Dear Editor:
Re: District Debates Charging Stations, July 4.
As a second generation adapter of electric vehicle technology, I can say that one of the main factors in our family's decision to go with a fully electric vehicle was the number of available charging stations on the North Shore and the City of Vancouver.
Because of the forward thinking efforts by the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, the City of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, the local shopping malls and Metro Vancouver, we have found it incredibly easy and convenient to charge near most places we wish to visit on the North Shore. Where there is a void in this charging network is in the District of North Vancouver. The article cites the district's charging station (located at the District Hall) as being used only 35 times in one year. This makes perfect sense as there is really no reason to go to the hall unless you have business there or are paying your taxes. It is not close to shopping, coffee shops or recreational facilities that would make someone want to charge there for any length of time. Placing charging units in heavily frequented areas like Edgemont Village, Deep Cove or any of the many district parks would surely see higher usage. Should the District of North Vancouver councillors wish to test this theory, they should contact their colleagues in charge of the community centres in West Vancouver to see how many visits their chargers have had in the same period of time.
As to the argument that the technology is always changing and today's charging units will be outdated in the years to come, I would say that the same argument can be made for any infrastructure project, be it sewage lines or street lights. Things change, but the core requirement of electric vehicle chargers is simple; an electrical source. Swapping out the plugs or heads is the least costly portion of a charger install once a power source is established.
Finally, there are the district councillors who worry about what the cost would be to developers who may be required to install these in their new builds. To them I would kindly suggest that they dedicate their efforts to serving the citizens of the region by helping them shift off fossil fuels, rather than concerning themselves with the profit margins of property developers.
Cory Kinney
North Vancouver
