Vancouver begins EV charging strategy; staff say public and private investment both needed for equitable rollout

City climate and transportation staff on Monday outlined a draft electric vehicle (EV) charging strategy, saying public and private investment will both be necessary to meet projected charging needs and ensure an equitable transition to electric mobility.

Stacy Dahlgaard of the city’s climate program said the transportation sector is the single largest contributor of emissions in Vancouver and that expanding public and private charging infrastructure is a priority in the city’s climate action framework. She said equity is central because many renters and low‑income households lack reliable home charging access and will depend on publicly available chargers or workplace charging.

Laurel Priest from Transportation Planning summarized the city’s current inventory and projected need: staff reported 113 publicly available level‑2…