Two new ChargePoint Level 2 dual-port electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) have been installed in the parking lots at Lakewood and Lawson Civic Centres in Saskatoon.

They are now available for public use at no cost for those accessing the civic centres or shopping at nearby businesses.

In a news release, Amber Weckworth, Manager of Climate, Strategy, and Data said, “Offering public charging stations can help reduce barriers for folks considering the switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric.”

The City of Saskatoon plans to use information they derive from how the public utilizes the charging station to help inform their possible future investment in electric vehicle infrastructure. They will also share that information with business which may be contemplating EV infrastructure.

Saskatoon has over 30 charging stations according to PlugShare, a service that helps EV drivers find and share information about charging stations and according to SGI, EV ownership has been increasing in Saskatoon with just 41 battery and plug-in hybrid EV’s registered in 2016, growing to 661 in 2022 (431 battery EVs and 230 plug-in hybrid EVs).