When completing the new public parking area next to the Cochrane Public Library on Railway St., the town included two Flo electric vehicle charging stations.

We touched base with Drew Hyndman, the town's general manager of development and community services to learn more.

Here's what he said.

Does the town collect any revenue from having the stations in the lot?

Yes, the town collects $2.00 per hour while connected to the electric vehicle (EV) charger (average fee for Calgary area). The town’s operating cost for a charger is $0.86/hour, which means a revenue of $1.14/hour of revenue.

What inspired their establishment in the parking lot? 

The idea for EV charging stations at the Innovation/Transit Hub parking lot was first realized during the design meetings for the Innovation/Transit Hub in collaboration with the building's initial tenants.

Given the Innovation/Transit Hub’s location in the heart of Downtown Cochrane, visitors will be able to use new pedestrian rail crossing to experience Cochrane’s charming historic downtown and support our local economy while charging their EV.

Was the town contacted to have them included or did the town pursue a vendor as part of the parking lot plan?

Over the years, the town has been contacted by several EV vendors, consultants, and management companies about installing EV chargers in the community. However, our selection of Flo chargers was through a competitive bid process as part of the parking lot construction project.

Our Flo Smart Level 2 EV Charging Stations are a Canadian-made and industry-leading solution for a harsh and cold climate. Flo Smart Level 2 charging stations provide up to 30 km of range per hour of charging (depending on vehicle model). The charging stations are equipped with SAE J1772 connectors, which means these stations are compatible with all electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Flo operates one of North America’s largest EV charging networks and offers a 24/7 toll-free support line for EV drivers using the stations: 1-877-505-2674.

Flo EV charging stations are maintained and serviced across Canada by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).

Is this something the town will continue to pursue with any other parking lots they develop in the future?

The town has not committed to any additional EV charging stations. However, the town is working with a provincial organization on a potential grant opportunity that could fund up to 100 per cent of the total project cost for municipalities to install EV charging stations.

Pending 100 per cent project funding and a review of the project, we would be exploring the installation of up to 10 more EV charging stations (level 2).

Have you been receiving much demand for such setups or is it being done with an eye on future demand?

Through the design of the Innovation/Transit Hub, a demand for EV charging stations in the area was realized. The EV chargers were also planned to attract EV travellers to Cochrane and help eye future demand as EV ownership in Alberta continues to grow exponentially.

We will continue to monitor demand for the existing EV charging stations at the Innovation/Transit Hub parking lot, and explore grant opportunities that help Alberta catch up with the other provinces in the prison of EV charging infrastructure.

Our thanks to Drew for giving us the lowdown.