The investment, split evenly between the city and the federal government, will be used to create much-needed infrastructure for Toronto’s expanding municipal fleet of electric vehicles

The federal government and the City of Toronto are making a $10-million joint investment to fund the purchase and installation of over 500 electric vehicle chargers.

The package consists of 486 Level 2 chargers and 40 DC fast chargers for use by the city’s expanding fleet of EVs. Installation is scheduled to be completed by December 2025. The chargers will be available in 100 locations throughout the city.

The federal government’s $5-million contribution comes from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. This latest funding marks the fourth time the federal government has helped the city invest in EV infrastructure.

“Federal investment is helping to build a more sustainable future for Toronto,” says Julie Dabrusin, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, in a press statement.

“[T]hese over 500 new chargers we are deploying across Toronto [are] making it easier to switch to an EV.”

Increasing municipal fleet chargers

Toronto’s municipal fleet comprises of almost 10,000 vehicles. About nine per cent are fully electric.

Toronto’s goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. The city aims to transition 20 per cent of its municipal fleet by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030.

The 556 new chargers will support that effort.

Since 2019, Toronto has piloted a workplace EV charging program. Its offerings include charging stations for city employees to use at City Hall and Metro Hall. The new charging infrastructure will significantly expand this program.

The city also says it will make some of the chargers accessible to the public in the future.

“Toronto is an environmental leader. Torontonians are proud of the progress we are making to make the city clean, green and sustainable,” says Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto in a press note.

“This type of partnership with the federal government will speed up our ambitious plans to make our city’s fleet net zero.”