Electric Vehicles (EVs)

By 2040, all new cars and trucks will be zero emissions in BC.

To support the shift to renewably powered transportation, we're improving and expanding our public EV charging network, implementing policy to support home charging, increasing the number of EVs in our fleet, and working with business and other levels of government to make switching to an EV as easy as possible.

Supporting our goals

How we get around the city will play an important role in how we fight climate change and reduce carbon pollution, we know that we need safe and convenient active transportation, improved transit, and zero emissions vehicles to achieve this.

This aligns with one of our Climate Emergency goals: By 2030, 50% of the kilometers driven on Vancouver's roads will be by zero emissions vehicles.

Tackling emissions related to transportation, which make up nearly 40% of the city's total carbon pollution.

Vancouver declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, and in 2020 approved the Climate Emergency Action Plan. Accelerated actions to support this goal will focus on:

Accelerating the expansion of the public EV charging network
Adding incentives to accelerate the transition to EVs

Charging at home

The most common place to charge an EV is at home, and it’s often the least expensive. In Vancouver, any people can charge enough for their daily drive on a wall outlet, also known as Level 1 charging, in 4 hours or less, which works great while your EV is parked overnight. If you have access to a Level 2 charger, 45 minutes is all it takes on average.

To help Vancouverites access home charging as easily as possible, the City has required growing amounts of EV infrastructure as part of new residential construction since 2011. As of January 1, 2019, all new development permit applications require that 100% of residential parking stalls, except visitor stalls, must be EV-ready.

Read the reports:

The technical details of our EV-readiness requirements are detailed in the Electric Vehicle charging for buildings bulletin (214 KB).

We estimate that our requirements create over 9,000 new residential charging circuits each year. But, if your home parking stall doesn’t have a place to charge, you do have options.

Electric vehicle cord cover licence

We have added licensing of extension cord covers to charge electric vehicles in front of your home, making it easier for those without access to an off-street parking stall or without the ability to install charging infrastructure. Learn more about the cord cover licence.

Retrofitting

The City does not require any EV-specific permits for retrofitting homes, but you must have a valid electrical permit and have your work done by a qualified professional.

If you live in a strata or are part of a strata council looking for more information on adding EV charging to your parking area, our partners at Metro Vancouver operate evcondo.ca , which provides information on technical, legal, and financial resources to make the process easier.

The Province of BC and the Government of Canada offer rebates for home charging upgrades. Find out more about home charging and other incentive programs at pluginbc.ca .

Beginning in spring 2021, the City will be providing a top-up incentive program to qualifying multi-unit rental buildings.

Charging in public

For residents without access to home or workplace charging, or for visitors to Vancouver, we support a growing public charging network of DC Fast Charging and Level 2 charging stations. A wide variety of private businesses and other organizations also provide charging around the city.

By late 2021, a DC Fast Charging hub will be located within a 10-minute drive of most parts of Vancouver.

Find an EV charging station near you or your destination with online maps and mobile apps such as Plugshare or Chargehub .

Map legend

Level 2 Charging Stations (7kW): Blue
DC Fast Charging Stations: Pink
Dedicated parking for zero emissions vehicles: Orange

Fees at charging stations

Fees are designed to promote turn-over and ensure that plugs are available to those who need them. Prices are kept as low as possible to support access and promote sharing.
We charge a time-based user fee at most charging points on City properties. Fees are blended with parking rates at on-street locations. Off-street locations require payment both at the charging station and at the parking meter.

Rates are adjusted at each location over time. Since their introduction in 2017, fees at many locations have been reduced, although some have been increased at the highest demand locations. Current rates are listed on each charging station.

Starting rates for new EV charging stations are as follows:
- Level 2: $2 per hour, plus any applicable parking fee
- DC Fast Charger: $0.26 per minute, plus any applicable parking fee
- Expanding charging access in residences
User fees for City owned and operated public electric vehicle charging stations (264 KB)

ZEV decal benefits

The Province of BC administers a decal program for zero emission vehicles. Electric vehicles displaying an official decal are provided with benefits province-wide, with additional benefits offered in Vancouver.

Dedicated parking

We've partnered with EasyPark to offer dedicated zero emission vehicle parking stalls in 18 EasyPark lots. That’s 10% of all parking stalls in these lots, or 174 stalls.

These dedicated parking stalls will be available for zero emissions vehicles only, and will be in addition to over 300 electric charging stations that are in parking lots and on curbsides around the city. By reserving 10% of stalls for zero emissions vehicles, Vancouver is adding to the incentives offered by the provincial governments Clean Energy Vehicle program .
HOV lanes

Past updates and documents
The Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Strategy was approved on November 16, 2016, and aims to create flexible options for charging vehicles which is integral to achieving our goal of 100% renewably powered transportation before 2050.
- EV Ecosystem Strategy presentation to Council (3.4 MB)
- EV Ecosystem Strategy administrative report (3 MB)

Condos, townhomes, and apartments

Visit evcondo.ca for information on setting up EV charging in stratified buildings.

You can also search their registry to find an EV-friendly strata building.

Contact us

electric_vehicles
@vancouver.ca

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Supporting our goals