CAA Niagara and Pen Centre unveil mall’s first electric vehicle charging centre

St. Catharines, ON (Nov. 29, 2017) – CAA Niagara and the Pen Centre today officially commissioned a four-station vehicle charging centre.

"We're committed to the mobility of Niagara residents, no matter the choice of transportation, whether its diesel, gas, or electric," said CAA Niagara's President and CEO, Peter Van Hezewyk. "CAA encourages all moves to make vehicles more fuel efficient, including the development of EVs."

There are more than 14,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on the road in Ontario and EVs now account for 1% of new cars sales in Canada. As EVs become more affordable and as their range grows longer, it’s anticipated more and more electric vehicles will be on the road.

CAA Niagara and the Pen Centre worked with Flo (a coast-to-coast network charging service), Plug'N Drive (an organization committed to accelerating EVs to maximize their environmental and economic benefits) and Westburne (a leader in energy solutions, automation and connected network solutions) to develop the charging centre.

The Centre's charging stations, located near the Hudson's Bay outside entrance, are available at $1.50 per hour. Users download the Flo app to make payment. The Flo app can also be used to navigate to other charging centres, as they can with the CAA app.

"A sustainable future is dependent on a balance between social responsibility, economic vitality and environmental stewardship," said the Pen Centre's General Manager, John Bragagnolo. "At the Pen Centre, we recognize our role in environmental stewardship and are committed to continuous improvement - this is why we are so thrilled to launch the EV Charging stations!"

For more information on types of EVs and their availability in Canada, to learn about government incentives and to find a charging station, visit caa.ca/electric-vehicles.

CAA Niagara is a not-for-profit membership organization that provides roadside assistance, insurance and travel products as well as member rewards. Founded in 1911 as the St. Catharines Automobile Club with just 16 members, CAA Niagara has grown to more than 126,000 members with five Niagara locations.

Contact: media@caaniagara.ca