Making More Electric Vehicle Chargers Available in Huron County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2021

SPOKESPERSON: Glen McNeil, Warden 519.524.8394 x3224 warden@huroncounty.ca 

Making More Electric Vehicle Chargers Available in Huron County

Huron County, Ontario – The County of Huron, along with the Town of Goderich, Municipality of Huron East, and the Township of North Huron recently received funding through the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), an opportunity offered through Natural Resources Canada, to install electric vehicle chargers in Huron County.

The County of Huron partnered with SparkPark and ChargerCrew, organizations that install and operate electric vehicle chargers, to submit an application in June 2020 for the second round of ZEVIP funding, which focused on installing electric vehicle chargers at workplaces. ChargerCrew offered to lead the ZEVIP application on behalf of the County and local municipalities, and SparkPark is providing the capital to install the chargers, as well as operate and maintain the infrastructure for 10 years.

Huron County will be receiving 14 Level 2 electric vehicle chargers with 26 individual charging ports distributed across various locations within the participating municipalities. While the locations of the chargers were limited by the funding stream, consideration was given to making sure the chargers were placed in ideal locations for public use, including municipal parking lots close to community centres and libraries. Installation of the chargers is expected to begin in late summer or early fall 2021.

“Installing additional electric vehicle chargers in our community is essential to our local infrastructure,” said Huron County Warden Glen McNeil. “Partnerships like these enable us to offer our residents and visitors greener options and means we’re better prepared to meet the challenges of climate change.”

The County of Huron is also partnering with Wellington County to complete a feasibility study to explore the development of a regional electric vehicle charging network that would bridge the gap of charging infrastructure between Highway 401 and the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay area. The opportunity to create a network in this region has been identified as a key opportunity for tourism, economic development, and the acceleration of electric vehicle adoption. The feasibility study would allow municipalities across the region to have a coordinated approach to planning and installing electric vehicle chargers, allowing them to be strategically located to reduce the distance between chargers and to support local tourist destinations. An application for funding to complete the feasibility study is currently underway.

For more information, Contact Lily Morrow, Climate Change and Energy Specialist at lmorrow@huroncounty.ca.

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The County of Huron asks the community to continue respecting all public health guidelines, including performing hand hygiene, practicing physical distancing, wearing masks and staying home if ill. Stay informed on the COVID-19 situation in Huron County by visiting the Huron-Perth Public Health website.