Burlington, Ontario (Canada) — IKEA Canada plans to install two additional electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at each IKEA store in Ontario, reinforcing IKEA Canada’s commitment to sustainability and sustainable transport. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation, under its Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) program, is providing the funding for the new charging stations.
The Level 3 EV charge points installed at each IKEA store in Ontario will be in addition to units installed during the company’s own national rollout of Level 2 EV charge points in July 2015 at all 12 IKEA stores, a first by a Canadian retailer. IKEA will again partner with Sun Country Highway as the technology provider and installer of the units.
“As part of our commitment to sustainability and helping our customers live a more sustainable life at home and beyond, we’re proud to work with the province to increase the number of charging stations at our stores in Ontario,” says Stefan Sjöstrand, president of IKEA Canada. “This initiative further secures IKEA’s leadership in promoting low-carbon transportation in Ontario and helps our customers continue to adopt a lower carbon footprint for trips made to IKEA stores.”
The transportation sector is the largest source of carbon and climate-related emissions, and electric mobility has great potential to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. By building a more robust network of public chargers across Ontario, electric vehicle owners are able to plan longer trips with confidence.
The province is investing nearly $20 million from Ontario’s Green Investment Fund to support the Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) grant program. As a result, nearly 500 electric vehicle charging stations will be built at over 250 locations in Ontario by March 31, 2017. IKEA, along with 23 other public and private sector partners, will create a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations in cities, along highways and at workplaces, and other public places across Ontario.
IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer with 375 stores in more than 50 countries worldwide, which are visited by 884 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 12 stores, an eCommerce virtual store and six Pick-Up and Order Point locations in southern Ontario and Quebec. The company also recently announced plans to open a 13th store in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in late 2017. For more information, visit www.IKEA.ca.
SOURCE: IKEA Canada