The electric vehicle charging station network will be expanded into provincial parks and attractions.
Starting during this year's tourism season, 12 new standard level-2 charging stations will be available at the following locations:
- Mactaquac Provincial Park;
- Parlee Beach Provincial Park;
- De la République Provincial Park;
- New River Beach Provincial Park;
- Hopewell Rocks; and
- Village Historique Acadien.
"NB Power is very pleased to work with the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture to provide the owners of electric vehicles the option of recharging at provincial parks," said Gaëtan Thomas, president and CEO of NB Power. "It is a perfect fit to offer environmentally-friendly electric vehicle charging stations to provincial park visitors who are exploring the great outdoors of our beautiful province."
Since 95 per cent of the province's tourists visit by road, adopting new industry technology is seen as an important step in facilitating travel.
NB Power's eCharge network currently has 31 standard level-2 charging stations and 18 fast-charging stations. New Brunswick is the first fully connected province with a fast charging network for electric vehicles. The province is the fastest growing electric vehicle market in the country with a 124 per cent year-over-year increase.
"Installing charging stations at our provincial parks and attractions ensures our government is meeting the increase in demand for cleaner transportation methods for our tourists and residents, as well as supporting private and public sector efforts towards building a clean economy," said Environment and Local Government Minister Andrew Harvey.
Harvey spoke on behalf of Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister John Ames.
The owners of electric vehicles shrink their vehicle carbon emissions by about 80 per cent when they charge up in New Brunswick.
NB Power's eCharge Network aims to enable drivers of electric vehicles to travel around New Brunswick. Drivers of electric vehicle may sign up to the eCharge Network online and download the eCharge Network app for iOS and Android to locate charging stations, add credits to their account and access charging stations. The eCharge Network is interoperable with the Electric Circuit in Quebec and the FLO network's thousands of stations throughout Canada.
Quick facts
- There are currently 31 standard level-2 eCharge Network stations available for use in New Brunswick. It takes several hours to recharge completely at a standard level-2 charging station.
- The eCharge Network currently offers 18 fast-charging stations available for use in the following locations: Edmundston, Saint-André, Perth-Andover, Woodstock, Prince William, Waasis, Youngs Cove, Salisbury, Moncton, Aulac, Saint-Quentin, Eel River Bar, Bathurst, Tracadie, Miramichi, Doaktown, Richibucto, and Lepreau.
- Both plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles can charge at a 120-volt outlet or standard level-2 charging stations (240 volt).
- An all-electric vehicle can recharge up to 80 per cent in as little as about 30 minutes at a fast charging (level 3 / 400 volt) station.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Sheila Lagacé, communications, NB Power, 506-458-4375, slagace@nbpower.com.
Barbara Day, communications, Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, 506-444-5185, barbara.day@gnb.ca.
