Abstract Manager

Transportation electrification has a significant role to play in transitioning to a sustainable low-carbon transportation system and a clean-growth economy. Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator forecasts that the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on Ontario roads is expected to be over 1 million by 2030 and could grow to 11.5 million by 2050. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has projected there will be a shortfall of 46,000 public EV chargers across the province by 2050.

To address these challenges, Ontario is taking a coordinated cross-government approach to ensure an affordable, convenient, and safe transition to an electrified transportation network for Ontario’s drivers, workers, businesses and communities.

A key success has been the development of the EV ChargeON program. Launched in October 2023, the $91 million program is funding the installation of over 1,300 Level 2 and 3 EV charging ports in underserved and remote areas, in addition to supporting deployment of EV chargers at fifteen government-owned sites along key travel corridors across the province. The EV ChargeON program aims to decrease range anxiety and increase EV uptake, while introducing specific measures to ensure a convenient, reliable service for customers and maintain uptime of the charging network. Implementation of the program is well underway with the first government sites targeting deployment by Summer 2025.

MTO and the Ministry of Energy and Electrification are also leading and coordinating various cross-government initiatives to further support the development of EV-ready infrastructure and policy, prepare the electricity system, leverage Ontario’s manufacturing and minerals advantage, prepare road infrastructure and driver programs, enhance skills and innovation, and support multimodal electrification. The province has short and medium/long-term priorities that fall into these key areas of focus, including policies and programs to improve access to EV charging at home and support workplace and commercial fleet charging and refuelling (including different technologies and infrastructure to support electrification of medium/heavy-duty vehicles). MTO is also exploring future rounds of EV ChargeON and will apply lessons learned and other enhancements to ensure its continued success.    

Other initiatives underway to support EV adoption include:

• The EV Charger Discount Electricity Rate to make EV charging stations in remote areas more economically viable to operate. 
• The Ultra-Low Overnight Price Plan that will save Ontarians who charge EVs overnight up to $90 a year. 
• EV Charging Connection Procedures guidelines that streamline public EV charger connection processes across Ontario.