The program, originally announced in 2022, will help small- and medium-sized communities build electric vehicle charging stations

The Ontario government is inviting communities with less than 170,000 people — as well as Indigenous communities — to apply to its $91-million EV ChargeON program to boost public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the province.

Despite the government’s phrasing, Ontario is not offering “more” funding for EV chargers. The $91 million EV ChargeON is doling out was first announced in March 2022. Now, over a year later, the application process to access that same funding is open.

“Our government is paving the way towards an electric future by building the infrastructure needed to support the electrification of transportation across Ontario,” said Todd Smith, Ontario’s minister of energy.

“This program will deliver thousands of chargers across the province.”

EV ChargeON also supports the Ivy Charging Network — a public-private partnership between Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation.

Smaller communities, bigger network

There are roughly 135,000 EVs registered in Ontario. By 2030, the government estimates there will be more than one million.

As of September 2023, according to the Ontario government, there are more than 2,900 public charging stations with 6,600 Level 2 ports and 1,300 Level 3 fast-charging ports in the province. But many of these stations are in urban areas or along major transit corridors. This leaves rural parts of Ontario under-serviced by public EV chargers.

EV ChargeON is also pushing to build more electric vehicle chargers on government-owned land, including highway rest areas, carpool parking lots and provincial parks.

To reflect this dual goal the province is offering two funding streams: the Community Sites Stream and the Government Sites Stream.

Currently just the Community Sites Stream is open for applications.

In all, eligible applicants for EV ChargeON from small- to medium-sized communities include businesses, not-for-profit corporations, municipalities and communities, Indigenous businesses, private and public sector organizations such as hospitals and universities and tourist destinations.

The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2024.