#EVWeek in Canada: Minister Wilkinson Announces $1.7 M in Funding for New Chargers in British Columbia

BURNABY, BC, July 13, 2022 /CNW/ - Reducing pollution from the transportation sector is critical to Canada achieving its climate targets. That's why the Government of Canada is making it easier for Canadians to purchase, charge and drive electric vehicles (EVs) in British Columbia and across the country.

Today as part of #EVWeek in Canada, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a combined investment of $1.7 million to two organizations to install a total of 128 EV chargers in British Columbia.

Funded through Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative and Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure received an investment of $1.2 million to install 28 EV stations. This initiative and program support the deployment of charging and refuelling infrastructure where it is most needed, along highways and where Canadians live, work and play. All EV stations will be available to British Columbians by the winter of 2022. The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure also contributed $2.4 million, bringing the total project cost to $3.6 million.

Also funded through NRCan's Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), the City of Burnaby received an investment of $500,000 to install 100 Level 2 EV chargers for use by its fleet at city hall. The chargers were activated in May 2022 and will accelerate the city's transition to a zero-carbon vehicle fleet. The City of Burnaby also contributed over $650,000, bringing the total project cost to over $1.1 million.

Since 2015, Canada has invested a historic $1 billion to make EVs more affordable and chargers more accessible for Canadians. These investments are supporting the establishment of a nationwide network of chargers in local areas where Canadians live, work and play, while federal rebates of up to $5,000 are helping more Canadians make the switch to an EV.

Budget 2022 provided an additional $1.7 billion to extend the government's purchase incentive program until March 2025 and to expand the types of vehicle models eligible under the program, which would include more vans, trucks and SUVs. In support of the government's objective of adding 50,000 zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) chargers to Canada's network, Budget 2022 also provided an additional $400 million to Natural Resources Canada to continue deploying zero-emission vehicle infrastructure by extending the ZEVIP to March 2027, complemented by $500 million that Canada's Infrastructure Bank will invest in large-scale ZEV charging and refuelling infrastructure that is revenue-generating and in the public interest.

As part of the transition to net zero by 2050, Infrastructure Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank are supporting the decarbonization of public transit and school buses. The Government of Canada is on track to surpass the 2019 commitment supporting the procurement of over 5,000 zero-emissions buses, including nearly 4,000 school buses in B.C., Quebec and P.E.I. and over 1,200 public transit buses in 10 cities from coast to coast. These electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses will be deployed on the road over approximately the next five years.

The government is also taking action on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which contribute to nearly 10 percent of Canada's emissions. In order to decarbonize this fleet, the Government of Canada is providing $547.5 million over four years. This program will support eligible recipient's purchase or lease medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles with incentives ranging from $10,000 up to $200,000 depending on the vehicle's class, helping businesses and communities make the switch to zero-emissions transportation, from coast to coast to coast.

These investments are yet another step in reaching Canada's target of ensuring all new passenger vehicles sold in Canada are zero-emission by 2035. And just like investments in everything from clean technology to nature protection, today's announcement is part of achieving Canada's ambitious climate change goals to build a cleaner, healthier and affordable future for all Canadians.

Quotes

"Happy EV Week, Canada. Our government is making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible where Canadians live, work and play. Investing in more EV like the ones announced today in British Columbia will put more Canadians in the driver's seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson 
Minister of Natural Resources 

"The transition to a clean and sustainable economy has been accelerating over the last six years. Only a few years ago, you couldn't drive an electric vehicle from Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island, but now you can. Today's announcement of 100 new charging stations in Burnaby will make having an electric vehicle more accessible in our community. Our government will continue to make investments so that Canadians have access to sustainable transportation options."

Terry Beech
Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Burnaby North–Seymour

"On the zero-emission vehicle front British Columbia is already a leader. We've accelerated our targets for EV sales moving forward and rural charging infrastructure is critical to advancing these goals. We're pleased to work with our federal partners and others to ensure all British Columbians have access to a net-zero future."

The Honourable Rob Fleming 
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure 

"This is an exciting project for the City of Burnaby as we strive to activate our community to more rapid action on climate change. We are grateful for the federal government's significant contribution to this project, as it will not only act as a catalyst for our fleet electrification but also as a source of inspiration for our community to act fast to achieve carbon neutrality in advance of our 2050 targets."

His Worship Mike Hurley 
Mayor, City of Burnaby 

Quick Facts

• Transportation accounts for 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
• Moving to zero-emission vehicles through regulations and investments is a significant part of Canada's $9.1-billion Emissions Reduction Plan to meet Canada's Paris Agreement target for 2030 and get on track for net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Investments in charging infrastructure made so far will result in more than 33,000 new chargers coast to coast. 
• To date, over 150,000 Canadians and Canadian businesses have taken advantage of the federal incentive to purchase zero-emission vehicles. 

Related Information 

• Advancing the future of electric vehicles
• Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program
• Zero-Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative
• Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative
• 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy 
• Travelling with an Electric Vehicle 
• Electric Charging and Alternative Fuelling Stations Locator
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map
• Green Infrastructure programs
• Zero-emission vehicles: Incentives
  
• Building a green economy: Government of Canada to require 100% of car and passenger truck sales be zero-emission by 2035 in Canada
• Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program
• BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
• City of Burnaby

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [e-mail]; Keean Nembhard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-323-7892, [e-mail]