New legislation will make it easier for strata owners to install EV charging stations

ev

VANCOUVER -

Owning an electric vehicle (EV) will be a little easier for strata property owners, the province says, after announcing changes to legislation to facilitate the installation of charging stations in strata buildings.

On Thursday, the province said it would be making amendments to the Strata Property Act, the legal framework all strata corporations are required to follow.

Three areas will improve access to EV charging stations in strata complexes, the province says, including lowering the voting threshold from 75 per cent to 50 per cent for approval of the costs and changes to the property that are needed to install them, as well as requiring strata corporations to have an electrical planning report to make installation of these stations easier.

The amendments would mean stratas would have to approve owners' requests for such charging stations as long as "reasonable criteria are met."

Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Josie Osborne said people are more likely to buy an electric vehicle if they have the ability to charge it — something that's lacking for many British Columbians living in multi-unit residences. 

"B.C. has one of the largest public electric vehicle charging networks in Canada, but we need to make it easier for more people to charge their EVs at home," Osborne said in a statement.

Tony Gioventu, the executive director of the Condominium Home Owners Association of B.C., said the new legislation strikes a balance between allowing people access to EV charging stations while also ensuring stratas still have control over their properties. 

This is just the latest step in the B.C. government's move to get more EVs on the road: in 2019, the province passed the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, which aims for 10 per cent of all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in B.C. to be zero emission by 2025. By 2040, they'll all need to be emission-free.

Related News

Can the UK grid cope with the extra demand from electric cars?

LONDON - The surge of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads raises a crucial question: can the UK's electricity grid handle the additional demand? While this is a valid concern, it's important to understand the gradual nature of EV adoption, ongoing grid preparations, and innovative solutions being developed.

A Gradual Shift, Not an Overnight Leap

Firstly, let's dispel the myth of an overnight transition. EV adoption will unfold progressively, driven by factors like affordability and the growing availability of used models. The government's ZEV mandate outlines a clear trajectory, with a gradual rise from 22% EV sales in 2024 to 80% by…

READ MORE
wind and solar

Wind, solar, batteries make up 82% of 2023 utility-scale US pipeline

READ MORE

ev-boost

Stiff EPA emission limits to boost US electric vehicle sales

READ MORE

IEA

IEA: Clean energy investment significantly outpaces fossil fuels

READ MORE

gavin newsom

California's Looming Green New Car Wreck

READ MORE