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Charge!
Electric vehicle stations installed
Whistler, BC – The Resort Municipality of Whistler
(RMOW) has installed four new electric vehicle charging stations in
the first level of the Whistler Conference Centre underground
parking lot.
"The charging stations are a small step on a much larger journey
toward sustainability; however they demonstrate that Whistler is
continuously willing to explore and support new opportunities for
progressive energy and emissions management," said Mayor Ken
Melamed.
Activated this week, the stations allow electric vehicles to
boost their batteries free of charge before heading to Vancouver
and beyond. It takes about four hours and 50 kilowatt hours of
electricity to charge a typical electric car battery. At six cents
per kilowatt, Dave Patterson, RMOW Manager of Park and Village
Operations, said charging drivers for the power would cost more
than giving it away for free. Each charging station includes two
plugs; one for overnight charges and the other for shorter term
charges.
"I believe these charging stations help us on the road to
sustainability. It's another option to give locals and visitors,"
Patterson said. "We are staying ahead of the curve as more and more
electric vehicles come on the market."
In Whistler, greenhouse gases from passenger vehicles are the
single largest source of emissions across the community,
representing approximately half (46 per cent) of our community's
total emission footprint. Gasoline and diesel consumption represent
one third of emissions from RMOW municipal operations. As of
January 23, underground parking at the Whistler Conference Centre
will be closed to the public and the Vancouver Organizing Committee
for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will have
exclusive use of the lot until April 4, after which the public will
have full access to parking and the charging stations.