Essex to install 4 electric vehicle charging stations

Four electric vehicle charging stations will be installed in the Town of Essex this summer.

A $252,820 grant awarded through the Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario Program will help pay for the cost of the installation.

Two charging stations will be installed at the Essex Centre Sports Complex and two more at Colchester Harbour.

"As part of an expanded network of public charging stations, these are strategic points in Essex County," Essex director of community services Doug Sweet said in a media release. "One is at the 'hub' or centre of the county and the other is along the north shore of Lake Erie in the heart of wine country."

Essex is one of 27 public and private sector partners that have been selected to help create an expanded network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations across Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation announcedThursday

"We are very excited to be a part of this program," Sweet said. "A key objective in council's new strategic plan is to promote a healthy, safe and environmentally conscious community. Offering public charging stations in two strategic locations supports this objective and helps us build a clean and sustainable community."

The Level 3 charging stations, also known as direct current fast chargers, can charge an electric vehicle to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes, the town said in the media release.