Nipawin, a Saskatchewan town about a 90-minute drive east of Prince Albert, decided not to go ahead with a plan to install three electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in different locations throughout the town.. EV Charging .The decision was made after some community members opposed the EV stations. .The town council voted to cancel the stations. It would have cost $40,000 if they had been installed..“An extenuating amount of public opposition was received. Again, the Town of Nipawin is committed to the governance in the interest of its electorate and this was the majority feedback that was received. Hence, the decision was made to not proceed at this time,” said Joel Cardinal, chief administrative officer of Nipawin, in a statement..The town said it receives fewer than one monthly request regarding EV stations..When it comes to attracting visitors, EV drivers often plan their trips based on the availability of charging stations, with EV drivers using apps like Plug Share or Charge Hub to locate charging stations. .In Nipawin, only one Level 2 charging station is available, but it doesn't appear on EV charging station apps, making it difficult for EV drivers to find and use the station. Also, a Level 2 takes about seven hours to charge an EV fully..Nipawin Chrysler Dodge has an EV charging station that's open to the public and free, but it is only when the dealership is open. According to the dealership, the charging station is mainly used only on Saturdays when people travel through town..In 2021, the province of Saskatchewan put in an annual fee requiring EV owners to pay $150. .The purpose of the fee is to ensure EV owners contribute their fair share towards the maintenance costs of the roads, normally paid for through gasoline taxes..Cardinal said Nipawin would not receive the $30,000 grant for the cancelled charging stations, but there is a chance to try again..In the document presented to the council on May 23, Eco-West proposed if the town decides to move forward with EV charging stations in the future, it could consider forming a partnership with a private business for the charging stations..Eco-West suggested the town operate the chargers for three years, covering costs and keeping profits, before transferring them to a private business for potential relocation or leasing..The cost to Nipawin would have been around $5,000 over the first three years..The city of Saskatoon announced this week it would be putting in free EV charging stations at several recreation centres..READ MORE CHARGED: Saskatoon's new free EV charging stations
