Those driving – or interested in buying – electric vehicles now have more options to charge up in Aurora.
Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MP Leah Taylor Roy was joined by Mayor Tom Mrakas and Michael Kitchen of Ivy Charging Networks at Town Park to unveil one of nine dual head chargers bound for Aurora.
The new fleet of chargers is part of 63 level 2 electric vehicle chargers that will be available in Ontario municipalities, including Newmarket, thanks in part to a federal investment of $315,000 to the Ontario Charging Network.
“It is an exciting day in Aurora for all of us who drive electric vehicles (EV) to expand the network of charging stations that we have and we’re trying to make it easier for Ontario drivers to purchase and to drive electric vehicle,” said MP Taylor Roy.
The Ontario Charging Network is a joint venture between Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation.
The new set of chargers brings Aurora’s total to 32 and will allow 18 vehicles to charge at any given time, said Mayor Mrakas.
“Addressing climate change has been a top priority for Aurora and town council,” he said. “One of Aurora’s major carbon dioxide emitters is the transportation sector making up 37 per cent total emissions in 2018. By increasing the number of charging stations in our community and by providing faster charging options we hope to see more people opt in for greener vehicles in the future and a huge reduction in this number.
“Now we all know municipalities play a key role in increasing access to EV infrastructure for the entire community. I am confident that installing charging infrastructure in public places along with mandating EV-ready infrastructure will help accelerate [the goal] of zero net emissions… We can’t do this alone. That is why we’re excited to partner with Ivy in bringing more chargers to town, something that wouldn’t be possible without the funding provided through Enercan Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative to help build the network. Our partnership with Ivy Charging Network is important in helping us achieve our commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 80 per cent by 2050 in Aurora and creating a greener future for all.”
Added Kitchen: “We thank our municipal partners for choosing Ivy to help them bring electric vehicle charging infrastructure to their communities. By expanding our network to offer level 2 chargers, we will ensure that EV drivers today and, in the future, have a trusted network to get them where they need to go.”
For the feds, it’s a chance to increase affordability and accessibility for EVs.
“We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible for Canadians from coast to coast to coast,” said Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson in a statement. “Investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced today in Ontario, will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals.”
Other communities to receive charging stations as part of this funding include Newmarket, Halton Hills, Port Hope, Carleton Place, Orillia, Haliburton County, Algonquin Highlands, Dysart, Highlands East, and Minden Hills.
Brock Weir is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at The Auroran
