Electric vehicles (EVs) not only help keep our air clean and save drivers money - they also represent a major opportunity for Canadian workers and Canada's economy as we build and power these vehicles right here at home.
To help drivers feel confident in making the switch to an EV, the Government of Canada is building a coast-to-coast network of charging stations along highways and in public places, on-street, in multi-use residential buildings, at workplaces and for vehicle fleets.
Today, Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced funding to install over 1,800 new EV chargers in Guelph and across the country, including:
· Skyline Real Estate Holdings Inc. for 852 Level 2 chargers in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Columbia.
· The Corporation of the City of Guelph for 24 Level 2 and four Level 3 chargers across Guelph.
· Alectra Utilities Corporation and Alectra Energy Services Inc. for up to 905 Level 2 and 72 Level 3 EV chargers across Ontario.
Of the combined 1,857 chargers, at least 87 will be installed in Guelph and available for use by December 2023 to help EV drivers to get to where they need to go with confidence and ease. Before hitting the streets, Canadians can easily map out their route by consulting Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) electric charger and alternative fuelling stations locator.
EVs are a win-win for families looking to save money while helping to keep our air clean. For example, drivers could save over $1,000 on fuel and significant costs on maintenance and service per year. And these savings are in addition to those offered by federal and provincial incentive programs to help Canadians with upfront costs, which could amount to $5,000-$10,000 in savings.
Today's announcement represents a combined federal investment of more than $12 million provided through Natural Resources Canada's Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. Additional funding was provided by the organizations, bringing the total combined project costs to more than $27 million.
