70% of Canadian Plan to Buy an Electric Vehicle by 2033. Are you Ready?
Electric Vehicle Charging
Government Incentives for EV Charger Installation
There are various incentives available for businesses in Canada to install EV chargers. These incentives are provided by federal, provincial, and municipal governments, utilities, and non-profit groups.
- Federal Incentives: a. Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP): This program offers a 50% funding of total project costs up to $5,000 per Level 2 charger or a maximum of $100,000 per DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charger). This program is available for public places, on-street charging, workplaces, fleets, multi-family units, and mass transit. NRCan’s contributions are repayable under certain conditions. It is available across Canada for multi-family units, workplaces, public sites, fleets, and municipalities depending on the Request For Proposals (RFP) [1]. b. Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative (EVAFIDI): This is a multi-year initiative to establish a network of DCFCs along national highways. It provides 50% of total project costs up to $50,000 per DCFC with a maximum contribution of $5 million per project. The NRCan contributions are repayable based on certain conditions. This is available to public sites and municipalities [2].
- Provincial Incentives in British Columbia: a. CleanBC Rebates for BC Hydro customers: – EV Ready Rebates: Up to $3,000 for creating an EV Ready plan, up to $600 per parking space for installing electrical infrastructure (max. $120,000), and up to $1,400 to purchase and install Level 2 networked EV chargers (max. $14,000). – Standalone EV Charger Rebate: Up to $2,000 to purchase and install Level 2 networked EV chargers for residential parking spaces (max. $14,000). – Workplaces can receive up to $2,000 to purchase and install Level 2 networked EV chargers for employee use (max. $14,000). b. CleanBC Rebates for FortisBC Customers: – For multi-unit residential buildings: 50% of eligible purchase and installation costs up to $2,000 per station (max. $14,000 per application). – For buildings constructed after implementation of municipal bylaws requiring EV-ready parking stalls: 50% of eligible costs up to $350 per station (max. $5,000 per application). – For workplaces: 50% of eligible purchase and installation costs up to $2,000 per station (max. $14,000 per application). c. BC Hydro EV Charger Rebates for Single-Family Homes: Owners or residents can receive a rebate of up to 50% of costs, to a maximum of $350. d. CleanBC Communities Fund: As of January 17, 2022, the governments of Canada and British Columbia committed up to $134 million to support cost-sharing of infrastructure projects in communities across the province, including EV charging infrastructure [2].
- Provincial Incentives in Alberta: a. Municipal Climate Change Action Centre: Electric Vehicles for Municipalities Program: Offers 50% of total pre-GST installation costs up to $2,000 per Level 2 charger or DCFC, with a maximum rebate of $40,000 per municipality. Additional rebates are available for the purchase of
EV Adoption Set to Explode
In order to assess the stats on Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption in Canada over the next 5 to 10 years, we must consider several factors such as consumer sentiments, charging infrastructure, and government policies.
- Consumer Sentiments: As per the KPMG’s 2023 auto poll, almost 70% of Canadians plan to buy a new vehicle by 2033. Of these, as many as 61% plan to make the purchase within the next five years, and 8% plan to buy within the next six to ten years. However, it’s important to note that only 28% of Canadians who plan to buy a new vehicle within the next decade prefer an electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Only 24% actually expect to buy one due to current supply chain issues [2]. Moreover, a sense of pragmatism has been observed in the market, with ongoing concerns about EV performance and charging reliability affecting buying decisions. Despite this, there is an ongoing shift in consumer sentiment in favor of EVs, which could increase adoption rates in the next 5 to 10 years.
- Government Targets: The Canadian federal government has set targets for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales. It proposes that 20% of all new vehicles sold in Canada should be clean vehicles by the 2026 model year, increasing to 60% by 2030, and 100% by 2035 [2]. To achieve these targets, it is likely that the government will continue to provide incentives and support to promote EV adoption.
- Charging Infrastructure: The availability of charging infrastructure is critical for the adoption of electric vehicles. According to PwC, Canada currently has about 12,369 service stations, and it is estimated that a total network requirement of 7,060 charging stations (1,769 urban and 5,291 rural) would be needed for EVs. This calculation is based on the expectation that 80% of charging will take place at home, while the remainder would be for long-distance travel and would primarily serve rural and major travel corridors [1]. In addition to the number of charging points, the time to charge is also an important factor. Level 2 chargers are acceptable for charging at work, while Level 3 and Level 4 chargers are necessary for highway and top-up charging. It is also essential that the charging infrastructure accommodates the various types of dwellings in Canada, as over 52.6% of Canadians live in single detached homes while the rest live in multi-unit residential buildings [3].
In conclusion, EV adoption in Canada over the next 5 to 10 years is influenced by consumer sentiment, government policies, and the availability of charging infrastructure. Although current consumer preferences show a gradual shift towards EVs, the market transition is still expected to be slow. Government targets, if coupled with appropriate incentives, could drive faster adoption. Moreover, a robust and accessible charging infrastructure is critical to alleviating range anxiety and making EVs a more practical choice for consumers.
EV Charger Installation Process for Hotels and Auto Dealers
- Gather Data:
- Review hotel chain or auto manufacturing EV Charger requirements (i.e. Ford Model e program)
- Document building electrical infrastructure (power to building, panel make up, etc)
- Site objectives: i.e. guest to charge overnight vs. it needs to be less than 30 minute charging
- EV Charger location options on site
- Recommendations
- Electrical upgrades required, if any
- EV Charger type and location to optimize customer benefit and cost
- EV Charger Rebates available
- Installation cost estimate and revenue options (charging/advertising)
- Revenue and ongoing cost projections
- Implementation
- Apply for EV Charger rebates
- Electrical Upgrades
- Charger installation
- Initiate revenue channels
- Ongoing Service and Maintenance
ChargerQuest Free EV Charger Install Program
Site Evaluation Criteria (Free ChargerQuest Site Evalution)
- Proximity to major high traffic arteries
- Amenities in the area such as restaurants/shopping
- Availability of electrical power
- Site ownership
ChargerQuest Program
- EV Charger(s) Installation Paid by ChargerQuest
- Ongoing electricity costs:
- Fast charger electricity costs covered by ChargeQuest through separate electrical metre
- Slow charger electricity costs covered by Site Owner
- Revenue share negotiated on a site-by-site basis
Hotels, To Charge or Not to Charge for EV Charging?
- Giving free electricity for EV charging is like giving free gas
- There are methods to provide selected guests with free EV charging
- Property owners can keep 100% of the charger revenue
- Selling electricity provides 60%+ margins
- The right technology solution requires minimal to no maintenance
Canada's EV Charger Rebates
You may be eligible for up to 50% in rebates for the purchase and installation of your electric vehicle charging stations for your on-street, multi-unit residential building, workplace and light-duty vehicle fleets. Just complete this quick assessment to find out.
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