After reportedly successful testing by a handful of area electric vehicle drivers, the city’s first fast EV charging station became operational this afternoon at Brandon’s Petro Canada location at 100 Highland Avenue.
The Brandon station is one of an under-construction nationwide network of what had been announced to be more than 50 from Halifax to Nanaimo on what the company bills as Canada’s Electric Highway. Chargers on the network are described as Level 3 DC Fast Chargers which on average are able to charge a vehicle in approximately a half hour. Signage on display on-site indicates that patrons may use for one hour at maximum. Charging is said to be free to use for a limited time.
Though officially as of the time of posting the Brandon station is listed as “Coming Soon” on both the Petro Canada website and on EV charger locating service PlugShare, a local EV driver was able to confirm that the opening took place this afternoon and that it packs the expected punch.
A closer look at one of the chargers
According to a page on Petro Canada’s website for its EV Charging network, new locations are opening every week including planned upcoming chargers in the province in Portage la Prairie and Dugald in addition to the new local station.
The difference will be significant for EV drivers passing through the city, with Tesla separately expected to soon open an EV Supercharger at a site in Brandon’s Corral Centre.