What is happening?

The City of Richmond is expanding its public electric vehicle (EV) charging network. In phase one of the expansion, the City is considering installing between 24 and 30 new Level 3 Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFCs), creating charging hubs at three City-owned facilities:

  • Richmond Curling Centre
  • Minoru Park Precinct (Cultural Centre Annex)
  • South Arm Community Centre

Why are we doing this?

This project supports several key goals from the City's Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) 2050, as well as key Provincial and Federal sales mandates.

The expansion demonstrates Richmond’s climate leadership and supports City Council's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan goal of sustainable community growth and environmental leadership.

This phase of the Level 3 Direct Current Fast Charger expansion will happen over three years, guided by engineering and feasibility assessments. Key elements include:

  • Site selection: Based on population density, housing types, accessibility, electric vehicle registrations within the neighbourhood and proximity to high-voltage electrical infrastructure.
  • Design and electrical upgrades: Each site will connect to a dedicated 1.5 MW pad-mounted transformer.
  • Community engagement: Input from residents and businesses, facility staff, and the community will be invited to provide feedback on the final design, parking layout, and charger placement.
  • Accessibility: All locations will incorporate or expand accessible charging stall options.
  • Parking optimization: Some parking spots for gas-powered cars will be converted into EV charging stations. The chargers will be placed in spots to avoid disrupting busy parking areas and be located near electrical sources for cost efficiency.

The City will provide funding for the up-front cost of the new station installations, which will be paid back through charging station revenues.

Future expansion phases are being planned at additional community hubs, including:

  • Garden City Park
  • Hugh Boyd Soccer Fields
  • King George Park
  • Richmond Ice Centre
  • the new Steveston Community Centre and Library
  • Thompson Community Centre

How you can participate

At this time, we are seeking input from staff on this first phase of electric vehicle fast charging expansion.

You can share your thoughts by completing the short survey below by Friday, October 3, 2025.

After we receive your input, we will launch a broader public engagement across the city.