Nova Scotia Power, in partnership with Atlantic Superstore and AddEnergie, is proud to announce the installation of the first high-power electric vehicle charging station in Halifax.

The new charging station, located at the Barrington Street Atlantic Superstore, is the second of its kind in Atlantic Canada and has the capacity to charge an electric vehicle in one sixth the time it takes standard stations, according to the companies.

Anne-Marie Curtis, director of marketing & sales for Nova Scotia Power, noted the charging station’s importance in the adoption of electric vehicles in Nova Scotia.

“Our customers have told us that they are interested in this emerging technology,” said Curtis. “We think this is an important step for Halifax and for Nova Scotia and are delighted to partner with one of our largest customers, Loblaw Companies Ltd., on this initiative along with AddEnergie.”

Mark Boudreau, director, corporate affairs (Atlantic) for Loblaw Companies Ltd. said as more customers are purchasing or considering using electric vehicles, it makes sense for them to collaborate with industry organizations to provide the best possible infrastructure.

“We’re proud to work with Nova Scotia Power to provide a fast-charging station at our Atlantic Superstore location on Barrington Street,” said Boudreau. “As one of our many environmentally-focused initiatives across the province, this project aligns perfectly with Loblaw’s corporate social responsibility commitments. It signals our leadership and continued focus on making a positive impact in our community, while providing our customers with a convenient option to charge their electric vehicles while shopping in our store.”

AddEnergie, the owner and operator of the largest charging stations network in Canada, the VERnetwork, is pleased to launch the first dual port fast charger in Atlantic Canada. Louis Tremblay, president & CEO of AddEnergie, said this launch is part of the actual effort of the VERnetwork and its partners to link Ontario to the Maritimes with fast chargers. “We want to thank Loblaws and Nova Scotia Power for their support and their vision,” said Tremblay.

While the region has dozens of charging stations, the high speed station increases the convenience of charging and makes longer trips possible. Its location will strengthen the province’s profile as a destination for travelers and tourists using electric vehicles and will also provide a convenient option for local and commuting electric vehicle owners.

Several electric vehicles were present at the May 14 event, including a, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, BMW i3, and Ford C-MAX Energi. The launch of this charging station is just one of the electric vehicle milestones taking place in the province this month. For the first time, Electric Mobility Canada will be hosting its annual national EV Conference in Halifax at the Westin on May 25-27. Leading up to the conference, the public will have an opportunity to explore and test drive different models of electric vehicles at Nova Scotia Power’s Ride ‘n Drive event, taking place on Sunday, May 24, 2015 at Nova Scotia Power’s head office on Lower Water Street.

For more information on the VERnetwork across Canada, visit www.vernetwork.net.

For more information on Electric Mobility Canada’s EV Conference, visit http://emc-mec.ca/ev2015ve/en/.