The government of Canada will spend up to CDN$7m to develop advanced electric-vehicle charging stations across the country.
Ministers made the announcement at the Shawinigan plant of AddEnergie, the Quebec-based electric vehicle charging company that will receive the funding. It will use the funds to install over 1,000 new charging stations across Canada by 2019 and to develop the next generation of fast-charging stations and other innovative technologies that will help get more charging stations in homes, businesses, and cities.
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"Today's announcement follows through on the commitment made in our pan-Canadian plan for climate change and clean growth to expand the number of zero-emission vehicles on Canadian roads," the government said in a statement.
"Developed with provinces and territories, the plan will address climate change and help position companies like AddEnergie as leaders in the global clean-growth economy."
"By investing in charging stations, our government can [EVs] an easier choice for Canadians," said Catherine McKenna, minister of environment and climate change.
"This support will help us strengthen our position as a Canadian leader in charging solutions for electric vehicles and allow us to work with other innovative companies to shape the future of transportation," said Louis Tremblay, president and CEO of AddEnergie.
Canada's Budget 2016 provides $62.5m for infrastructure for alternative transportation fuels, including charging infrastructure for electric vehicles as well as natural gas and hydrogen refuelling stations.
The country's plan for climate change and clean growth calls for federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work with industry and other stakeholders to develop a Canada-wide strategy for zero-emission vehicles by 2018.
The government said it would continue to support electric vehicle infrastructure by working with provinces and territories to invest in more charging stations so that people can commute and travel longer distances in zero-emission cars.
