en.Wedoany.com Reported - BC Hydro has launched an electric vehicle (EV) fast charging hub at the Richmond campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), capable of charging 13 EVs simultaneously.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions for British Columbia, stated that the new Richmond charging hub serves as a model for charging infrastructure development across the province. According to plans by the provincial government and BC Hydro, the public charging network will expand to 3,500 charging ports by 2035, making electric transportation more accessible to residents throughout British Columbia through investments in larger, faster, and more reliable charging hubs. Located at 8771 Lansdowne Road on the KPU Richmond campus, the site features four 180-kilowatt chargers, capable of adding 180 kilometers of range to an average EV in approximately 10 minutes.
Kelly Greene, MLA for Richmond-Steveston, noted that these fast chargers are an excellent addition to the KPU Richmond campus, and that through diverse charging options, the hub will make driving and charging EVs easier and more convenient for Richmond residents. The chargers utilize power-sharing technology, with each unit capable of serving two vehicles simultaneously. For example, a 180-kilowatt charger can provide 90 kilowatts to each of two vehicles, allowing up to eight EVs to charge at once using the four chargers. Additionally, there are five Level 2 chargers. The site is equipped with multiple connector configurations, including CCS, NACS, CHAdeMO, and J1772, to accommodate different EVs.
Approximately 240,000 EVs are currently on the road in British Columbia. The new Richmond hub supports BC Hydro's recently announced plan to more than triple its public charging network to 3,500 ports by 2035 through a $700 million CAD investment in new charging hubs, faster technology, and enhanced customer service. BC Hydro is prioritizing the construction of larger charging stations in urban centers and along major transportation corridors to improve reliability and reduce wait times.
Charlotte Mitha, President and CEO of BC Hydro, stated that the company is committed to ensuring EV drivers receive reliable and convenient charging services while continuously strengthening the provincial power grid and expanding the public charging network. BC Hydro continues to make progress in expanding the province's charging network. Over the past two years, its public charging network has grown fivefold, adding more than 700 charging ports. In July 2026, BC Hydro announced plans to more than triple its public charging network by 2035 through a $700 million CAD investment in larger charging hubs and faster charging technology. More than 40 hubs, each equipped with 8 to 22 charging ports, are now open in every region of the province. BC Hydro has deployed new 400-kilowatt and 350-kilowatt chargers at some locations, providing up to 100 kilometers of range in just a few minutes. By installing fast chargers approximately every 150 kilometers along major routes, the BC government completed the Electric Highway in September 2024. BC Hydro owns and operates 85% of the 155 charging stations on this highway. In 2026, the network received the ChargeHub Award and the Chartwell Best Practice Gold Award in recognition of its excellence in EV charging and customer experience. BC Hydro operates the largest fast-charging EV network in British Columbia, offering all connector types: CCS, NACS, and CHAdeMO.
BC Hydro's current public charging network across the province includes 917 charging ports at 190 sites, covering multiple communities in BC. These chargers are funded through a partnership between the BC government and Natural Resources Canada.
