In this week’s EV/AV report, Canadian charging infrastructure, battery supply chain development and fleet electrification efforts advance as governments and operators focusing on access, reliability and scale.
Ottawa funds chargers and EV outreach
The Government of Canada on April 8 committed $10.6 million to 14 projects expected to install more than 1,600 chargers across the country, while extending a national EV test-drive program run by Plug’n Drive, which delivers consumer education and hands-on EV experiences.
The funding targets underserved regions where adoption has lagged, with the aim of improving access and reducing hesitation among buyers.
“By expanding access to charging and hands-on EV experiences, we’re helping more Canadians make the switch with confidence,” said Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.
The federal government also said April 8 it is investing more than $11 million into battery materials projects led by Nano One Materials Corp., which develops cathode materials, NanoXplore and EcoPro Lithium.
The projects focus on lithium iron phosphate and related chemistries used in EV batteries, with the goal of strengthening domestic processing capacity and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
“Canada has what it takes to lead in the global battery supply chain, and these investments help move that work forward,” Wilkinson said.
Toronto Hydro pilot targets charger connection delays
On April 8, Toronto Hydro introduced a pilot program that gives EV charging providers direct access to 480-volt service, allowing faster grid connections for new charging sites across the city.
The change addresses a key barrier in urban charger deployment, where connection timelines often delay projects despite available demand.
“We’re taking steps to make it easier and faster to connect EV charging infrastructure in Toronto,” said Jana Mosley, president and CEO of Toronto Hydro.
The City of Toronto also advanced a three-year plan to expand EV charging on public land through a commercial delivery model expected to unlock roughly $35.8 million in private investment in its first phase.
The plan sets out a structured rollout between 2026 and 2029, shifting the city from pilot installations to coordinated deployment tied to climate targets and rising EV adoption.
“Expanding access to EV charging is essential to supporting Toronto’s climate goals and growing EV adoption,” said Barbara Gray, general manager of transportation services for the City of Toronto.
Electric yard trucks move into Canadian freight operations
On April 6, GLS Canada, a parcel and logistics company, announced it had begun deploying electric yard trucks supplied by Orange EV at facilities in Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg.
The rollout focuses on freight yard operations, where predictable routes and return-to-base usage make electrification easier to implement and evaluate.
“Electrifying our yard operations is an important step in reducing emissions across our network,” said a GLS Canada executive.
ChargeLab partners with Autel on Canadian deployments
On April 7, ChargeLab, an EV charging software company, announced it would enter a partnership with Autel Energy, a charging hardware manufacturer, to deliver integrated charging systems in Canada.
The partnership combines hardware and software to improve uptime, monitoring and user experience as charging networks expand.
“This partnership brings together reliable hardware and intelligent software to improve charger uptime and user experience,” said Zak Lefevre, CEO of ChargeLab.
