Electric cars such as the Maya 300 need charging stations that can cost as much as $2,000 apiece. (Steve Ruark/Associated Press)

Vancouver city council has unanimously approved new regulations for electric vehicle charging stations.

Under the plan approved Thursday, developers must include plug-ins for electric cars in at least 20 per cent of parking stalls in new condominium and apartment buildings, along with some city-owned parking lots.

Council doubled the original proposal that would have required only 10 per cent of stalls to have the charging infrastructure.

David Ramslie of the City of Vancouver said the initiative is drawing direct support from car manufacturers like Nissan and Mitsubishi.

Ramslie said the city is getting attention from car companies when it comes to new model launches.

"We've had discussions to bring electric vehicles to Vancouver first because we feel this city is set up in so many ways to support electric vehicles."

The estimated price tag for the plug-ins is between $500 and $2,000 per stall.

Developers are being given an 18-month grace period before the plug-ins are required.