Government aims to install more EV chargers in Northern Ontario

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• Ontario’s government wants to install more EV chargers in remote areas of the province
• A new government tender singles out 15 potential locations; and a need for Level 3 chargers
• Some $91 million is being earmarked to build these and other chargers

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Residents of Northern Ontario may have more places where they can charge an electric vehicle, at least if a project initiated by the Doug Ford government goes as planned. According to a project tender dated June 24, the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks have identified just over a dozen sites in Northern Ontario where where new EV chargers could be deployed.

These locations are government-owned properties along key provincial travel corridors, plus a few popular destinations, all in rural or northern areas of Ontario. On the list are highway rest areas at places such as Argon Park and Terrace Bay; carpool lots at the likes of Dwyer Hill and Orangeville; and Algonquin Provincial Park (North).

“Ontario’s future is electric and our government is making it easier than ever to own and operate an EV in Ontario while attracting billions of dollars in investments and creating tens of thousands of well-paying jobs in the process,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “We’re increasing access to electric vehicle charging stations – particularly in rural and northern communities – so we can help more drivers go electric with confidence.”

The successful bidder will design and install the charging infrastructure. It will also be responsible for charger operation and maintenance over a span of five years, with the possibility of two additional one-year extensions. The tender calls for Level 2 charging stations as well as Level 3 charging stations, though no quantity is presently specified.

We will take this opportunity to note that more than a few charging stations in this province are installed to much fanfare, only to wither and die thanks to busted parts and unrepaired breakdowns. It is argued that some companies are using these opportunities as a simple land grab, planting roots along popular routes so competing EV charging companies find it more difficult to get a foothold. After all, once the chargers are in there, they’re hard to remove.

The project tender was issued at the end of June and is open for bids until August 13, 2024. The government boasts it is sinking $91 million into charging stations through its EV ChargeON program.