infrastructure
chargingBC Hydro Opens Abbotsford & Esquimalt Fast Charging With NACS Connectors
BC Hydro adds two new fast-charging sites in B.C.'s Fraser Valley and on Vancouver Island — both with Tesla NACS connectors alongside CCS and CHAdeMO.
British Columbia EV drivers gained two new fast-charging locations on September 26 as BC Hydro opened stations in Abbotsford and Esquimalt. Both sites feature NACS connectors, allowing Tesla owners to plug in directly without an adapter — a first for BC Hydro's public network.
Abbotsford: 400 kW ultra-fast near the airport
The Abbotsford site at 1567 Mount Lehman Road, near Abbotsford International Airport, features two 400 kW chargers and one 180 kW charger. BC Hydro says the ultra-fast units can add approximately 100 km of range to an average EV in about three minutes. The chargers use power-sharing technology, allowing multiple vehicles to charge simultaneously. The Abbotsford location offers CCS and NACS connectors.
Esquimalt: First fast charging on Vancouver Island
On Vancouver Island, BC Hydro opened its first fast-charging station in Esquimalt at the Archie Browning Sports Centre parking lot on Esquimalt Road. The site includes three 180 kW chargers and can serve up to six vehicles at once through power sharing. BC Hydro says these chargers can provide up to 180 km of range in about 10 minutes.
The Esquimalt site supports all three major connector types: CCS, CHAdeMO, and NACS.
Part of a $700M provincial expansion
These openings are part of BC Hydro's broader plan to deploy 3,500 public charging ports by 2035 through a $700 million investment — more than tripling its current network. The utility says 200 kW chargers will be the standard for new sites, with higher-powered 400 kW units at high-demand locations.
With the addition of NACS connectors, BC Hydro joins a growing list of Canadian networks adopting Tesla's North American Charging Standard, including FLO, Circuit Électrique, and several Petro-Canada locations.
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