Six new charging sites between Winnipeg and Thompson will give EV drivers charging access to remote and northern regions for the first time, with all stations expected to be operational by 2027

Manitoba Hydro has announced the locations where the utility intends to build out the province’s first publicly-owned electric vehicle charging network.

In total, six EV charging stations between Winnipeg and Thompson will be installed along Highway 6 in:

• Lundar
• St. Martin (Pinaymootang First Nation)
• Grand Rapids (Misipawistik Cree Nation)
• Ponton (Pimicikamak Cree Nation)
• Wabowden (Pimicikamak Cree Nation)
• Thompson (Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation)

The exact site placements within each community are still being finalized.

Closing charging gap in the North

While Manitoba has hundreds of public and private EV chargers, Manitoba Hydro notes that most are concentrated along major highways and in southern communities.

Northern and remote regions, by contrast, have been left with “almost none,” creating a significant barrier for EV adoption and long-distance travel.

Selecting these six Highway 6 communities was an intentional move to address that imbalance, says the utility.

“We’re excited to launch this new EV charging network, which bridges a gap in EV charging coverage and supports the province’s Manitoba Affordable Energy Plan,” says Manitoba Hydro president and CEO Allan Danroth, in a press statement.

“The initiative [will prioritize] our partnerships with First Nations and unlock new economic and tourism opportunities for northern communities.”

Phased rollout

Electric Autonomy first reported in November 2024 that Manitoba Hydro was developing its first utility-owned public charging network as part of the province’s Affordable Energy Plan.

The Affordable Energy Plan outlines how the province will support sustainable and reliable energy access, including the deployment of public EV charging stations.

Through a public procurement process, Manitoba Hydro is selecting a third-party provider to install and operate the chargers on its behalf. Ownership of the network will remain with the utility.

Five of the six sites will feature DC fast chargers capable of fully charging up to four vehicles in roughly 20 to 30 minutes.

Construction begins this month. Manitoba Hydro expects the first sites to be energized by October or November 2026, with all locations in this initial phase operational by spring 2027.

The utility says the rollout will be completed “quickly, safely and affordably,” and that future phases will be shaped by data, insights and community feedback gathered from this first deployment.