More than $10 million in new funding will add hundreds of chargers in Atlantic Canada, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba

October has been a milestone month for Canada’s electric vehicle transition, with a wave of new investments announced to accelerate the expansion of charging networks across Atlantic Canada, western provinces and Manitoba.

From federal funding on the East Coast to a new fast-charging corridor in Alberta and British Columbia and Manitoba’s latest commitment to build out its northern charging network, governments and businesses are moving quickly to expand the country’s EV infrastructure.

157 new chargers for Atlantic Canada

The federal government has pledged more than $5 million through the Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) to support five new charging projects across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nova Scotia Power will receive the bulk of the funding. Three million dollars will go to support the installation of 60 DC fast chargers at public sites throughout the province.

Nikmaq Trading Inc. will receive $742,500 to install 10 DC fast chargers near Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

Funding from the ZEVIP program is giving Southwest Properties $100,000 to install 20 Level 2 chargers at multi-unit residential buildings.

Glooscap First Nation will use $225,000 in federal funding to install two solar-powered DC fast chargers at Glooscap Landing, a highway retail hub along Highway 101 in Kings County, N.S. The solar microgrid that powers the chargers received $200,000 from Indigenous Services Canada through the Atlantic Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative.

Steele Auto Group Limited, which operates car and truck dealerships across Atlantic Canada and in the United States, will receive $1.3 million from ZEVIP to install 37 Level 2 EV chargers and 28 DC fast chargers across its locations in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

In total, these projects will add 157 new chargers across Atlantic Canada.

“Atlantic Canadians are ready to lead in the clean energy transition, and today’s investment is about making sure they have the tools to do it,” said Kody Blois, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, in a press statement.

“By expanding EV charging infrastructure across our communities, we’re helping families, workers and Indigenous partners make the switch to electric while creating good jobs and supporting local economies.”

Charging corridor across Alberta and B.C.

In Western Canada, SureCharge Corp., a new EV network operator, is developing a fast- charging corridor spanning Alberta and British Columbia.

The project includes 24 DC fast-charging stations with 96 charging points, powered by Supernova 180 kW chargers from Texas-based technology company Wallbox.

SureTek Electric & Technologies Ltd., Calgary-based electrical contractor specializing in EV infrastructure and certified Wallbox partner, will handle installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance.

“This project is about opening up the map for EV drivers in Western Canada,” said Michael Palarchio, vice-president at SureCharge Corp., in a press release. “From the northern stretches of British Columbia to the southern reaches of Alberta, we’re enabling a fast-charging corridor that connects communities across the region — many of which have never had access to this kind of infrastructure before. By building a network…we’re creating a locally powered solution that works for the people who live, work, and travel here.”

The first sites are expected to go live in late 2025. The chargers will be located in Alberta in the communities of Red Deer, Lacombe, and Enoch Cree Nation. From there, the network will expand to Whitecourt, Grande Prairie, Jasper, Fort St. John, Fernie and Edson. It will also include smaller rural and remote communities, including Grand Cache, Hinton, Rocky Mountain House, Valleyview and Diamond Valley, before extending into British Columbia.

The project was awarded $4.7 million from ZEVIP and $400,000 from the B.C.  government through a partnership with Natural Resources Canada.

Manitoba’s new network

Meanwhile, the Manitoba government plans to develop six high-powered EV charging stations between Winnipeg and Thompson as part of its roadmap to reach net-zero emissions.

Manitoba included the project in its recently released Path to Net Zero strategy, which sets out the province’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Among its key actions are the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, modernization of the electricity grid and stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities.

While officials are still finalizing specific details, Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes told reporters that the province will space the chargers roughly 150 kilometres apart in Lundar, Lake St. Martin, Grand Rapids, Ponton, Wabowden, and Thompson.

According to Moyes, the province expects the infrastructure to cost $9.2-million and be fully operational by April 2027.

Manitoba Hydro will oversee and operate the six new sites as the province’s first publicly owned fast-charging stations.

The announcement builds on the province’s $500,000 investment in April to support the installation of 51 chargers across southwestern Manitoba.