By James Matthews
Dysart may have an opportunity to be expand its infrastructure to accommodate electric vehicles.
Susan Hay of Environment Haliburton told township council Jan. 28 that she’s aware of a grant opportunity which reimburses up to $125,000 to cover a minimum of four Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations in underserved communities.
Council agreed to have staff look into the application.
The grant is called Charged for Change and its deadline to apply is Feb. 20.
“In a tourism-based economy like ours, the lack of charging infrastructure could negatively affect our local economy,” Hay said.
Currently, Dysart has just one charging station located near the tourism information centre.
“If the population of Dysart was 7,100 people, which was what the Census indicated in 2021, the ratio of residents per charging head is far greater than the provincial average,” Hay said. “As you know, when cottagers and tourists are in the area the population is far greater than 7,100.”
Minden Hills has 13 charging heads within 15 kilometres.
Bancroft, with a population of 4,065, boasts a pair of Level 2 charging heads and eight Level 3 charging heads.
“The adoption of EVs (electric vehicles) has rapidly increased,” she said. “Tourists who drive EVs are going to look for charging infrastructure. If it is inadequate or unavailable, they will choose to go elsewhere.”
Municipalities often install Level 2 chargers because they encourage people to spend money in the community while the cars are picking up the boost.
“I believe these charging stations will attract tourists to our area and will support and enhance the economy of Dysart et al.,” she said.
Hay suggested the new station be installed at the A.J. LaRue Arena parking lot to capitalize on the many events that happen there, at the curling club, and at the Royal Canadian Legion branch across the street. That location is also near the municipal buildings.
Should the township decide to add electric-powered vehicles to its fleet, that equipment could be charged right next door, she said.
That arena location is also handy to coffee shops, a grocery store, and other downtown businesses. The facility’s parking lot has two possible sites.
Peter Ewald, a director at Lakeland EV Charging, said his company does installations of EV infrastructure at municipal properties. All they ask is a leasing agreement with the municipality.
Lakeland also asks that the township bylaw staff accept the responsibility to ticket any vehicles that are parked at a charging station but not availing of that service. Money from fines goes to the township.
“We focus on downtown cores so people come and utilize the community services and businesses,” he said. “When people are charging their electric vehicles they’re likely to spend some time in the community, spending money, which is a win-win for the municipality.”
Lakeland also offers co-ownership of the charging station with the municipality, he said.
Ewald said the work could probably be carried out for about $60,000 depending on the Hydro One hookup, which is less than the maximum allowed through the grant.
“Which is good news,” he said. “We’re more likely to receive the funding then, I think.”
Ewald said vehicle registrations with the province illustrates that more people are putting electric vehicles on the road.
“We are seeing a rapid growth,” he said.
“Do you really believe that electric car sales are going to go up?” Mayor Murray Fearrey said.
“Yes, I do, sir,” Ewald said. “I see it in evidence every day as I’m driving around. All major brands are investing in the EV industry.”
“The reports I read say that they’re not selling,” Fearrey said. “They’re sitting on the lots.”
Ewald said there are statistics that show increases in EV sales.
Deputy Mayor Walt McKechnie said, though he didn’t want an argument, he disagreed with the stats that indicate people buying electric cars.
“I’m 100 per cent against spending one dollar of taxpayers’ money,” McKechnie said. “If you want to put these charging stations in and government wants to give us this money. I just don’t want one dollar of taxpayers’ money going towards fixing them, maintaining them, whatever.”
“This will cost the community nothing,” Hay said. “Absolutely nothing. It will enhance tourism. I think it would be an advantage to have an additional four EV charging stations in a community. To be without adequate infrastructure, you are going to lose on tourism.”
