Rural Communities Seek the Benefits of EVs

In recent years, electric vehicles and charging stations have become increasingly popular, bringing vast benefits to urban communities. When people and businesses in B.C.’s rural Kootenay region saw these benefits, they realized that they were missing out.

A B.C.-based group called the Community Energy Association decided to solve this problem. They worked with several levels of government and utilities to develop a network of charging stations across 1,870 km of rural southeastern B.C. This network not only attracted more tourists but also enabled EV adoption at a pace on par with B.C.’s lower mainland.

The adoption of EVs turned out to be just as important as attracting tourists. It increased energy sovereignty and provided huge potential to save on emissions and fuel costs. Something especially important in rural areas where transportation accounts for two-thirds of local greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to the longer distances residents must travel for work, shopping, and other activities.

The problem stems from the various challenges that rural communities face when looking into integrating EV charging stations. 

• First, it is hard to make a strong business case for EVs because of the low number and density of potential users.
• Second, rural communities are often left out of government funding programs. A recent program installed nearly 34,00 charging ports across Canada, however, only 13% of them were in rural areas.
• Third, the cold winters and hilly topography in rural Canada reduces the range of EVs, requiring more charging stations and resources to keep EVs viable.

Borrum Energy Solutions designs microgeneration wind turbines and towers that can help with the implementation of EV charging stations in rural areas, reducing electrical grid connection and unit cost.