Earlier this week the federal government announced $97 million in funding for 155 clean transportation projects across the country, marking the first major push under its newly launched Automotive Strategy. The investment aims to expand the national charging network and help fleets transition away from fossil fuels.
A significant portion of the funding, roughly $84.4 million, is earmarked for the installation of over 8,000 new electric vehicle chargers. Another $7.2 million will go toward 30 education and awareness programs, while $5.7 million is dedicated to helping commercial fleets adopt low-carbon vehicles and improve fuel efficiency.
While the government is pouring money into new stations, the technical standards for these chargers remain a key point for drivers. In a statement provided to iPhone in Canada, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) clarified its stance on charging hardware as the industry shifts toward Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS).
“The Government of Canada does not set a single connector type for all EV charging stations nationwide,” NRCan told iPhone in Canada. “For charging projects that receive federal funding, stations are required to include CCS connectors as the minimum standard. Project developers may also install additional connector types, such as Tesla’s NACS, as long as CCS remains available at the site.”
CCS is the current industry-wide standard for non-Tesla electric vehicles, whereas NACS is Tesla’s more compact charging connector that is now being adopted by most other automakers in North America.
Major automakers including Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Honda, Toyota, and the Volkswagen Group have all committed to adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard.
The funding is part of a broader “National Charging Infrastructure Strategy” designed to combat range anxiety and encourage private investment. The government has already hit a milestone of 30,000 chargers installed to date, but this new plan intends to accelerate that pace.
“We know range anxiety makes it harder to choose an EV, which is why Canada is investing in our infrastructure — and with new EV chargers opening every month, we are seeing results,” said Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
The government also recently introduced a five-year Electric Vehicle Affordability Program to help lower the upfront cost of buying an EV, alongside a $1.5-billion initiative through the Canada Infrastructure Bank specifically for charging and hydrogen refuelling. In a nutshell, the $5,000 federal EV rebate is on its way back, so stay tuned for that.
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