NL Hydro is increasing the size of its network in response to a 40 per cent increase in charger usage last year

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is increasing access to ultra-fast public charging by adding 10 new stations at six sites along the Trans-Canada Highway.

The announcement follows NL Hydro reporting a 40 per cent increase in usage of their EV charging stations in 2024.

“[T]here was record usage at Hydro’s EV Fast-Charging Network, with over 118,100 sessions providing 476 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy, which is enough electricity for an average EV to drive more than 2.3 million kilometres,” reads NL Hydro’s 2024 annual report.

That represents an 81 per cent increase since 2023.

“This year has been one of significant transformation and remarkable achievement for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro,” writes NL Hydro CEO, Jennifer Williams in the report.

The new NL Hydro charging stations will offer charging speeds between 175 to 350 kW, says the utility.

Rising EV adoption

Currently NL Hydro’s public charging network comprises 23 fast-charging stations across the province.

In addition, the utility has 21 electric vehicles in its fleet.

In 2024, NL Hydro said it administered over 730 rebates for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on behalf of the government. (A provincial total of 1,690 BEVs and 6,758 PHEVs were registered in 2024.)

As well, it administered 118 federal commercial EV charger rebates since 2022.

Overall, at least 4,149 BEVs and 16,054 PHEVs have been registered in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2020 and, combined, achieved a total market penetration of 10.2 per cent in 2024.

The result, says NL Hydro, is an “unprecedented demand” for renewable energy to power EVs and pursue electrification in homes and local businesses.

Access to public charging

In addition to NL Hydro’s public fast-charging network, there are over 100 public EV charging stations in the province.

Most are concentrated in the Avalon Peninsula, particularly in areas west of St. John’s, and, according to NL Hydro, the chargers with the heaviest usage are along the Trans-Canada highway.

At least one of NL Hydro’s new ultra-fast chargers will be in Conne River, a small community in the south-central part of the province, says Williams.

The utility has not yet announced where the remaining nine stations will be located.