Ottawa commits $84M to install more than 8,000 EV chargers

In an effort to address range anxiety and get more drivers into electric vehicles, the federal government is committing to fund and further expand the country’s EV charging infrastructure.

The ministers of the environment, energy and transport are expected on Tuesday to announce $84.4 million in funding for more than 8,000 new chargers across the country.

Another $5.7 million will be directed to three projects through the Green Freight program, which helps trucks reduce their carbon footprint, through measures like the purchase of low-carbon fuels. Plus, $7.2 million is expected to be announced for 30 education and awareness projects about EVs. 

The government’s auto strategy, released Thursday, came with a $1.5 billion commitment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and said the government will “develop a new National Charging Infrastructure Strategy.”

It also mentioned skills training, attracting private equity and “private sector champions to lead projects of national significance.”

Although Prime Minister Mark Carney repealed the controversial EV sales mandate, his Liberal government has still set an ambitious goal of nudging the market toward ensuring that three-in-four new car sales would be electric battery-powered by 2035. 

It’s a massive change from where the market is now and will require a considerable buildout of charging infrastructure from coast to coast to coast in roughly a decade. 

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According to one 2024 estimate prepared for Natural Resources Canada, the nation would need approximately 447,000 public charging and 11.9 million at home charging ports by 2035.

While that projection modelled for a scenario in which EVs accounted for 100 per cent of new car sales, it could be instructive for a future when three-in-four new cars sold need to be charged.  

According to Natural Resources Canada, more than 33,000 EV chargers have been installed and more than 18,000 are planned across the country through the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. 

“The infrastructure has improved dramatically over the last couple of years. It is not where it needs to be to service 75 per cent of all new vehicles sold in 2035,” said Travis Allan, president of the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council.

“So there is a large investment opportunity here.”

Tuesday’s announcement made no mention of whether improvements to the charging station network could be referred to the Major Projects Office, which was set up under the Building Canada Act.

CBC News reported last week that Ottawa was considering a referral to help speed up the deployment.