Ritchot, Hanover receive funding for EV charging stations

Two RMs in the Southeast have received funding from the province to install electric vehicle charging stations in their municipalities.

“Our government is committed to taking real action to fight climate change and the transition to electric vehicles will help drive down emissions,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes. “As more Manitobans look to make the switch to electric vehicles, there is a growing need to ensure reliable charging infrastructure in strategic locations.”

Ten municipalities received a total of $500,000 in funding for the stations including Ritchot, which received the most funding in the amount of $141,100 for 20 Level II charging stations and three Fast Level II charging stations.

“I think it’s great news for Ritchot. We’ve been very blessed and grateful that the province has continued to give us opportunities including this new funding for electric vehicle chargers,” said Mayor Chris Ewen.

Level ll and Level lll EV chargers differ in charging speed and power delivery. Level ll chargers typically have a power output of 3.3 to 19.2 kW and can take between four to 10 hours to fully charge a vehicle and are best suited for locations where people can charge for longer periods of time, such as at home, workplaces, and public places like malls or parking garages. Fast Level ll chargers (power output of 19.2 kW – 49.9kW) can fully charge a vehicle in two to six hours. These chargers are also suitable for locations where people can charge for longer periods of time, may just need a boost in charge to get their location or have a larger vehicle that needs a charge.

Level lll chargers can have a power output of 50 kW to 350 kW and can provide a full charge within 20 to 60 minutes making these chargers more effective and time saving for long-distance travel and highway stops.

Ritchot’s Level II chargers will charge for free for the first two hours then it’s $2 for every hour of charge. The RM has four Level II charging stations plus the 23 it has received funding for. It also has one Level III charging station which for the first 30 minutes is free then it’s $5 an hour afterwards.

The RM said that the money collected at the stations is to prevent over use by one user and not for revenue.

The goal is to distribute the stations throughout Ritchot at arenas and community centres where people tend to congregate. Ewen said there are EV charging stations in each major town in Ritchot from Ile des Chenes, Grande Pointe, St Adolphe and Ste Agathe.

“One of the big advantages of (having charging stations) to showcase and offer that we’re a diverse municipality and there’s lots of incentives and opportunities there and we just want to take advantage of it. We’re not saying that EVs are the end all and be all, but this is definitely another option for you to participate in purchasing an electric vehicle,” said Ewen.

Ritchot currently has four electric vehicles that staff use to conduct business. Ewen said in the future the RM will look at having an electric vehicle for ride sharing for residents to rent.

Hanover was the other municipality to receive funding in the amount of $8,900 for two Level II charging stations for its electric vehicles. It currently has two already in place in Mitchell and Blumenort. The new charging stations will be located at the RM office and the public works office in Kleefeld. The RM doesn’t currently own any electric vehicles.

“At this point it will be for our vehicles,” said Reeve Jim Funk. “We are anticipating there will be grants available for the future. (The government) have indicated that we could be getting some decent grant funding, and we would like to tap into that funding when that does happen.”

While the RM has the charging stations in Mitchell and Blumenort, Funk said it’s early days and they aren’t being used as much, but with time he thinks more people will use the stations as electric vehicles become more common.