More Ontario Funding for Electric Vehicle Chargers

Ontario is taking big steps to achieve their goal of being a leader in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by adding fast chargers to the busiest highways. The Ontario government has invested in 20 new charging stations to be installed by Ivy Charging Network (a joint venture between Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation (OPG)) at a variety of ONroute stops.

By the summer of 2022, 17 of the charging stations should be completed, while another three units are projected to be installed by the end of the 2022 year. This is a crucial stage in the Ontario government’s plan for a sustainable transportation future called, “Driving Prosperity: The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector”.

“Today, a new technological wave is sweeping through the global auto industry, transforming it towards the production of electric vehicles (EVs) and other next-generation vehicles. Over the next decade, sales of EVs are forecast to grow exponentially. By 2040, EV sales are expected to eclipse the production of traditional internal combustion engines altogether.”

– Driving Prosperity: The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector

Driving Prosperity outlines a plan to build at least 400,000 new EVs before 2030 to keep up with the rapidly growing demand for sustainable vehicles. To manage this increase in EVs on the road, there must be a widespread network of charging stations which can handle high capacity levels; this is the challenge that Ontario is hoping to solve with their investment in 20 new charging stations.

“With more electric vehicles coming onto our roads each year, it’s vital that drivers have the ability to conveniently charge their vehicles along the province’s busiest highways. In addition to building new highways that will alleviate congestion in Ontario, the installation of Ivy Charging Networks at all ONroute locations is a big step forward to support EV owners.”

– Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.

What Other EV Investments is Ontario Making?

The Ontario government has committed to a variety of government funding programs to help streamline the adaption of electric vehicles. Some programs that have proved helpful for Ontario electric vehicles are:

• Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP);
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration (EVID) Program; and
• Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).

To read more about government funding programs for EVs, read our Top Funding for Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Innovators article or visit our government funding directory for a comprehensive list of all of the top programs available.

“Ontario is putting shovels in the ground to build critical infrastructure including highways. Our agreement with Ivy, ONroute and Canadian Tire to construct EV chargers at all of the province’s 23 ONroute stations is an important step forward, allowing EV owners to travel our great province with more freedom and confidence. This deployment will reduce barriers to EV ownership, supporting Ontario’s growing EV manufacturing market and critical minerals sector, and help achieve Ontario’s goal of building at least 400,000 electric and hybrid vehicles by 2030.”

– Todd Smith, Minister of Energy.

Moreover, Ontario has also committed to continuing their support for EVs and Connected Autonomous Vehicles (C/AVs) with launch of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) which is designed to act as a liaison for government funding programs. OVIN is also committed to helping all Ontario businesses in the EV sector by providing resources and opportunities for collaborative partnerships via their several Regional Technology Development Sites (RTDSs) such as the Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility (CITM) and the Ontario Tech University (OTU).

Government Funding for Electric Vehicle Organizations

Canadian electric vehicle businesses located in Ontario can get started with government grants and/or loans to help achieve your project goals, please contact the Mentor Works team of professional grant writers for help with assessment and eligibility.

Also, take a moment to review our freeNavigating the Government Funding Process Slide Deck to learn about grants, loans, and government incentives that are available to Canadian organizations and how to navigate the landscape.