Canada supports EV charging and knowledge sharing

The Canadian federal government is investing C$10.9 million (approximately €6.75 million) in 22 projects to expand charging infrastructure and support awareness programmes aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric mobility across the country.

Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced that the government will invest nearly C$9 million (approximately €5.6 million) in nine infrastructure projects to install almost 400 new charging points across Canada. The funding aims to strategically improve the availability and accessibility of the country’s public charging network.

A significant share of the funding will go to established charging providers. Hydro-Québec will receive C$5 million to install around 100 new DC fast chargers across its Le Circuit électrique network. The expansion aims to meet growing demand, reduce charging times at high-traffic locations and ease capacity constraints during peak periods. Other recipients, including Ivy Charging Network and QuantumEV, will also receive funding to expand charging infrastructure in Ontario and other provinces.

In addition to expanding the electric vehicle charging network, the government is investing around two million Canadian dollars (approximately 1.2 million euros) in 13 education and awareness projects focused on electric mobility. These initiatives aim to address reservations and build confidence in zero-emission vehicles. Among the supported projects are specialised training programmes for emergency services and test-drive events in rural and Indigenous communities.

Guidance for multi-unit residential buildings

A key focus of the awareness funding is on transferring expertise for charging infrastructure in and around multi-unit residential buildings and homeowners’ associations, where nearly one-third of Canadian families live. Unlike households in single-family homes, residents of multi-unit buildings often lack access to private charging facilities.

Specifically for multi-unit residential buildings, the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council is receiving 200,000 Canadian dollars in funding. The goal of this national project is to accelerate the cost-effective and equitable installation of charging infrastructure in multi-unit buildings, support decision-making processes, and remove concrete barriers to implementation.

Travis Allan, President of the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council, explains the background of the initiative: “Driving electric can save a Canadian household between $23,000 and $32,000 over 10 years, but for the nearly one in three Canadian families who live in condominiums, stratas, and apartments, those savings can be out of reach.” The Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council aims to change this.

Additionally, a project by the Canadian Parking Association is receiving 200,000 Canadian dollars to develop practical, research-based resources to assist parking owners and operators in planning and installing charging infrastructure.

Guidance for shared parking spaces

These initiatives provide homeowners’ associations, property managers, and landlords with clear, practical guidance—including legal and technical advice—to simplify and ensure the compliant installation of charging points in underground garages and shared parking spaces.

The measures complement Canada’s national automotive strategy, introduced last winter. With an electricity grid powered by around 80% clean energy sources, the country’s policies are consistently positioning the sector for climate expertise and global competitiveness. Industry associations such as Electric Mobility Canada have welcomed the targeted support for fleet management, bidirectional charging, and the integration of electric vehicles into local power grids.