The City of Vancouver’s parks board and Telus (TSX:T) are partnering on a plan to build utility sites in the West End that will provide wireless service and charging stations for electric vehicles.
“If we want to keep growing our economy in Vancouver, we need smarter, innovative technology that meets our citizens’ needs – especially when it comes to the rising demand for wireless capability,” Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a press release.
“This partnership with Telus demonstrates a creative and fiscally responsible way to provide infrastructure that supports both our economic and greenest city goals, while providing better service for taxpayers."
Telus will spend $1 million to build the sites on land leased by the parks board and expects to have the first one online late this year.
The three sites will provide electric vehicle parking stalls with charging facilities and will also have small micro-transmitters that can be used by Telus, Koodo and Bell (TSX:BCE) mobile customers.
“For Telus, these sites will allow us to keep up with the rapidly growing demand for wireless services in the area,” said Eros Spadotto, Telus executive vice-president of technology strategy and operations.
“Because Vancouver’s West End is such a densely populated neighbourhood, it is also exactly where you want an electric vehicle charging station, making this a great combination.”
At the New Cities Summit in Paris last month, Vancouver writer Douglas Coupland floated an idea for a similar multi-purpose utility station called the V-Pole for the City of Vancouver.
The V-Pole would contain Wi-Fi and wireless transmitters, LED street lighting and electric vehicle charging and could also process parking transactions.
