'It's the right thing to do': Winnipeg business installs electric vehicle charging stations

Two new electric vehicle chargers will soon be up and running for drivers inthe River Heights area.

Edmond Financial Group announced the plan at its Academy Road office for two EV stations that the company installed for use by the community.

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"Part of it is the right thing to do with all of the climate change problems in the world," said company president Paul Edmond. "We felt that what a great opportunity for the community to be able to charge EV vehicles on Academy."

Edmond said the two stations, which are believed to be the firstin the River Heights neighbourhood, cost about $30,000 to install. Heexpects them to be fully operational this week.

The company's lot, at 420 Academy Road, will be open to the public for vehicle charging between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. weekdays and all weekend long. Edmond said the project has been in the works for about sevenmonths and has drawn onlookers to the area.

"I've had people even pull over in their vehicles, walk over and say 'what are you guys up to over here?'" he said. "They've said congratulations, way to go, this is the way of the future."

"We just believe fundamentally that it's like having oatmeal in the morning, it's the right thing to do," Edmond said.

He said he is even selling his current vehicle and will be taking possession of an electric Tesla car this summer. He hopes the increase in charging stations across the city and province leads to more people investing in electric vehicles.

"If we don't have infrastructure for charging, people aren't going to buy EV vehicles," he said.

There are currently about two dozen EV charging stations in Winnipeg and about 50 across Manitoba, Edmond said.