National EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan

12. Set targets for EV charging installations, for all types of vehicles

Set ambitious targets for putting EV charging connectors in key areas such as apartment buildings, workplaces, downtown cores, along highways and remote travel corridors, and at fleet depots. Expand current funding programs to achieve those targets. Ensure charging access for all Canadians by setting targets specific to northern, rural, and Indigenous communities.

13. Make one-million condo and apartments EV ready over five years

Nearly 30% of Canadians live in apartments or condos. A lack of EV charging access in these buildings creates a major barrier to EV uptake. Government should take immediate steps to make one-million parking spaces in these buildings EV ready. Achieve this goal by allocating $1-billion over five years to make one-million existing condominium and apartment parking stalls ZEV-ready.

Policy Details

14. Add EV charging requirements to national building codes

Establish provisions in the National Model Building and Electrical Codes to have all new residential parking spots be “EV-ready” and 20%-40% of new non-residential parking spots to include the basic electrical infrastructure needed for EV charging. Cities should also be encouraged to play a leadership role by developing their own EV-ready requirements.

15. Put underutilized government lands to work: establish public charging “hubs”

To support access to charging in urban areas for those without reliable home charging access, establish charging hubs on underused government lands, particularly in high-density urban areas. Charging hubs should be large, open to all charging operators without exclusivity, and accessible to the public without the need to pay a parking fee while charging.

16. Provide a connection rebate to cover costs levied by utilities when building large-scale charging stations

Moving freight and large volumes of passenger vehicles with electricity will require electrical service upgrades to accommodate the power needs of large-scale charging infrastructure. These installations are costly today. Federal and provincial governments, electric utilities, provincial regulators and charging operators must work together to better allocate these costs while recognizing the economic opportunities. In the near-term, Canada can support charging investments by providing time-limited rebates for large-scale charging investments.

17. Include EV charger installation in home energy retrofit programs

Hundreds of thousands of older Canadian homes have outdated electrical panels, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to install an EV charger. EVs being three-times more energy efficient than gas cars and contributing to reduce GHG emissions, existing home energy retrofit programs should support the installation of newer, more efficient electrical panels and EV charging infrastructure.

18. Provide funding programs for MHDV charging infrastructure

Establish a dedicated grant-based incentive program to support the deployment of large-scale EV charging installations and electrical service upgrades, to facilitate the medium and heavy-duty segments, particularly in the truck sub-sector that is not considered under the current CIB program for electric buses and school buses. The new program should support charging infrastructure design and deployment for MHD commercial and public fleet depots, including funding for urban hubs, highway-side locations, and rest-stops. As-a-service offerings that shift charging solutions to Opex rather than Capex should be considered eligible for funding. 

19. Leverage technology-based solutions to add value and reduce costs for EV drivers and the grid

Funding programs should offer flexibility for software-based charging management solutions that can help optimize charging load by shifting and shaping demand, and by sharing power intelligently between vehicles and other load sources. This can help EV drivers, property owners, fleet managers, and utilities save money by reducing the need for costly upgrades on both sides of a customer meter.  

20. Support right to charge rules for residents of multifamily properties

Residents of multifamily properties such as apartment and condominium buildings are sometimes prevented by property managers or resident associations from installing or accessing charging stations. This contributes to an inequitable disparity in charging access between residents of single-family homes and multi-family properties. Provincial Right to Charge rules provide support to residents of multifamily properties by allowing them to pursue adding EV charging infrastructure for their use in most circumstances. 

21. Support rural, remote, and off-road access to charging

Rural, remote, and off-road regions do not always have access to sufficient electricity supply that can accommodate charging infrastructure for light-, medium-, heavy-Duty and off-road electric vehicles. These regions must be supported in making level 2 and fast charging infrastructure accessible, especially if they are off-grid, with green-innovative charging solutions. 

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