The Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council projects what charging investment opportunities could look like with the right set of policies behind them

If the federal government imposes a stringent greenhouse gas emission standard for light-duty vehicles, the country could realize a $21 billion investment in EV charging infrastructure, the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council (CCIC) predicts.

As well, the federal target of 75 per cent EV adoption in new-car sales by 2035 and 90 per cent by 2040 could be met.

In its new policy brief, authored by Sharabura EV Infrastructure Advisors, the CCIC explores how setting a 59 grams per mile by 2035 GHG emission standard compares to imposing a more lax target of 115 grams per mile by 2032. 

The less stringent target would drop the EV charging investment opportunity to $14 billion.

‘Nation-building infrastructure’

“Either scenario would represent one of the largest nation-building infrastructure projects in Canada, fully aligned with the federal government’s Auto Strategy and National Electricity Strategy,” acknowledges the brief.

To date, the government (through Environment and Climate Change Canada) continues to debate the greenhouse gas emission standard it will set. No information has yet been released on when this decision is likely to be made.

The CCIC brief has relied on “interpolation to derive an estimated 2032 target, based on the starting point of 172 grams per mile and a 2035 target of 74 grams per mile (as cited by the Prime Minister in February 2026.)”

Investment breakdown

In the more ambitious scenario, the CCIC brief predicts the charging investment breakdown would be allocated in the following ways:

• $10 billion invested in public charging (DC fast charging and Level 2). 
• $11 billion invested in residential Level 2 charging (multi-family and single-family housing). 
• Between 50 per cent and 65 per cent of this investment will be spent on local skilled trades (electrical and civil), local suppliers, and utilities.

Key findings

Should the government adopt the 59 grams per mile GHG emissions standard, the CCIC brief predicts there will be over 15 million battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) on the road by 2040. By contrast, the 115 grams per mile standard option would result in just over nine million BEVs by 2040.

Similarly, the more aggressive standard could achieve more than 98,000 DCFC charging ports, while a less ambitious target could achieve only 59,100 DCFC ports.

“A more stringent GHG emissions standard will translate directly into more investment in charging infrastructure on Canada’s highways, roads, driveways, and parking lots,” concludes the brief.

In either scenario, the cost per type of port is projected to range from $2,000 for a single-family household (likely Level 1 or Level 2 charging) to $150,000 for public DC fast charging.

The report also only models scenarios for light-duty vehicles as they are the only class covered under the GHG emissions standard and does not include medium- or heavy-duty vehicles.

Overall, the brief is unequivocal in a clear finding that “a tighter standard for light-duty vehicles will attract over $7 billion in increased clean-energy investment between now and 2035.”