Oshawa downtown now officially electrified

Oshawa’s downtown is now officially electrified with the installation of on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the city core.

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter and Oshawa Power President and CEO Ivan Labricciosa activated the new charging stations Thursday at 100 Simcoe St. S, 45 King St. W, 40 King St. W and 8 Bond St. W.

Access to charging has been a barrier to consumer adoption and now through a collaborative partnership with the City, the Region of Durham, and Natural Resources Canada, driving range and charging access is less of a concern.  This investment in level 2 chargers, said Labricciosa, will make EV charging more accessible to all visiting the downtown.

“Since 2018, Oshawa Power has invested in electrification. We have been planning and advancing the infrastructure to support the growing demands and evolution in the industry, population growth and the clean energy movement. With grid enhancements, planning for fluctuations, research on battery storage needs and how to feed the grid efficiently, Oshawa Power is confident that the system is ready to handle the impacts and needs.”

Promoting use and access to EV charging is critical to electrification and EV adoption in Durham. Currently, Oshawa is the fastest growing community in Canada and is expected to have an increase in EV adoption – recent data shows there are nearly 1,000 registered EVs in Oshawa and growing.

To stimulate use and promote the launch in the community, Oshawa Power is covering the charging costs until September 15. At that point, standard EV rates will apply. Since the chargers have been quietly active, thirty-five (35) sessions have been registered, with an average charge time of 173 minutes.