Ottawa is committing $84.4 million to expand Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure with the installation of over 8,000 new chargers nationwide. The announcement, made on , by the ministers of environment, energy and transport, builds on a broader $1.5 billion commitment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank unveiled last week, and aims to address “range anxiety” – a key barrier to EV adoption.
The funding breakdown includes $5.7 million for three projects under the Green Freight program, focused on reducing emissions from the trucking sector through the adoption of low-carbon fuels and technologies. An additional $7.2 million will support 30 education and awareness projects designed to increase public understanding of EVs and their benefits.
While the government repealed the controversial EV sales mandate last week, it remains committed to a goal of ensuring that three-in-four new car sales are electric by 2035. This ambitious target necessitates a significant expansion of charging infrastructure across the country.
According to estimates prepared for Natural Resources Canada in 2024, approximately 447,000 public charging ports and 11.9 million at-home charging ports will be needed by 2035 to support a fully electric vehicle fleet. While this projection was based on 100% EV sales, it provides a benchmark for the scale of infrastructure required to meet the current 75% target.
Currently, Canada has over 33,000 EV chargers installed, with more than 18,000 additional chargers planned through the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. However, industry representatives acknowledge that substantial investment is still required.
“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.”
The majority of Canada’s existing charging infrastructure is concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, accounting for 67% of the national total. The new funding is intended to improve access to reliable charging, particularly along major transportation corridors and in communities where infrastructure is currently limited.
The government’s auto strategy, released last Thursday, also highlighted the importance of skills training and attracting private sector investment to accelerate the deployment of EV infrastructure. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson stated that a National Charging Infrastructure Strategy, to guide the construction and development of EV chargers “from coast to coast to coast,” will be released this fall.
The announcement comes as the federal government seeks to balance ambitious climate goals with the concerns of the automotive industry. The repeal of the EV mandate followed pressure from automakers who cited concerns about U.S. Tariffs and the pace of EV adoption. However, the continued investment in charging infrastructure signals a commitment to supporting the transition to electric vehicles.
The government has not yet provided a timeline for the installation of the 8,000 new chargers. It also remains unclear whether the project will be referred to the Major Projects Office, established under the Building Canada Act, to expedite the deployment process. CBC News reported last week that Ottawa was considering such a referral.
The $84.4 million investment represents a significant step towards building out the charging network needed to support a growing EV fleet. However, the success of the initiative will depend on effective implementation, collaboration with the private sector, and continued investment in the years to come.
