Electric Vehicles & Public Charging

Choosing electric vehicle (EV) instead of a gas or diesel powered one has many benefits for the driver, the broader community, and the environment. Charging an EV is cheaper than fueling up at the gas pump, EV’s require less maintenance, and they reduce GHG emissions which contribute to air quality issues and climate change. 
New technology, designs, charging stations, rebates and incentives are quickly making EV’s a more desirable and mainstream option for individuals looking to purchase a vehicle.  It has never been easier than it is right now to make the environmentally responsible choice to go electric! 

Charlottetown’s EV Charging Station Locations




*map is sourced through Charge Hub Map and is not maintained by the City of Charlottetown*

The City of Charlottetown has installed nineteen (19) Level 2 chargers in Charlottetown in the following locations: 

• City Hall (2) - Kent Street, premium - no grace period
  ($3/h Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM, $2/h Evenings and Weekends)
• Charlottetown Library Learning Centre  (2) - Queen Street, premium - no grace period
   ($3/h Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM, $2/h Evenings and Weekends)
• Great George Street (2), premium - no grace period
   ($3/h Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM, $2/h Evenings and Weekends)
• Peakes Quay (2) - CADC Parking Lot ($2/h for first 3 hours, $4/h thereafter)
• Pownal Parkade (2) ($2/h for first 3 hours, $4/h thereafter)
• Fitzroy Parkade (2) ($2/h for first 3 hours, $4/h thereafter)
• Cody Banks Arena (2) - Maple Ave ($1/h for first hour, $2/h thereafter)
• Simmons Arena (2) ($1/h for first hour, $2/h thereafter)
• West Royalty Community Center (2) - Kirkdale Road ($1/h for first hour, $2/h thereafter)
• Hillsborough Community Center (1) - Patterson Drive ($1/h for first hour, $2/h thereafter)


The government of PEI also has chargers installed in Charlottetown, as do private businesses and other institutions located in the City. 

A note on parking violations for the EV public charging station spaces at the following locations - Peakes Quay, Cody Banks Arena, Fitzroy Parkade, Pownal Parkade, Simmons Arena, West Royalty Community Center, and Hillsborough Community Center:

The connector for these chargers are only disengaged if a payment method is presented. Once the vehicle is fully charged a 30 min grace period is given to the user to move their vehicle. If they leave their vehicle connected beyond the grace period to the charger they will automatically start incurring a parking fees for as long as they are connected to the vehicle.

Any car parked in any EV public charging space that is not physically connected to the charger shall be ticketed and treated similar to a handicap parking space violation with a minimum $50.00 fine.

Considering an EV?

The following rebate & loan programs are available for Charlottetown residents: 

  • Provincial Universal EV Incentive - $5,000 for a new or used electric vehicle and a FREE level 2 Charger. No application needed, rebates are applied at point-of-sale for eligible vehicles. 
  • Free vehicle registration at the provincial Department of Motor Vehicles for all EV’s
  • Federal iZEV Program – up to $5,000 in rebates for new vehicles  automatically applied at point-of-sale for eligible vehicles 

Range anxiety? 

Research shows that a big concern Canadian’s have around EV’s is that they will not be able to complete their regular commutes or longer-range trips on a full charge. With advancements in EV and charging technology, and increasingly readily available and conveniently located charging infrastructure there is no need to worry!

Types of Chargers

Level 1: AKA Trickle Chargers can be used by plugging one end into any standard 120V outlet, and the other end directly into the car. They take about 20 hours to provide a charge of 200 kilometers (124 miles) 

Level 2: These are the most common chargers you will find to charge your electric vehicle on PEI. The City has installed a number of these chargers across Charlottetown in 2021. They require a 240V outlet which allows charging 3 to 7 times faster than a Level 1 depending on the electric car and the charger. 

Level 3: AKA Fast Chargers provide a direct current of power directly to the battery. Exact charging times are dependent on a number of factors but many vehicles are capable of getting an 80% charge in about 1 hour with most Level 3 chargers. Not all electric vehicles are compatible with  these chargers. 

City of Charlottetown EV charging

Types of Electric Vehicles

HEV
Hybrid Electric Vehicles are mainly powered by gasoline but they also have a small electric motor assists that assists the internal combustion engine (ICE). Under light load (ie. during initial acceleration) only electricity is consumed. The battery replenishes itself via energy generated by the ICE as well as regenerative braking. 

PHEV
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, this type of EV is powered by both gasoline and electricity. Compared to a standard hybrid PHEV’s may be plugged into an outlet or charging station to recharge the on-board battery. In addition, they possesses the ability to run solely on battery power alone, as well as just gas or a combination of both. 

BEV
Battery Electric Vehicles do not have an internal combustion engine and are powered exclusively by electricity. These typical EV’s vehicles are rapidly becoming a mainstream option for individuals looking to purchase a vehicle. Initial purchase costs are similar with the cost of new gas-powered vehicles but they are cheaper to maintain and to ‘fill up’.  They can be charged up with Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 chargers and some models boast a driving range up to 500KM on a full charge thanks to larger and higher capacity battery packs.

FCEV
The new kid on the block, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles run on compressed liquid hydrogen. When hydrogen is combined with air inside the fuel cell stack, the reaction powers an installed electric motor to drive the wheels. Similar to a BEV they are quiet, produce no emissions but the tank can be refilled in just a few minutes. 

ELECTRIC BIKE 
AKA e-bikes are bicycles with a battery-powered “assist” that comes via pedaling and, in some cases, a throttle. When you push the pedals on a pedal-assist e-bike, a small electric motor engages and gives you a boost, so you can zip up hills and cruise over tough terrain without gassing yourself.

There are no bad EVs, only multiple types best suited for different purposes and preferences!