Petro-Canada says it is building Canada’s first cross-country network of electric vehicle fast charging stations.

More than 50 EV stations will be located along the Trans-Canada highway at strategically located Petro-Canada stations from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, said the company, which is part of Suncor Energy.

Construction is set to begin this spring with sites opening over the next year.

“With more than 1,800 retail and wholesale locations across the country we have the network in place to build Canada’s first electric highway, providing coast-to-coast EV charging for our customers,” Suncor executive vice-president Kris Smith said in a statement.

“We’re also investing in the fastest charging EV technology available today, which will be able to easily upgrade as technology advances.”

Petro-Canada stations will offer DC fast chargers with both CHAdeMO and CCS/SAE connectors which support a broad selection of vehicles. The chargers can provide up to a 200 kilowatt charge – enough to provide an 80 per cent charge to most EVs in less than 30 minutes. The units are capable of 350 kilowatt charging with future upgrades.

A test site is currently operational at 235 Steeles Ave. in Milton, Ont.