NB Power Launches Charging Station Network for Electric Cars
MONCTON – NB Power announced its full eCharge Network Friday, a day after unveiling the first of seven charging stations for electric cars at Irving Oil locations across the province.
The network will give electric-vehicle (EV) drivers access to charging stations at 15 locations along the province’s highways where both fast-chargers and level-2 chargers will be available by the end of 2017. This is in addition to the nine level-2 chargers already set up at participating municipalities and businesses throughout the province.
“We are incredibly proud to offer our customers and visitors to New Brunswick convenient charging with the launch of our eCharge Network,” said Gaëtan Thomas, president and CEO of NB Power, in a release.
“Our goal is to make it easy for owners of electric vehicles to drive wherever they choose in New Brunswick, and to encourage more drivers to consider an electric vehicle for their next purchase.”
RELATED: NB Power, Irving Oil Unveil First Station for Charging Electric Cars
At Thursday’s launch in Fredericton, driver Tom McLean talked about why charging stations situated along the highway is a step forward for EV users looking to travel greater distances.
“When you’re travelling, that’s when these become really important,” said McLean. “Our car has a 100 to 140-kilometre range so getting to Moncton is really tough. Getting to Saint John is quite doable. With the network of chargers they’re putting in place here, now I can zip over to Moncton, I can zip over to Woodstock.”
In addition to the fast-charging stations at Irving Oil locations announced yesterday, other stations being installed along the Trans-Canada Highway, including ones at the Edmundston Truck Stop, Johnson Guardian in Perth-Andover and Petro-Canada in Prince William.
NB Power will also install charging stations at five locations throughout northern New Brunswick: Saint-Quentin/Kedgwick, Campbellton, Bathurst, Tracadie, and Miramichi.
EV drivers can become members of the eCharge Network, load credits to their account and find charging stations on the network website.