Tesla is installing eight superchargers at a town parking lot on 74th Avenue and 87th Street. (Tesla)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Electric vehicle users are getting 12 new spots to charge up in Osoyoos this summer.

On Monday town council voted to allow Tesla to install eight supercharger stations at a municipal parking lot on 74th Avenue and 87th Street.

Osoyoos has been identified as a “key link” in a chain of charging stations across B.C. senior planner Don McArthur told council.

Tesla approached town staff, McArthur said, to identify a location for the chargers.

“The municipal parking lot on 74th Avenue at 87th Street was identified as an ideal location, as it is currently under-utilized, sufficiently large enough to accommodate the charging stations, and within walking distance of Main Street, providing an opportunity for travelers to visit shops and restaurants while charging their vehicle,” he said.

The parking lot will have eight stalls: four will have Tesla superchargers and be reserved for Tesla drivers, four will have superchargers but be available for any vehicle, and four will have universal chargers and open to non-electric cars as well.

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The universal chargers, similar to the existing chargers at Gyro Park, will take between two and six hours to charge fully. The superchargers take about 30 minutes.

Tesla will also install four universal chargers at another site downtown, yet to be determined. Town staff are considering the parking lot of the Osoyoos and District Museum and Archives’ future location on Main Street and 87th Street.

“That might bring people to the museum and a great way to get people to visit our museum in the future,” director of planning and development services Gina MacKay said.

Tesla plans to begin site surveying this month and the charging stations will be installed this summer. Tesla will cover all construction and maintenance costs.

Last week FortisBC also announced that Osoyoos is one of 12 locations in its electric vehicle charging network getting a new fast-charge station. The station will be installed over the summer at the Nk’Mip Petro Canada gas station on
Highway 3.