Layout for ION Charging Corp. stations with solar canopies. (Supplied)

By Alessia Proietti

Across Junction 42

Potential solar-powered electric vehicle charging station proposed for outside Penhold

May 16, 2022 | 12:13 PM

There may soon be a new way to rest and recharge while on the QEll near Red Deer and it would all be powered by the sun.

A series of five electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are currently being proposed along the Highway 2 corridor from Edmonton to the U.S. border. One of these stops has proposed to be just outside the Town of Penhold.

ION Charge Corp., based out of Calgary, is the developer, owner and operator of these EV charging stations.

They are powered by a two-megawatt solar facility and, as a result, are grid-independent with no electrical connections. The futuristic rest stops will include washrooms, a few small amenities, solar canopies to produce added energy, and battery storage systems, with 100 per cent renewable energy.

The 292 acres of the southeast quadrant of the Highway 2 and Highway 42 interchange are diagonally across from the newly built Junction 42 gas station and rest stop.

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The ION charging stations are proposed to be set up within the section highlighted in yellow, diagonally across from the Junction 42 rest stop. (Red Deer County Council May 3 meeting agenda)

For ION’s CEO Tim Bergen, the land located just 1.6 km east of Penhold was an optimal location for the project.

“Red Deer County is central and enjoys Alberta’s excellent solar energy resources. ION’s Penhold site has all of the key customer experience factors: easy highway access off a well-travelled QEII, strong solar resource, supportive landowners and local community,” he said.

Ryan Tourigny, Senior Vice-President of Development for the company, listed advantages of using solar power over other renewable energies such as its small footprint, lowness to the ground, lack of noise pollution or other contaminations to the soil, and aesthetic appeal.

With solar power constantly improving and evolving, Tourigny says, two technologies ensure panels maintain efficiency even during snowy months. Bifacial solar modules have front and back panels that use the light source from the sun’s reflection on snow. Other panels have signal access trackers that tilt to follow the sun’s direction while simultaneously allowing snow to fall off the panel.

While the price for charging an EV has not been established yet at ION stations, Tourigny claims it will still be less expensive than gasoline vehicles. Charging times could take from under 20 min with ION fast-charging stations to 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle’s battery capacity.

According to research conducted in February 2022 by AutoTrader, it would cost around $3.03 to charge 2022 Hyundai Kona EV in Alberta for 100 km. For a gas-powered Honda Civic, it would cost $10.94.

Tourigny hopes to makes EV drivers feel more comfortable with the five stations planned for Alberta along the Highway 2 corridor near Leduc, Penhold, Crossfield, Fort Macleod, and Coutts, all strategically spaced for average EV battery lifespans.

“Convenient, clean and cost effective EV charging is the main limiting factor on EV adoption for Albertans. ION is excited to be the 100 per cent renewable solution that showcases the service station of the future in Red Deer County, building on the area’s success as a hub for on-the-go travelers,” said Bergen.

All stations are in the early stages of development.

Red Deer County council approved at their May 3 meeting an amendment to the Area Structure Plan to accommodate the development. The CEO confirms the next steps are to apply for a land use amendment, followed by a subdivision application and then a development permit application.

Although supply chain issues remain a factor in construction, Bergen says the goal for their completion is the summer of 2023.