Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is expanding access to electric vehicle (EV) chargers through a new partnership with BC Hydro.
Thirteen new EV charging ports have been installed at KPU Richmond, supporting sustainable transportation for students, staff and faculty, as well as the broader Richmond community.
“Reducing carbon emissions associated with commuting is an important part of advancing sustainability at KPU,” says Chani Joseph, Director of Planning, Development and Sustainability. “We have collaborated with BC Hydro for many years through their Commercial Energy Management program and we are thrilled to now be partnering in this new way to enable us to provide more EV charging infrastructure in convenient locations for our university community.”
The new charging hub includes four 180-kilowatt dual port DC fast chargers — which can add up to 100-kilometres of driving range to an average EV in approximately 10 minutes — as well as five Level 2 chargers. In total, the chargers can accommodate up to 13 electric vehicles at any given time.
Located at the north end of KPU Richmond’s R3 parking lot, the chargers can be activated by downloading the BC Hydro EV app or with a RFID card.
This initiative expands on six Level 2 chargers previously installed at the south end of the same parking lot. The new BC Hydro chargers provide considerably faster options for charging, and offer a variety of different connectors that are compatible with all EV types.
Expanding electric vehicle charging stations on campus is a key goal highlighted in the KPU 2050 Official Campus Plan Sustainability Framework. With an overarching goal of having carbon-neutral campuses by 2050, the framework provides a greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy, timeline and targets, as well as a holistic framework for sustainability advancement.
For more information on KPU’s commitment to sustainability, view the university's Sustainability page.
