Vancouver City Council has approved requirements to expand access to electric vehicle (EV) charging in non-residential buildings.

The new regulations require EV charging infrastructure in 45 per cent of parking stalls in most types of new non-residential buildings, 100 per cent of new car-share stalls, and all stalls in new hotels. The regulations take effect on June 1, 2022.

The bylaw supports the city’s Climate Emergency Action Plan goal that by 2030, 50 per cent of all kilometres driven on Vancouver’s roads will be by zero emissions vehicles.

According to the city council, these changes will have minimal increases in new construction costs, while significantly reducing or eliminating future costs of retrofitting for EV chargers in these buildings. Burning fossil fuels in vehicles is responsible for nearly 40 per cent of the carbon pollution in Vancouver.

The city is working to support the growing number of EVs by ensuring charging infrastructure is available now and in the years to come as mass adoption will continue to match the new federal mandate that 100 per cent of vehicle sales are zero-emissions by 2035 to meet Canada’s national net-zero targets.

These new requirements build on a decade of work to expand EV charging, and complement existing policies that require EV-ready stalls in new residential construction, ongoing efforts to expand the public charging network, and retrofits in multi-family rental buildings to provide Vancouver residents and visitors with more convenient access to charging points.

To continue to support accessible charging for those that need it most, the city is further expanding the public charging network with a focus on neighbourhoods with less access to home charging.