A car is charged at a charge station for electric vehicles on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
Manitoba Hydro has selected six northern and rural communities for its first electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, marking a key step in developing the province’s only publicly owned EV charging network.
The chargers will be installed along Highway 6 in Lundar, St. Martin (Pinaymootang First Nation), Grand Rapids (Misipawistik Cree Nation), Ponton and Wabowden (both Pimicikamak Cree Nation), and Thompson (Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation).
The project will close a major gap in Manitoba’s current EV infrastructure, which is largely concentrated in the south.
“We’re excited to launch this new EV charging network, which bridges a gap in EV charging coverage and supports the province’s Manitoba Affordable Energy Plan,” said Manitoba Hydro president and CEO Allan Danroth, in a release.
“The initiative builds on our partnerships with First Nations and unlocks new economic and tourism opportunities for northern communities.”
Five of the six sites will feature Level 3 fast chargers capable of fully charging up to four vehicles in 20 to 30 minutes.
Manitoba Hydro will hire a third-party provider to install and operate the network, while retaining ownership of the system. The exact sites within each community are still being finalized, and the network’s first phase is expected to be operational by spring 2027.
