The federal government of Canada has announced a CA$22.7 million investment to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in British Columbia, approving funding for the installation of more than 480 new charging stations across the province. The initiative is part of Ottawa’s ongoing efforts to support zero-emission transportation through the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), administered by Natural Resources Canada.
The announcement was made on August 27 by Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, who confirmed the funding will be distributed among eight projects led by public agencies and municipalities, including BC Hydro, the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich. The funds will support the deployment of a mix of Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers in high-traffic areas, including along highway corridors, public buildings and residential zones.
BC Hydro, the province’s main electricity provider, will receive the largest share of the investment, with five separate grants totaling approximately CA$21 million. These will fund the installation of fast and ultra-fast chargers, including units capable of delivering more than 200 kilowatts, at key transportation hubs and public access points across British Columbia. The new chargers are expected to significantly increase the capacity of the provincial EV charging network, which currently includes just over 5,000 stations.
The City of Victoria was allocated CA$395,000 to install 26 Level 2 chargers and several fast-charging units for municipal fleet use. A separate grant of CA$122,500 will fund public charging stations in multi-unit residential buildings. The District of Saanich will receive CA$350,000 to support the installation of 40 Level 2 chargers and two fast chargers, intended to service local government operations and public facilities.
Canada expands zero-emission vehicle infrastructure program
The funding is targeted at expanding EV charging availability in areas with the highest demand, according to federal officials. All projects were approved through a competitive process managed by Natural Resources Canada, which evaluates infrastructure needs based on existing usage data, community planning inputs and transportation flow patterns. The investment comes as electric vehicle adoption in Canada faces new challenges.
Nationally, sales of zero-emission vehicles, which include battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models, declined in the first half of 2025. According to data from Statistics Canada, EV sales represented less than 10 percent of total new vehicle sales in the first quarter, down from nearly 19 percent in the final quarter of 2024. British Columbia, which has historically led the country in EV adoption, has also seen declining numbers. In April 2025, zero-emission vehicles made up 15.3 percent of new vehicle registrations in the province, down from 22 percent in the same period the previous year.
Provincial and federal purchase incentives have been significantly reduced or paused in recent months, contributing to lower uptake among consumers. A recent survey conducted by Ipsos for the Energy Futures Institute found that cost remains the primary barrier to EV adoption, cited by 64 percent of respondents. Other concerns included limited driving range and insufficient charging infrastructure, especially in rural and multi-unit residential areas.
New federal targets aligned with B.C. climate legislation
British Columbia’s climate policy requires that 26 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2026, increasing to 100 percent by 2035. The federal government has set similar targets, including a 60 percent ZEV share by 2030. Despite recent sales declines, federal and provincial authorities have maintained their infrastructure deployment schedules, with the goal of supporting long-term transportation electrification.
All charging projects announced this week are scheduled to be completed within the next two years, with reporting and oversight managed by Natural Resources Canada. The department has stated that the new chargers will be publicly accessible, integrated into existing networks, and equipped with standardized connectors to ensure system compatibility and ease of use for drivers across a wide range of electric vehicle models. – By Content Syndication Services.