On July 2, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, reiterated the federal government’s request for proposals (RFP) under the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP).
This RFP aims to support the deployment of electric vehicle chargers across Canada in both public places, such as highways and public lots, and private locations, including multi-unit residential buildings, workplaces, and on-road vehicle fleet servicing areas.
“We launched another funding request for proposals via the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which will help deploy thousands more chargers across Canada,” Wilkinson stated. “This will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a prosperous net-zero future.”
While this call is not new, it comes amid news that two typically EV-pro provinces are considering shelving their EV rebates. This highlights the federal government’s 2035 ZEV goal — a target that may be challenging to achieve if EVs remain largely unaffordable to the general public.
In a news release, Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, suggested that the call for proposals aims to meet consumer expectations for convenient, affordable, and reliable charging.
Although federal EV incentives are still being offered, it remains uncertain how provincial investments in charging infrastructure, as opposed to direct EV incentives, will address consumer affordability concerns in the current economic climate, thereby influencing the decision to purchase a new electric vehicle.
Natural Resources Canada stated that applications will be accepted until September 19, 2024.
If you have questions about charging stations or the rebates, get in touch with the Evolve Fleet team for support.