnering municipalities are focused on the Level 3 charging network as they prepare to apply for federal funding that has been committed to building EV charging infrastructure.
There’s more to consider with the Level 2 chargers, according to Chisholme, due to them primarily being on local municipal property and uncertainty on who to partner with as a provider.
A new release notes emissions from transportation represent 39 per cent of Wellington County’s total greenhouse gas emissions and this regional strategy is a first step in supporting the community’s transition to EVs. It also noted 67 per cent of those surveyed in the study area said they would consider buying an EV in the next two to five years.
The full strategy can be found here.
