Newmarket will be getting 35 new charging stations for electric vehicles across five planned locations next year.
York Region is receiving $350,000 in federal funding to install 70 level-two chargers for electric vehicles (EV) at 15 locations across the region, including Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Aurora, Richmond Hill and Vaughan.
The new EV chargers are to be installed at facilities owned by the region by December 2021. The locations were selected during a study conducted by regional staff to find places where they would get the most use. Some of the charging stations will be located at:
- York Region Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge St., Newmarket
- Corporate Service building, 45 Harry Walker Parkway. Newmarket
- Newmarket Transit Terminal, 320 Eagle St., Newmarket
- Heritage East, 349 Crowder Blvd., Newmarket
- York Region Administrative Annex, 17150 Yonge St., Newmarket
- York Regional Police Headquarters, Don Hillock Drive, Aurora
- Transportation Services HQ, 90 Bales Dr. East, East Gwillimbury
- Paramedic Services HQ, 80 Bales Dr. East, East Gwillimbury
- York Regional Police Training Centre, 70 Bales Dr., East Gwillimbury
Although they will all be at municipal buildings, the director of strategy and innovation at York Region's environmental services, David Szeptycki, explained that members of the public will be encouraged to use them.
"These chargers will be installed in publicly accessible areas, so they will be available on a first-come-first-served basis," Szeptycki told NewmarketToday.
"Our intention is that members of the public who are conducting business with the region or are shopping at nearby stores can pull up, attach the charger to their vehicle, initiate the paying process that comes with these devices, and charge their vehicles."
The funding unveiled for the new EV chargers on Monday is from the federal government's Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which supports similar projects across the country to build up the required infrastructure to make owning an electric vehicle a practical option.
The overall goal is that all light-duty vehicles sold in Canada will have zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen made the announcement virtually this morning on behalf of the Minister of Natural Resources, saying that the funding is an essential step toward changing how local residents get around.
"Investing in infrastructure that supports these vehicles, like the chargers being talked about here today, is exactly the smart and strategic thinking we need to address climate change,' said Van Bynen.
York Region Council chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson said that this funding would also assist the region's efforts to adopt more green technology. Having more chargers at regional facilities will make converting the municipal vehicle fleet to electric more feasible.
"We are taking steps to integrate hybrid and electric vehicles into our fleet," Emmerson said. "We believe in a strong and clean-energy future for our growing region."
