Fees part of larger strategy to support EV adoption and increase turnover at charging stations
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is introducing charging fees to all EV stations in the Day Lots effective Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
Fees have been set at $1 an hour with a maximum cost of $5 per day. These fees will be charged in addition to regular parking fees at the Day Lots. Rates at other RMOW-operated EV stations in Whistler will remain at $1 per hour.
“This is an important step in broader EV adoption in the community and beyond”, said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton. “As more people turn to EVs, we need to ensure our community is ready to meet the increased demand for charging stations by always having a station available and ensuring the RMOW is reasonably covering the cost of people using these stations. I look forward to seeing people continue to choose EVs and am hopeful that by 2030 half of all car trips in Whistler will be with EVs.”
The new charging fees at the Day Lots mark the second phase of the RMOW’s Whistler EV Charger User Fee Strategy. In the summer of 2021, rates were introduced to all RMOW-operated EV stations outside the Day Lots. Further changes may be considered based on usage next summer and data collected through the first phases that could be implemented in the summer of 2022.
The move to add fees to RMOW-operated EV stations in Whistler has been carefully considered to support EV adoption while incentivizing home charging, increasing turnover at charging stations, and recovering municipal operating costs. Similar fees are applied to EV stations in other communities in the Lower Mainland and beyond.
The RMOW has an overarching goal to decarbonize passenger and commercial transportation, through the Whistler Climate Action Big Moves Strategy. By 2030, the intent is that 50 per cent of all vehicle kilometres travelled in Whistler will be by zero-emission vehicles. In other words, half of all cars on the road in nine years in Whistler should be EVs.
Currently the RMOW operates 19 Level 2 vehicle charging stations at the Day Lots, Whistler Conference Centre, Municipal Hall, Meadow Park Sports Centre and Public Works Yard.
The RMOW is exploring installing additional chargers throughout the community and has submitted a grant application to the CleanBC Communities Fund to fund 73.3 per cent of a proposed Sea to Sky EV Network Expansion Project.
In addition, the RMOW is working with the Community Energy Association to develop an electric vehicle strategy for Whistler, which is being made possible through funding by the Emotive Clean Transportation Targets and Planning Pilot Program, funded by the Province of BC and administered by PlugIn BC. The goal of this strategy is to identify key actions that the RMOW can take towards achieving the Big Move goal of increasing vehicle kilometres travelled through zero-emission vehicles. The strategy is anticipated to be ready to share with the public this spring.
Questions or comments about EV charging fees can be sent to climatechange@whistler.ca.
