B.C. to triple public EV charging network to 3,500 ports by 2035

BC Hydro EV Charging Expansion will triple B.C.'s public charging network to 3,500 ports by 2035, adding fast chargers, 200-kW standard and 400-kW hubs, plug-and-charge, tap-to-pay, and improved reliability across highways and urban centres.

British Columbia will scale up public electric-vehicle infrastructure with a plan to deploy 3,500 charging ports by 2035, more than tripling today’s network and strengthening the role of the provincial utility as a core public charging provider. The move underscores a bc electric push toward transportation electrification and aims to deliver faster, more convenient service for drivers across the province.

New charging hubs are slated for communities throughout B.C., including major highway corridors and high-demand urban areas, with larger sites positioned to ease peak-period queuing. The expansion emphasizes reliability and consistency, aligning with the performance focus described in bc rolls out faster charging, while building out capacity where drivers need it most.

The network will standardize next-generation fast charging: 200-kilowatt units will become the baseline across new sites, with 400-kilowatt ultra-fast chargers added at select high-demand locations. Customer features will include plug-and-charge capability and tap-to-pay, supported by site designs that simplify operations and improve accessibility. These design principles echo prior lessons from bchydro expands ev charging stations, helping streamline buildouts and enhance the user experience across the province.

In addition to faster hardware, the build program calls for standardized layouts that improve the charging experience and support efficient maintenance. Select signature and showcase locations will introduce enhanced amenities, such as on-site washrooms, canopies and digital signage, to deliver a more consistent and dependable stop for long-distance and local trips alike. The initiative builds on the provincewide backbone created by B.C.’s Electric Highway, a corridor network with fast chargers spaced at roughly 150 kilometres, as profiled in bc electric highway, which will be complemented by higher-power hubs and expanded coverage.

The public fast-charging network operated by the provincial utility currently includes 917 charging ports at 190 locations, and the larger provincial total surpasses 8,900 public charging ports when Level 2 is included, reflecting strong EV adoption in recent years. To accelerate availability in underserved areas, applications are open under the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program, which will invest approximately $18 million with a focus on Indigenous, rural and northern communities, as well as high-demand zones where drivers face long waits. For readers tracking consumer-side measures alongside infrastructure, related coverage such as bc ev rebates provides additional context on market uptake alongside the buildout.

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