Surrey is Powering Cleantech Growth by Investing in Electrification
The City of Surrey is home to a cluster of leading companies in BC’s clean technology sector. Supported by people and policy, institutions and infrastructure alike, the fast-growing cleantech ecosystem in Surrey makes it an ideal place to innovate and scale.
In this article, we take a look at a Surrey-based company that’s leading the charge when it comes to electric mobility, as well as the factors that are contributing to their success and that of the industry ecosystem as a whole.
Electrum: An Electric Mobility Innovator
Established in May 2015, Electrum provides end-to-end electric mobility solutions for buildings, public spaces, and vehicle fleets, including electric vehicle (EV) charging and electrification. In addition to planning, design, and installation, they provide solutions around energy management, access, billing, monitoring and maintenance, and even software.
Overall, their work aims to drive the adoption of electrified platforms, advance climate solutions, and support new technologies for the intelligent management of electricity from generation to user.
Over the years, Electrum has established strong partnerships with companies such as Tesla, Porsche, Siemens, Nemetz, ABB, and Phi-Hong. In 2020, they crossed a major milestone: completing over 6,000 installations, including civic installations for the city of Surrey, Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Burnaby, and EV infrastructure for some of the largest sites and brands in the world.
These successes are even more impressive given Electrum’s humble beginnings. Starting out as a team of 8 people who saw an opportunity in electric vehicles long before there was mass adoption, they’ve grown their team by more than 5x over the past few years. CEO Dan Trudel remarked, “Until three years ago, for most of the years we’ve been in business, people called us nuts, that this ain’t going anywhere.”
Currently, Electrum is working with manufacturers to build new solutions that make the charging experience more seamless and efficient. So far, they have benefited from several government funding sources, receiving upwards of $2 million to power their business. BC Hydro has also assisted in covering the cost of new charger installations, and they continue to subsidize new projects.
Regarding the successes their company has experienced in Surrey, Trudel said, “If you have a good idea, you have an opportunity.” It's through these ideas and determination that Electrum has established a strong foothold locally that is now enabling them to tackle large projects both in other Provinces and in the United States.
His advice for a new business looking to establish themselves in Surrey? “Make sure you understand what’s available to you.”
Surging Forward: A Hub for Clean Tech Investment and Innovation
It’s no surprise that companies like Electrum are seeing great success here in Surrey. With initiatives like the Climate Action Tracker and the Surrey Electrical Vehicle Strategy, the City of Surrey is evaluating the overall energy system, aiming to transition to zero-carbon, resilient energy networks and support broad-scale electrification.
BC Hydro has also announced an approximately $1 billion investment in capital projects in Surrey over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid and provide clean power for homes, businesses, and growing electrification and transportation needs. Currently, 90% of Surrey’s energy is generated from renewable energy sources.
Meanwhile, major industry players like Tesla continue to power their growth here as well. In the spring of 2023, they began construction on two new Supercharger stations, both in the parking lots of the Real Canadian Superstore (one at 7588 King George Boulevard and one at 2332 160 Street).
These stations will bring the number of Supercharger locations in Surrey to a grand total of five; once complete and operational, Surrey will be home to a total of 68 Supercharger stalls. Tesla also recently opened a brand new Tesla Service Center in Surrey, the second in the city, at 12021 104 Avenue.
Rising Demand: Surrey’s Growing EV Ownership and Strategic Transportation Plan
Consumer data in Surrey also points to a huge demand for electrification needs. In 2023, Surrey was home to over 17,000 EV's, according to data from ICBC, second in the province only to Vancouver’s ownership numbers, at over 22,000. The data also shows significant growth in EV ownership in recent years: in 2019, Surrey’s count barely exceeded 3,000 vehicles (Vancouver’s was nearly 5,400), and figures have climbed by around 50% each year since.
In the coming years, EV ownership in Surrey is projected to keep growing at a steady rate. If we are to expect the same level of year over year growth that we observed to continue, we would see Surrey households register over 96,000 EV by the end of 2027. As Surrey households rapidly replace their daily drivers for EV alternatives, if this holds true, nearly 30% of vehicles owned by Surrey residents would be either Electric or Hybrid within 3 years.
As the fastest growing metropolitan center in BC and one of the fastest growing in Canada, the City of Surrey is making strategic investments into transportation. While acknowledging the fundamental over-reliance on cars that impacts both city congestion and the environment, their Transportation Strategic Plan aims to focus on the growth, development, and maintenance of Surrey’s road network as well as promoting a balanced transport system that provides sustainable and accessible choices.
The goals outlined in the plan include supporting transportation-related measures that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing energy consumption for City infrastructure. The plan also recognizes the role of transportation in supporting successful local economies, stating, “Within Surrey, we want to see a modern, responsible and efficient transportation system that is capable of supporting the competitiveness of our businesses and boosting productivity and access to local, national and international markets.” As such, it aims to reduce congestion, promote access to employment lands, and provide transportation infrastructure and services that support sustainable economic development and vitality.
With investments being made on every level, from individuals to industry, and support from public, educational, and government institutions, cleantech companies have a huge opportunity in Surrey. The city’s growing ecosystem offers plenty of room for innovation.
If you’re looking to start or expand your business in Surrey, our team is here to help.