Electric vehicles are changing how Canadians get around, and that means charging infrastructure is becoming just as important as the roads we drive on. From smart home chargers to a coast-to-coast public network, reliable charging is what keeps the clean economy moving.
New Economy Canada partner FLO is one of the companies leading that charge, operating one of North America’s largest EV charging networks and developing solutions that make charging simple, accessible, and dependable. To learn more about what it takes to keep that network running smoothly, we spoke with Dan Retonel, Service Engineering Specialist on FLO’s Network Operations team.
Can you tell us about your responsibilities?
I’m a Service Engineering Specialist in the Network Operations team at FLO based in the greater Vancouver area. I specialize in field and network matters related to FLO DC fast charging which include the SmartDC and the new FLO Ultra charging stations.
FLO is all about making charging your electric vehicle easy, whether you’re at home, at work, or on the road. We’ve got a network of stations across the country and smart home chargers for houses and apartment buildings. We also team up with businesses and cities to help them offer charging and make it easier for more people to drive electric.
What’s a day in the life of your role?
Day-to-day, my tasks can vary. Usually, I begin my day by communicating with our field operations teams, diagnosing and troubleshooting issues on highly utilized charging stations. I’ll also review any issues that may have occurred overnight and perform monitoring or follow-ups.
After collecting information from our databases and from my colleagues, I compile reports that are presented internally for escalation. I also represent the Service Engineering team in meetings involving colleagues across North America. I wrap up my day with some document creation to write procedures and work instructions for the Network Operation teams to better service FLO charging stations.
What do you love about your job?
Working at FLO gives me a sense of responsibility of change towards a more sustainable future. By maintaining a network of reliable charging stations, I know that we increase the public’s confidence in owning and driving EVs. I can attest that FLO’s products and services are designed, developed, and deployed, with the mindset of longevity, robustness, and ease-of-use, and I’m proud of that.
What was your career path?
My interests in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects led me to study at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) where I completed my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. I then took a position as project coordinator at Colwin Electrical Group, an established electrical contractor in BC. I quickly learned to perform take-off counts and project estimates, design various electrical layouts, all while coordinating with foremen, project leads, and suppliers.
Simultaneously, I worked part-time with Engaging Minds, an EV outreach service provider, where I was assigned to eMotive BC. I was hooked! Not only was I providing the public knowledge about EVs, such as models available, government incentives, and how to find a public charging station, I wanted to learn more and contribute to EV adoption.
How does this role benefit Canadians?
During my time at FLO, I witnessed the deployment of thousands of FLO level 2 charging stations and over 300 FLO SmartDC fast-charging stations, just in Western Canada! I believe that our charging stations and services have directly driven the increased adoption of EVs in my community. In fact, I am certain that my contributions at FLO are key to statistics like 18% of new car sales in 2023 were of the plug-in variety, according to a report posted by BC Hydro. Although it may mean that I might need to wait patiently to charge my VW e-Golf, I take pride whenever I go to my local grocery store complex and see that nearly all the SmartDC fast-charging stations are in use.
There are hundreds of clean energy and tech companies in Canada. And millions of people are working in clean energy, clean tech and across our supply chain. Find out more about clean economy jobs and see who’s hiring!