London will have seven new electric vehicle charging stations in three locations by next spring.
The province announced on Wednesday it's building 500 charging stations at over 250 locations across Ontario. In London, there will be four built at the City Centre at 380 Wellington St., one at the Tim Hortons at 146 Clarke Rd. and two at the Wellington Commons at 1210 Wellington Rd. S.
It's hoped the move will encourage more residents to use electric vehicles by addressing "range anxiety'' among electric car drivers who may be concerned about the distance their vehicles can travel compared to traditional vehicles.
The new network of stations will allow electric vehicle drivers to travel from Windsor to Ottawa or from Toronto to North Bay and within and around major urban centres.
The expansion of charging stations comes with a $20-million price tag.
"By investing in charging infrastructure that is fast, reliable and affordable, we are encouraging more Ontarians to purchase electric vehicles, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and keeping our air clean," says Steven Del Duca, Ontario minister of transportation.
The provincial government maintains greenhouse gases from cars account for more emissions than those from industries such as iron, steel, cement, and chemicals combined.
Currently, there are nearly 7,000 electric vehicles on Ontario roads.
The charging stations will be in service by March 31.