The federal government is putting more than $5 million into expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Atlantic Canada.
The funding will support five projects through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which helps cover the cost of building public and private charging sites.
New chargers are planned for workplaces, on-street parking, and multi-unit residential buildings in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. Two Indigenous-led projects are also receiving support, including one that will install chargers at a highway retail hub and another at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
“The Government of Canada is making it easier for Canadians to go electric by building reliable charging infrastructure where people need it. Every new EV charger we help install brings us one step closer to a cleaner, more-connected Atlantic Canada. By making it easier for people and businesses to choose electric, we’re not just investing in infrastructure — we are giving drivers more options to help power a cleaner, more-sustainable future,” said Tim Hodgson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, in a statement on Friday.
The program is part of Ottawa’s wider push to encourage Canadians to switch to electric vehicles by making charging more accessible. Atlantic Canada has trailed provinces like Quebec and British Columbia in the number of chargers available, so officials say more access in workplaces and residential buildings could help commuters, renters, and condo owners consider an EV.
Since 2016, the federal government has committed over $1 billion toward EV charging and hydrogen refuelling projects nationwide. These latest projects are expected to roll out over the next few years, adding to the growing network of more than 30,000 public charging stations already installed or planned across the country.
The feds are reconsidering the federal EV rebate as it was cancelled due to lack of funds. But it might be back soon so stay tuned.
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