BC Hydro Opens First-of-its-Kind Portable EV Charge Site in Lumby
December 5, 2025
BC Hydro has energized its first-ever portable skid-mounted fast charging station in Lumby, marking a breakthrough in how electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure can be deployed quickly and flexibly across British Columbia.
The skid-mounted station is a fully self-contained unit built on a metal frame and is designed for rapid deployment with minimal civil construction. All cabling is completed and CSA-approved at the factory, and power is delivered via overhead service from a nearby transformer pole – eliminating the need for underground excavation. This design is ideal for sites with complex permitting, northern regions with short construction windows due to winter weather conditions, or temporary installations for events and emergencies.
The site was installed in a paved parking lot at the Lumby Curling Rink and is adjacent to a power pole. Thanks to its unique design, which eliminated the need for traditional construction, the site was fully operational within days instead of weeks. It features one 180-kilowatt charger, which can add up to 180-kilometres of driving to an average EV in about 10 minutes. In addition to being faster, the unit also offers dual charging or power sharing, which allows two customers to use the same charger. A second 100-kilowatt charger is also available, offering additional capacity for drivers.
The adoption of EVs across British Columbia has increased significantly with more than 215,000 EVs on the road in B.C. As BC Hydro continues to build its fast-charging network, it plans to focus on building more hub sites with multiple chargers along highway corridors and highly populated areas to provide a faster and more convenient experience for its customers.
BC Hydro is working to build a robust EV charging network across the province. Recent milestones include:
- Network expansion: In the past year alone, BC Hydro has tripled the size of its public charging network, adding 418 new charging ports.
- State-of-the-art hubs: About two-dozen new hubs have opened in every region of the province, each featuring 8 to 22 charging ports, to help minimize wait times for drivers.
- Next-gen fast chargers: BC Hydro deployed new 350-kilowatt chargers at some locations, capable of delivering up to 100 kilometers of range in just five minutes.
- Completion of the Electric Highway: With fast chargers placed about every 150 kilometers along major routes, the Government of B.C. completed the Electric Highway in September 2024. BC Hydro operates 114 of the highway’s 155 charging locations, making up more than 70 per cent of the network. Once the transition of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit charging sites to BC Hydro is complete, BC Hydro will operate more than 90 per cent of the network.
BC Hydro’s provincewide fast charging network currently includes 729 charging ports at 163 sites in communities throughout B.C. BC Hydro is looking to reach 800 charging ports in its network by spring 2026. Later this year, BC Hydro will debut its first 400-kilowatt charger, offering 100 kilometres of range in just three minutes. The chargers are funded in a partnership with the Province of B.C. and Natural Resources Canada.
