The Atmospheric Fund, a GTHA-based GHG solutions nonprofit, will be responsible for dispersing “a component” of the funding from Natural Resource Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program

In a bid to boost charging infrastructure in urban areas, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) today announced a $2-million investment for The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) to expand public electric vehicle charger networks in Ontario.

The NRCan funding — which comes from the Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) — is being direct to TAF’s EV Station Fund and is expected to contribute to the installation of 294 new EV chargers at public and private locations in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

The EV Station Fund is “prioritizing EV charging stations in areas with below average number of chargers per person,” according to the organization’s website.

TAF is a long-time GTHA-based nonprofit that works to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution.

Those wishing to access the funding must apply to TAF and based on the type of charger being installed — Level 2, DC Fast Charge or DC Fast Charge Plus — are eligible for $5,000, $15,000 or $50,000 in funding, respectively, or, up to 50 per cent of the purchase and installation cost.

“It’s time to walk the talk on lowering emissions in the transportation sector,” said Julie Dabrusin, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in a press release.

This announcement follows a similar investment NRCan is making in Alberta, announced last week, that will also see $2 million directed towards the installation of nearly 300 EV chargers in the province by March 2023.

Electrifying transportation in GTHA is key

Transportation accounts for roughly 35 per cent of emissions in the GTHA and is increasing about one per cent every year, says The Atmospheric Fund.

“Electrifying transportation is key to reaching our climate targets and that requires accessible, widely available charging infrastructure. This support from Natural Resources Canada will allow TAF to ensure public, private and non-profit groups across the GTHA have access to the funding and services they need to be a part of this transition,” said Julia Langer, CEO of The Atmospheric Fund, in a press release.

NRCAn says the 294 charging stations will be located in “public places, multi-unit residential buildings, on streets, at workplaces or facilities for servicing light-duty vehicle fleets” and will be operational by December 2023.

Eligible recipients of the funding include municipalities, utilities, parking authorities, public institutions, non-profit organizations and multi-family residential buildings — the latter of which is a chronically underserved area for EV charging.

At a press conference announcing the funding, Dabrusin emphasized the federal government is “leading by example” to demonstrate how investments in clean transportation technologies will help reduce national emissions.

On February 10, 2022 TAF will be hosting a virtual information session about the EV Station Fund.