No electric car chargers, recommends Regina city admin

The city of Regina's infrastructure committee says the city should not participate in a program that would install electric car charging stations at severalcity facilities.

City council will vote on the committee's recommendation at a meeting on August 31.

The idea was first brought forward at city council in February.

City council wanted officials to look into the issue, after a company Sun Country Highways Ltd. offered to install three charging stations for free.

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However, the city would be on the hook for installation and maintenance.

The committee's reportsays installation could cost anywhere from $2,600 to $11,500 foreach individual charger. It says it could also cost an additional $7,000 per charger per yearfor the increased utility and maintenance cost.

Electric cars not in demand

The report says that as of July 21, 2015, only eight electric vehicles were registered in Regina and only 43 province-wide.

A handful of private charging stations do exist throughout Regina at hotel and retail locations.

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If council decides to go forward with the chargers against the committee's recommendation, the report says the city could cover up to $15,000 through the General Reserve Fund.