Electric car owners will be able to recharge their vehicles at the Walmart store in Abbotsford, as part of a provincially-led plan to establish 145 charging stations in the province.

Forty-one organizations, including businesses and non-profits, are participating, with Walmart opening 28 such stations, including the one in Abbotsford on Vedder Way, in Chilliwack and Langley.

"You can plug in for nothing," said Randy Hawes, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission.

"These charging stations will help us preserve our environment, and serves as a positive example for current drivers, who are thinking of investing in an electric vehicle, and future drivers."

Yarrow Central Enterprises in Chilliwack is also setting up two charging stations in the Yarrow Ecovillage.

The Fraser Valley Regional District will open five, in Chilliwack, Hope and Boston Bar.

"These 145 charging stations we are announcing today mark another step toward making electrical vehicles a realistic option for British Columbians," said Minister of Environment Terry Lake.

"By making it more convenient for clean energy vehicle owners, such as myself, to charge their cars, businesses and other organizations are encouraging environmentally-friendly transportation options and reducing emissions province-wide."

The funding is part of the B.C. government's $2.7-million Community Charging Infrastructure Fund announced in April by Lake.

As with the previous round of CCI funding announced in September, approval is for 75 per cent of the cost of purchasing and installing charging stations, up to $4,000 per station.

Combined with the charging station funding previously announced, this brings the total number of CCI Fund-supported charging stations in the province to 418.

More than 60 per cent of the charging stations in this round are being installed by businesses, an indicator that B.C. companies recognize the value in providing their customers with the ability to charge their cars, noted a Ministry of Environment press release.

The CCI Fund is managed, administered and promoted by the Fraser Basin Council.

Its purpose is to support a network of charging stations province-wide.

All stations must be installed by March 31, 2013.

CToth@abbotsfordtimes.com