VERNON – The infrastructure to support electric vehicles in the Okanagan just got a bit bigger. Vernon’s Holiday Inn Express has installed two new charging stations, betting there will be a growing trend towards the energy-efficient vehicles.
“We’ve had three people phone in over the last month and want to know if we have got an electric charging station so we know that there are people out there looking to charge their vehicles,” says Mike Smallenberg, the hotel’s general manager.
They’re far from the only place in Vernon where the public can charge vehicles, with three other locations in the city where drivers can power up. In 2013 the city installed charging stations near the Community Services Building, and there are also public charging stations at the Okanagan College Vernon Campus and Kal Tire’s Anderson Way location.
“We want to be able to draw tourists from places like the United States and across the province who own electric vehicles. We want them to know that if you want to travel to the Okanagan and to Vernon that we have got those stations here for you.”
The hotel is planning to let the public charge for free, at least initially. At Vernon’s civic charging stations you pay to park but not to charge.
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