Oak Bay could soon be home to a swath of new residential electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
At the April 14 council meeting, the district voted to amend its parking facilities bylaw to mandate at least one of the required parking spaces in all new homes zoned R-1 through R-5 be equipped with an energized EV outlet capable of providing a minimum level-two charge.
“This is a minor update that ensures new homes install a 220V circuit at the time of new build, when it's least expensive to install,” said Mayor Kevin Murdoch. “Most new homes are already doing this, but it codifies a best practice.”
He added that the amendment would help meet locals' appetite for EV chargers.
“We've seen a steady rise in EV adoption and there are not enough public chargers to meet charging demand, so this is just a small piece of the puzzle,” said Murdoch.
The amendment was initially proposed at the March 24 council meeting as one of several ways to advance climate action in the district, which includes removing restrictions relating to the siting of heat pumps and changing policy to help homes meet Energy Step Code requirements.
Tom Hackney, a policy advisor with the advocacy network B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, called Oak Bay's move “positive.”
“Providing EV-charging infrastructure in new homes will make it easier for more people to switch from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to zero-emitting electric vehicles,” he said. “Electrifying vehicles is one of the best ways people in Oak Bay can take action on climate change.”
Clean Energy Canada, a climate and clean energy program at Simon Fraser University, expressed a similar sentiment.
“The new requirements will help to ensure that more B.C. residents, regardless of housing situation, have the option of going electric and a place to affordably and conveniently charge at home,” it said, adding that typical B.C. drivers can save between $2,000 and $3,000 per year on fuel and maintenance by ditching gas-powered cars for electic alternatives.
The organization also noted installing EV charging stations in new builds is three to four times cheaper than upgrading existing buildings.
According to the Community Energy Association, a non-profit that helps local governments develop and implement community energy and emissions plans, at least 33 B.C. communities, including many around Greater Victoria, have adopted bylaws requiring EV charging infrastructure in new construction. Oak Bay can now count itself among this group.
“Future-proofing buildings with EV charging infrastructure is a really effective way for municipalities to ensure residents, now and in the future, can buy an EV and gain the related benefits, like lower total cost of vehicle ownership," said the non-profit. "This is particularly important in communities that are growing and where EV ownership is growing, like Vancouver Island."
