Expanding the Electric Vehicle Charging Network in Newfoundland and Labrador

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2022

Expanding the Electric Vehicle Charging Network in Newfoundland and Labrador

St. John’s, NL – Today, Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro unveiled the first site of the takeCHARGE Electric Vehicle Charging Network. The Paradise Town Hall is the first of 19 new charging sites to be completed in 2022. Each site will have a fast charger that can provide up to 100 km of range in 20 minutes and a level 2 charger that can provide up to 30 km in one hour. In total 38 new chargers will be added across the province.

“The interest in electric vehicles is steadily growing in our province. By expanding the provincial EV charging network, we are helping to eliminate the range barrier to owning an EV in Newfoundland and Labrador. Placing these chargers in strategic locations will make it easier for customers to choose an EV, knowing that they can drive anywhere in the province and be able to stop for a charge.”

Gary Murray
President and CEO, Newfoundland Power

The takeCHARGE Electric Vehicle Charging Network will help increase EV adoption by ensuring that drivers can go everywhere and do everything they normally would in a traditional fuel-powered vehicle. While the majority of EV charging happens at home, access to public charging is required to ensure that driving an EV is feasible in Newfoundland and Labrador. These new chargers will further develop the availability of charging province-wide as we expand into communities such as Bonavista, St. Mary’s, Lewisporte, St. Anthony and Labrador City.

“Newfoundland and Labrador is a great place to drive electric – over 80% of the electricity used here every day is generated from our province’s clean, renewable energy sources. Making the switch to an electric vehicle supports a sustainable future for our province and, when adopted broadly, contributes to reduced costs for all electricity customers.”

Jennifer Williams
President & CEO, Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro

This project was made possible with the support of Natural Resources Canada. Over $1-million in federal funding was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative (EVAFIDI) and Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP).

The Honorable Ken McDonald ceremoniously plugged into the first charger today at the Paradise Town Hall to celebrate the launch of the takeCHARGE Electric Vehicle Charging Network.

“We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible where Canadians live, work and play. Investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced today in Newfoundland and Labrador, will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Natural Resources

“As our province changes and grows, so does the need for us to take our transportation to the next level. More and more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are choosing to go hybrid or electric in the new vehicle purchases. Our government is there to make that choice more affordable and realistic. These new fast charging stations are critical pieces of infrastructure that will make owning and driving an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle so much easier. Whether it’s busy parents on-the-go, tourists or companies with modernized fleets, EV chargers like these in the Town of Paradise will attract more people to this beautiful town.”

Ken McDonald
Member of Parliament for Avalon

“The Town of Paradise was pleased to be selected as a site for a takeCHARGE Electric Vehicle Charging Station. As one of the fastest growing municipalities in the province, this charging station is a great fit with the demographic of our residents and directly supports our environmental goals under the Town’s strategic plan, Your Paradise – Plan 2022. With the expected growth in electric vehicles, it is critically important that residents and visitors have access to charging and stations, and the Town of Paradise is pleased to be part of this vital provincial network.”

Dan Bobbett, Mayor
Town of Paradise

Installation of the EV chargers is ongoing, with many now available and more to come this summer. Further details on the takeCHARGE Electric Vehicle Charging Network can be found here.

A joint initiative between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Newfoundland Power, takeCHARGE combines the expertise and customer reach of Newfoundland and Labrador’s two electricity utilities. We work together to bring energy efficiency awareness and savings to the residents of this province. Your utilities are here to provide a service — a reliable source of energy to run your homes and businesses. To us, that also means helping you use energy wisely through takeCHARGE, from light bulbs to thermostats to electric vehicles. For energy efficiency tips and information on rebate programs, visit TakeChargeNL.ca today!

Newfoundland Power is the primary distributer of electricity on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador. With a customer base of approximately 273,000 accounts, Newfoundland Power is committed to safety, dedicated to the highest level of customer service and focused on delivering reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost. For more information on Newfoundland Power’s programs, services and community partnerships, please visit newfoundlandpower.com.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) is the people’s Crown utility – providing safe, cost-effective, reliable electricity that our customers can count on. We have both regulated and unregulated operations across the province with major power generation assets in Churchill Falls, Muskrat Falls, Bay d’Espoir and Holyrood. Our provincial transmission system spans thousands of kilometers, and now connects the island of Newfoundland to Labrador. We power our families, friends, and neighbours in 200+ communities across the province, and approximately 80 per cent of our provincial energy comes from clean hydroelectric generation.