Tuktoyaktuk installs its first Tesla chargers

Road tripping to the Arctic Ocean in your electric vehicle just got easier. Tuktoyaktuk has installed two Tesla Destination Chargers.

The chargers are located at Kitti Hall, running at 60 amperes, and at The Point – at the Arctic Ocean – running at 32 amperes.

Vlad Galbin, the hamlet’s economic development officer, said the Cybertruck Arctic Expedition contacted the municipality in September about its trip to the community and vision to connect electric vehicles to the Arctic Ocean.

This summer’s expedition ran from Florida to the Arctic via the Dempster Highway. Accounts of the trip suggest the vehicles struggled at times to find charging stations in more isolated parts of Canada, but also left behind some charging equipment to help make things easier for the next people to try the same route.

As part of that mission, the expedition donated the two chargers to Tuktoyaktuk. The hamlet was responsible for the installation, receiving some financial support from the territorial government.

A Destination Charger isn’t as fast as a Supercharger but is designed to provide fast charging while a Tesla vehicle – or another compatible model – sits in a parking spot.

Galbin said the hamlet is still in the process of determining what the chargers will cost to use.

“In February of 2024 we saw our first fully electric vehicle drive up to Tuktoyaktuk, followed by three other Teslas that visited our community during the summer months,” Galbin wrote to Cabin Radio. (Two of the three summer Teslas were with the Cybertruck Arctic Expedition.) He noted there is one hybrid vehicle in the community.

“The Destination Chargers align perfectly with our community’s ongoing efforts to address the impacts of climate change, particularly with our current shoreline erosion mitigation project,” he continued.

“For tourism, they make Tuktoyaktuk more accessible to electric vehicle travellers, encouraging ecotourism and bringing new visitors to experience our unique culture and landscape. This also contributes to our economic development by supporting the tourism industry, which is a primary driver of our local economy.”

On Facebook, the hamlet thanked the expedition, saying its commitment to advancing electric vehicle travel was “inspiring.”

“We look forward to welcoming travellers to experience our breathtaking landscape, rich culture, and now, a truly electrifying stop on their journey,” the hamlet said.