Things get electric at Polo Park with EV charge stations

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/09/2018 (2047 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Electric-vehicle-driving patrons of Polo Park shopping centre no longer have to worry about range anxiety while visiting the mall.

The Cadillac Fairview property just installed four electric-vehicle charging stations as part of a countrywide program that promotes sustainability and a low-carbon future in Canada.

In partnership with FLO, a Quebec company that is a leader in EV charging solutions, four stations with dedicated parking have been built outside the entrance on the east side of the mall, near Starbucks.

Peter Havens, general manager of Polo Park, said the move is in line with Cadillac Fairview’s interest in innovation and its sense of corporate responsibility.

“We are putting our money where our thoughts are and trying to introduce different amenities,” he said. “Also, we’re taking our shopping experience to the next level.”

Cadillac Fairview has been installing stations in all 19 of its retail properties across the country. (Polo Park is one of the last to get the technology.)

John Massey, the company’s vice-president of operations, said the move is part of Cadillac Fairview’s corporate environmental policy — Green at Work — but unlike its efforts to divert waste from landfill sites, EV charging stations also get in to the realm of retail services.

“This is a public-facing expression of our commitment to the environment,” Massey said. “From that point of view, as much as it is completely aligned with Green at Work strategy, it is also an amenity to our shopping centre.”

The FLO charging units are part of a national metered network that includes easy-to-use mobile apps. Patrons can use the chargers and have their accounts automatically debited. The cost per charge is about $1.00 per hour, billed by the minute with a service fee built in. There’s also one rapid-charge station that costs about $10 per hour, also billed by the minute.

“It’s not like there is a massive demand, but it is a growing demand,” he said. “One of the big inhibitors to mass adoption of electric vehicles is this concept called range anxiety. That is why FLO and others are trying to build networks — to alleviate range anxiety. People will feel more comfortable knowing where they will be able to charge.”

Havens said the infrastructure investment at Polo Park was not costly, especially since some renovations were just completed in the parking area on the east side of the mall.

He said there have only been a few requests for such a service, but that it looks good for the property to be seen as being part of the leading edge of what is likely to continue to be a growing trend.

“I see it as a good service to offer, even if we are a bit ahead of the curve on that,” Havens said. “I’d rather be there than playing catch-up.”

The Winnipeg deployment features the first universal fast-charging station in Manitoba and also the first FLO charging site in the province.

Countrywide, Cadillac Fairview will be deploying 45 chargers.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca