Ten charging stations offering free "gas" for electric cars have been opened up by the City of Richmond in five locations.
In a bid to encourage drivers to switch to an electric vehicle and cut down on GHGs (greenhouse gas emissions), the stations will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will provide free charging of vehicles as part of a promotion.
The new public charging stations are at: Steveston Community Centre; Thompson Community Centre; Cambie Community Centre; Olympic Oval and at city hall. The city has also bought four electric passenger vehicles and an additional charging station is in place at the City Works Yard to charge fleet vehicles.
The $105,000 cost of the new charging stations includes joint funding from the city and up to $48,000 in grant funding through the Fraser Basin Council's Community Charging Station Infrastructure (CCI) Program.
Waterfront infill unlikely
The City of Richmond looks likely to steer clear of infilling a near two-acre site on Steveston's waterfront.
Known as "Lot H," the water-covered wedge in front of the Imperial Landing boardwalk has long since been considered as a future waterfront facility or green space.
But a study, carried out by a marine engineering firm, states that infilling the site with 5,000 truckloads of construction waste would cause too much disruption to the area.
However, city staff have been asked to look into infilling Crown lands in the area instead, which would be less costly and disruptive.
