Tesla’s plans to boost local charging infrastructure in Boundary Country are gathering momentum, following a recent proposal introduced by Senior Project Developer Kyle Lockhart and property owners Gene and Wayne Koch of Westfield Mortgage Corp.
The initiative, backed by the city council in principle, aims to establish a Tesla Supercharger that will offer superior charging speeds.
The proposed Supercharger, to be situated at the intersection of 19th Street and Highway 3, promises to offer charging services for most electric vehicles, Tesla-branded or otherwise.
It is poised to bridge a 200-kilometre gap between existing Superchargers in Osoyoos and Castlegar—a noteworthy move considering the mountainous terrain which can rapidly drain battery energy.
This Supercharger, dubbed V4, is lofted as a major upgrade to the current FLO charging station in the city. Lockhart confirmed that the Supercharger could deliver charging rates of up to 350kW—seven times faster than the 50kW capacity of the FLO station.
This significant improvement will reduce charging time for electric vehicles, making Grand Forks a desirable stop for EV drivers navigating the region, according to the developer.
However, the path to final approval is not without hurdle. The proposed location for the Supercharger does not fit within the existing land use and zoning regulations, necessitating an amendment of the city’s Official Community Plan. As part of this process, the city informed nearby property owners about future plan considerations.
The Koch brothers have worked in collaboration with Tesla over four years to make this idea a reality. Pitching the project to citizens, Gene highlighted specs around the charging station and the expected economic boost for Grand Forks.
The Supercharger station will feature 12 charging stalls and space for a commercial building he noted, requiring an investment of $1.5 million.
Economic uplift, coupled with enhanced charging infrastructure, will be a welcome development as Grand Forks gears up for an electric future, Koch and Lockhart assert.
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