Grey County’s Committee of the Whole is supporting creating a $9,500 grant to assist with bringing more electric vehicle chargers to the region.
During a council meeting on Sept. 22, a report was brought forward by Manger of Climate Change Initiatives Linda Swanston. It recommended the county create a grant to help the County of Dufferin retain a facilitator for the implementation of the Regional Electric Vehicle Charging Network.
The report says in partnering with Bruce, Dufferin, Huron, Perth and Wellington, the city of Guelph, and the Nuclear Innovation Institute, they were able to develop the Regional EV Charging Network Strategy. The strategy came based for a need of 17 level three DC fast chargers across the area.
Staff are proposing to continue their partnership and start the implementation phase, where partners would retain a facilitator to advance the electric vehicle charger project, and each contribute up to $9,578.
The facilitator would work with the municipalities to finalize the EV charger locations before a request for proposal (RFP) is issued.
This method allows Grey County to assist the tourism industry by bringing electric vehicle drivers to the area, without covering the installation costs of upwards to $150,000 per level three charger and ongoing maintenance costs by themselves.
While there are three different versions of EV chargers, the strategy is geared towards level three, which can provide an 80 per cent charge within an hour for most vehicles. It also identifies locations for supporting level two chargers, which are able to reach 80 per cent within eight hours.
The report says be continuing the partnership for the implementation phase of the strategy, Dufferin will provide the retention of a facilitator to issue an RFP for the EV chargers.
The report says currently there are a number of level three chargers across the partnership area, including in Owen Sound, South Huron, and Goderich.
“This is really about filling those gaps and alleviating range anxiety across the area,” says Swanston.
Swanston adds the strategy is looking to add more charging areas across the region including in Durham, Flesherton and Thornbury.
“This is not to say level three chargers could not or should not or will not be installed in other municipalities, but in terms of an initial phase of installation, these were the locations identified that would best alleviate range anxiety and really create a comprehensive study network across the area,” says Swanston.
The county’s $9,500 portion will be funded through the approved 2022 climate action implementation budget.