Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood (left) and EQUS Board Chair Glen Fox (right) cut the ribbon on Junction 42's new EV charging station. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

NON-PROFIT COOPERATIVE UTILITY

New charging station at Junction 42 begins closing the gap in EV network

Apr 24, 2025 | 5:03 PM

Red Deer County’s Junction 42 is now home to the fastest electric vehicle (EV) charger along Highway 2 in the central Alberta region, according to EQUS, after the unveiling of a new charging station on Apr. 24.

Located just south of Red Deer, near Penhold, the installation is meant to transform the EV landscape in central Alberta by providing fast, reliable and accessible charging for long-distance travellers.

The project is a partnership between EQUS, Red Deer County, and the Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN). EQUS and the county each contributed $75,000 and a $150,000 grant was provided by NRCAN, explained Ron Barr, Technical and Projects Planning Manager, Red Deer County.

“We are proud to continue leading the charge in sustainable energy solutions in Alberta,” said Lauren Garvey, CEO of EQUS. “This partnership with Red Deer County and the support from NRCAN allows us to enhance the EV infrastructure in central Alberta, offering fast and reliable charging options for the growing number of electric vehicle owners in the region.”

The FLO Ultra charger is capable of delivering a combined 320 kW of total charging power to two EVs at once, compared to 250 kW for a Tesla charger, for example. Brad Nickle, a business opportunity specialist for EQUS, added that FLO chargers are also known for their reliability.

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“There are other chargers that say they are 350 kW, but you very rarely can get that out of them. This charger we know is consistently going to be performing and delivering high quality fast service to people,” he said.

While results will vary depending on the type of vehicle being charged, Nickle said a Tesla station can charge a vehicle from 10 to 80 per cent in 25 minutes while this station can do so in about 18 minutes.

The project is also a non-profit cooperative utility, he added, so the station’s rate is about 10 per cent lower than Tesla stations to remain competitive.

“We want people to vote with their wallets,” he said, adding, “we hope they choose Junction 42.”

EQUS hopes to see about four charges per day to start.

Junction 42 was chosen for the installation in an effort to bridge the gap in charging locations for travellers between Edmonton and Calgary. The charging station is designed to accommodate a wide range of EV models, including truck and trailer access.

“Red Deer County’s Junction 42 Business Park is opening doors for economic growth, boosting tourism, and positioning our region as leaders in clean energy,” said Jim Wood, Red Deer County mayor. “Access to fast and reliable charging infrastructure in central Alberta ensures that we are taking care of all travelling Albertans along the QEII.”

Charging sessions at the station can be initiated and paid for via the FLO app.