HARRISTON – Electric vehicle (EV) operators now have the opportunity for a quick recharge at a vehicle dealership here.
Leslie Motors held a grand opening for two new level three EV charging stations at its Elora Street Ford dealership on April 6.
Mark Leslie, a part of three generations of the Leslie family involved in operating Ford dealerships in Harriston, Walkerton and Wingham, said the chargers, which accept credit card payment, will be a boon to both local residents and travellers.
“There’s not a lot of level three chargers from Kitchener right up to Sauble Beach … So it’s going to work out very well that way,” he told the Advertiser.
He called the current generation of EVs and fast chargers “the next evolution in the automotive business,” noting the technology is advancing rapidly.
“I had a 2018 Focus Electric that had about a 160 kilometre range on it. And now we’re selling vehicles that have over a 500 kilometre range,” Leslie added.
Mark Leslie, right, addresses the crowd at the grand opening of two Level Three EV charging stations at Leslie Motors on April 6, as his parents, Ron and Gerry Leslie look on.
A level three charger will get most vehicles to an 80 per cent charge level in about 50 minutes.
The difference between a level two and level three charger is akin to using a fire hose instead of a garden hose, Mark explained.
“A level two is probably an overnight thing, like six, seven hours, eight hours, versus these at 50 minutes,” he said.
He also pointed out demand for EVs is increasing, with Ford recently dropping prices significantly on its F150 Lighting and Mustang Mach E models.
“In the last month and a half we’ve probably sold 20 electric vehicles, which is substantially more than we sold in the previous year,” he noted.
Ford Canada president and CEO Bev Goodman was among the dignitaries on hand for the opening of two level three EV charging stations at Leslie Motors in Harriston on April 6.
Mark said he believes EVs will play a significant role in the automotive industry going forward.
“This is part of the future. I know the car companies, maybe probably pushed the issue a little quicker than they should have, but this is where they’re going,” he said.
“They’re spending billions of dollars to go into this industry and it’s not going away … it’s part of the answer.”
Leslie Motors founder Ron Leslie purchased the Harriston dealership, which has existed on the same location since 1913, with his wife Gerry in 1966.
The couple, both in their 80s, recently became electric vehicle enthusiasts after a 2023 trip to Florida in a Mach E.
“We went 1,400 miles in two days … absolutely no trouble whatsoever,” Ron told the crowd at the opening.
On hand for the opening were numerous local residents and several dignitaries, including Ford Canada president and CEO Bev Goodman; Paul Roy, general manager of the company’s electric vehicle program; Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, MPP Matthew Rae and Minto Mayor Dave Turton.
