CALGARY, Alberta—Parkland Corp. aims to build one of Western Canada's largest ultra-fast electric vehicle charging networks with the support of NRCan and the British Columbia government, the company announced.
The EV charging network, Dubbed On the RUN, will be located across Parkland’s existing Chevron and ON the RUN retail portfolio between Vancouver Island and Calgary. Since several sites are already up and running, Parkland expects to largely complete its initial 25 charging locations by the end of 2022, and the remaining 25 locations in early 2024.
Each ON the RUN charging location will feature 2-4 charging ports which deliver an up-to-200-kilowatt charge capable of charging most EVs within 20-30 minutes.
The sites are located on highways and in major destinations across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan and into Alberta. They feature an ON the RUN convenience store with upgraded restrooms, and most will have a Triple O's restaurant, Parkland said.
“British Columbia leads the way in North American EV adoption, making the province a natural starting point for our ultra-fast charging network,” said Darren Smart, Parkland's senior vice president of energy transition and corporate development.
"With support from NRCan and the Government of British Columbia, we are doubling the size of our previously announced ultra-fast network, from 25 to 50 locations. Our network will help eliminate range anxiety for EV drivers, and by offering high-quality convenience and food choices, we aim to deliver industry-leading customer amenities and experiences."
NRCan provided a $5 million grant through its Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, and the Government of British Columbia provided more than $1.8 million for the project.
Parkland is an international fuel distributor and retailer with operations in 25 countries, including more than 4,000 retail and commercial locations across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean region.
The NACS Convenience Matters podcast, “Where Do EVs Make the Most Sense?” examines the findings from a Fuels Institute study looking at life-cycle emissions for EVs and fuel-powered vehicles. NACS also has a topics page on electric vehicles.
NACS created an EV Charging Calculator to help retailers assess the cost and profitability of offering EV chargers at their sites. The calculator focuses on what retailer utility costs associated with EV recharging are and what the corresponding revenue must be to recover those costs after allowing for potential ancillary in-store visits and purchase profitability.