Hydro Ottawa and FLO to pilot residential charging stations in Ottawa

OTTAWA—On April 24, Hydro Ottawa announced a partnership with Canada’s largest electric vehicle charging network provider, FLO, to pilot 100 level two charging stations with residential customers in Ottawa.

The pilot project will be rolled out in the coming months, and Hydro Ottawa says it is intended to help the utility understand residential EV demands on the electricity grid.

“As Ottawa’s local electricity provider we are in a unique position to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Ottawa. This pilot project with FLO will allow us to learn the impacts of EVs and charging stations on our electricity grid; helping us pave the way to better support electric vehicles in Ottawa,” said Bryce Conrad, CEO and president, Hydro Ottawa.

Hydro Ottawa is currently working with the City of Ottawa to develop a network of charging stations to support electric vehicle adoption in the city.

FLO, a Quebec City-based firm, will provide up to 100 FLO Home X5 charging stations throughout the term of the pilot project, which it says can charge an electric car overnight.

The charging network operator will also provide software services to study the impacts of its chargers on Ottawa’s grid: including real-time monitoring, reporting and analysis of infrastructure impacts, as well as conducting demand response events and determining integration with renewable resources.

“Accommodating the growing demand for electric vehicle charging represents an opportunity for utilities as the majority of EV charging happens at home. The connectivity of our products allows utilities to future-proof their assets and reduce pressure on the grid. We’re proud to support Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan through this initiative, and greatly look forward to working with other North American utilities to deploy similar solutions,” said Louis Tremblay, CEO and president, FLO.

Ottawa residents interested in participating can register here.