EV charging network reaches the Hat

By COLLIN GALLANT on January 9, 2020.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

An effort by municipalities to create a network of electric vehicle charging stations in southern Alberta reached Medicine Hat on Wednesday.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the “Peaks to Prairies” charging network that will be fully operation at 20 locations this spring.

Medicine Hat is the easternmost point on the network, which was supported by municipalities and agencies across the south of the province and will be operated by Atco.

Asanga Gunatillaka, Atco senior director of corporate development, helped cut the ribbon and says his company is dedicated to providing certainty for travellers and supporting an emerging industry.

“If you’re like me and have family in Saskatchewan, Medicine Hat is a very important stop,” said Gunatillaka, who is based in Calgary and drives an electric-powered vehicle.

“Medicine Hat is well-placed to take advantage of this revolution in transportation.”

The station opens three years after the City of Medicine Hat’s utility department and Medicine Hat College joined onto the regional effort that now has 16 stations out of 20 proposed locations in operation.

Those are mostly in the area south of Calgary, but also Taber, Warner, Lethbridge, Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek and the Crowsnest Pass on Highway 3, as well as Waterton Lakes.

It opens up the far south of Alberta to travellers from Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Montana, as well as drivers from central Alberta, according to Peaks to Prairies communications director Jen Grebeldinger

She says the sector is still growing and the more options for fuelling vehicles, the better.

At least three charging stations in private businesses and automotive dealers have operated for years or more, and this month, Petro Canada announced that its nationwide network of charging stations, including on in the Box Springs Business Park in Medicine Hat, was fully operational.

College and city officials attended the opening, including utility committee chair Coun. Phil Turnbull.

“We are on the Trans-Canada Highway and we want people to be able to stop and have all the services that they need,” said Turnbull. The City of Medicine Hat contributed $15,000 toward the effort. Funding for the $2-million effort was provided by the partners, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and a $1.2-million grant from the Alberta Environment Climate Leadership fund in early 2019.

According to officials, a typical user will acquire enough power to travel 300 kilometres in about one-half hour of fast-charging service, which costs $20 per hour.

Four hours of Level Two charging at $2 per hour would provide a similar range for most vehicles.

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