BC Hydro Adds High-Speed EV Charging Near Abbotsford Airport

BC Hydro has opened a new electric vehicle charging site near Abbotsford International Airport, adding capacity for six vehicles to plug in simultaneously.

Announced September 25, the installation at 1567 Mount Lehman Road includes two 400-kilowatt chargers and one 180-kilowatt charger. It brings BC Hydro’s Abbotsford network to four locations with a combined 32 charging ports.

The utility says the 400-kilowatt units can add up to 100 kilometres of driving range to an average EV in about three minutes. Actual charging times depend on the vehicle and operating conditions.

Each charger can serve two vehicles through power sharing. A 400-kilowatt unit, for example, can divide its output between two vehicles receiving 200 kilowatts each. The site offers both CCS and NACS connectors, accommodating vehicles using the two charging standards.

BC Hydro’s other Abbotsford locations are at the ICBC Claim Centre, the University of the Fraser Valley campus and EcoDairy.

Faster Chargers, Different Results

The equipment’s maximum output does not mean every driver will receive the advertised charging speed.

BC Hydro’s charging guidance explains that a vehicle’s maximum charging rate determines how much electricity it can accept. Plugging a vehicle with a lower limit into a more powerful charger cannot override that limit.

Battery temperature also matters. Hot or cold conditions can slow charging, while vehicles equipped with battery preconditioning can warm or cool their batteries before arriving.

Charging generally proceeds fastest when a battery has relatively little energy remaining, then slows as it approaches full capacity. Sharing a charger with another vehicle can also reduce the power available.

Those distinctions matter when planning a stop: the charger’s rating indicates its capability, while the vehicle and battery conditions help determine the time required. Drivers can check their owner’s manual for their vehicle’s maximum charging power and whether it supports battery preconditioning.

Building Out the Fraser Valley Network

The airport-area installation follows BC Hydro’s August 2025 opening of charging hubs at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses.

The Abbotsford campus hub, at 1395 McKenzie Road, opened with four 180-kilowatt fast chargers capable of serving eight vehicles simultaneously, plus four Level 2 chargers. The Chilliwack campus installation added capacity for eight vehicles through a combination of fast and Level 2 charging.

Together, those projects provided 20 charging ports.

At the time, BC Hydro said its expansion strategy would emphasize larger charging hubs along highway corridors and in heavily populated areas, with multiple chargers intended to reduce waiting and improve convenience.

The utility also reported adding 418 charging ports across British Columbia during the preceding year. That expansion included roughly two dozen hubs, each offering between eight and 22 ports.

For airport users, the new Mount Lehman Road location adds another charging option in the area. Abbotsford International Airport separately lists charging stations in the UFV flight school parking lot on airport property, directing drivers to the university for further information about those facilities. Travellers should check the location when choosing where to charge.