Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVI) 2021 – Grants for EV Charging Stations

The Canadian federal government is heavily investing in developing low-carbon technology and the Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVI) aims to eliminate vehicular carbon footprint. Passenger transportation contributes 53% to total transportation emissions in Canada, while 42% stems from freight transport and 5% from off-road vehicles (source).

Applications for grant funding through the ZEVI program must be submitted by June 22, 2021.

With the Canadian Federal Budget 2021 allocating more than $5 billion towards the creation of net-zero technologies, it’s clear that green technologies will be Canada’s secret weapon towards reaching the national goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Program Snapshot: Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVI)

Funding Amount:

Applicants of the ZEVI program can receive up to 50% of a project’s eligible costs to a maximum $5,000,000 per project.

Funding levels are based on the type of infrastructure installed (i.e., Level 2 connectors, Fast Charger, Hydrogen refueling station).

Eligible Applicants:

• For-profit Canadian businesses
• Electricity/gas utilities
• Not-for-profit associations (such as academic institutions, industry associations, and municipalities)

Eligible Activities:

• Must be located in Canada and be a permanent installation.
• Must be new and purchased equipment (not leased).
• Installation and implementation of EV charging and hydrogen refueling stations in:
  • Public Places;
  • On-Street;
  • Multi-Unit Residential Buildings; and
  • Workplaces or for Light-Duty Vehicle Fleets.
• For EV Charger projects, your proposal must include:
  • A minimum of two fast chargers of 50 kW and above; OR
  • If installing less than 2 fast chargers of 50 kW and above, a minimum of 20 chargers of all charging levels is required.
• Must be an eligible technology: 
  • SAE J1772 standard plug head
  • SAE J1772 Combo
  • CHAdeMO
  • Other proprietary charging connector types
  • Hydrogen refueling projects (the station must be capable of dispensing at 700 bar minimum).

Eligible Expenses:

• Capital expenditures;
• Salaries and benefits;
• Professional services;
• Rental fees and leasing costs;
• License and permit fees;
• Costs associated with environmental assessment; and
• Overhead directly related to the project.

Ineligible Expenses:

• Land and legal costs; and
• Expenses made prior to approval.

Project Timelines:

• EV Charging Projects: Must be completed within 30 months.
• Hydrogen Refueling Projects: Must be completed within 36 months.

Funding decisions/negotiations are expected in October 2021, and applicants must wait for approval before beginning project spends.

Apply for Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVI)

The deadline to submit your application to the ZEVI program is June 22, 2021. If you believe yourself to be a good fit for this program and would like application assistance, contact the top Canadian government grant and loan application writers at Mentor Works. Our team will not only assess if your business is a good fit for the ZEVI program, but we’ll also discuss your upcoming business projects to see if we can match them with an available government funding program.

The deadline to start the ZEVI application process with Mentor Works is June 1, 2021. Book a meeting with our Business Development team, or call us at 1-888-599-3111.