Electric vehicle charging
Where can I charge my electric vehicle?
One of the main barriers to EV adoption is the availability of charging infrastructure. We want to make it easier for Calgarians to find charging stations.
Existing charging locations
Calgary has more than 200 EV charging stations.
There are over 50 charging stations in downtown Calgary Parking parkades and 20 charging stations at light rail transit stations (Chinook, Brentwood, Sirocco and McKnight-Westwinds) and recreation centres (Southland Leisure Centre, Village Square Leisure Centre, Vivo for Healthier Generations and Thornhill Aquatic & Recreation Centre).
In addition to City-owned charging stations, there is also a growing number of EV charging stations available at private businesses. With a growing database of charging stations in Canada and the USA, PlugShare is considered a reliable source of maps and reviews of both publicly-owned and privately-owned EV charging stations.
Download PlugShare free for your iOS, Android, or visit their website to find a charging station near you or to plan your next road trip.
Types of charging stations
Did you know that you probably already have a Level 1 charger at home? It’s a standard electrical outlet.
There are several types of electric vehicle charging stations for cars, SUVs and light duty trucks, some of which are limited to certain types, makes or models of electric vehicles.The figure below summarizes the three basic types of charging stations, their electricity requirements, charge time and achievable travel ranges.
Tesla stations can only be used by Tesla vehicles, while all other EVs can use universal charging stations produced by other manufacturers.
| AC Level 1 | AC Level 2 | AC Level 3: DC fast charge |
|---|---|---|
|
Voltage 120V 1 - Phase AC |
Voltage 208V or 240 V 1 - Phase AC |
Voltage 208V or 480V 3 - Phase AC |
|
Amps 12 - 16 Amps |
Amps Typically 32 Amps |
Amps <125 Amps (typically 60 Amps) |
|
Charging loads 1.4 to 1.9 kW |
Charging loads Typically 3.6 kW to 7.2 kW |
Charging loads 50 kW to 350 kW |
|
Charging time for vehicle 5-8 km of range per hour |
Charging time for vehicle 30 km of range per hour |
Charging time for vehicle 80% charge in 15-60 minutes |
|
Appropriate for Home |
Appropriate for Home |
Appropriate for Public charging |
Travelling across southern Alberta
As part of the Peaks to Prairies EV Charging Network, The City worked with Alberta Southwest Regional Alliance, Southgrow Regional Initiative, City of Lethbridge, City of Medicine Hat, and Medicine Hat College to setup a network of 20 fast-charging stations, with backup 'Level 2' stations, across southern Alberta.
These stations make it possible for EVs to travel across southern Alberta, up to Edmonton, and into British Columbia and the United States for business or tourism.
The network is accessible by any type of electric vehicle and complements Tesla Supercharger stations being installed for Tesla vehicles.
The network, branded as the Peaks to Prairies Network is powered by 100 percent renewable energy sourced from southern Alberta. This use of renewable energy was a key element of the project that enabled grant funding from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to cover the majority of the construction costs.