Canada Investing $84M to Add 8,000 New EV Chargers Nationwide

If you've ever pulled up a charging station map and wondered why the nearest fast charger is 45 minutes away, you're not imagining things. Canada's EV charging network has been growing — but not fast enough to keep up with the roughly 38,000 public chargers we have today and the hundreds of thousands more we'll need by the end of the next decade.

On February 10, 2026, the federal government announced a significant push to close that gap: $84.4 million in funding to install more than 8,000 new EV charging ports across the country. The money flows through 122 separate projects under Natural Resources Canada's Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), and it represents the latest piece of the Carney government's broader automotive strategy.

Here's what the investment actually covers, where the chargers are going, and — most importantly — what it means for you as a current or future EV driver.

The Numbers at a Glance

Canada's $84.4 million investment breaks down to roughly $10,500 per charging port across 122 funded projects. That figure is significant because it tells us something important about the type of chargers being installed.

DC fast chargers — the ones that can charge your EV from 10% to 80% in 20-40 minutes — typically cost between $90,000 and $300,000 per port, including electrical infrastructure. Tesla currently spends about $50,000 per Supercharger stall. At $10,500 per port, the math strongly suggests this round of funding focuses primarily on Level 2 chargers, which cost between $4,000 and $15,000 per installation.

That's not a criticism — it's actually smart infrastructure planning. Here's why.

Level 2 chargers deliver 20-40 km of range per hour of charging. They're ideal for locations where your car sits parked for extended periods: workplaces, apartment buildings, hotels, shopping centers, and public parking lots. In other words, the places where most real-world charging actually happens.

Think about your daily routine. Your car probably sits parked at work for 8 hours and at home for 10-12 hours. A Level 2 charger at either location can easily add 200-300 km of range during that downtime — more than enough for the average Canadian's daily driving distance of 30-40 km.

Where Are the New Chargers Going?

The 122 funded projects span the country, though not all regions benefit equally. Canada's current charging landscape has a significant concentration issue: Ontario and Quebec account for 67% of all public charging ports, while British Columbia holds another 20%. Alberta, despite being Canada's fourth-largest province by population, has just 5% of the national charging stock.

The ZEVIP funding recipients include a diverse mix of organizations:

The single largest recipient is the Pollution Probe Foundation, which received $7.3 million to install 495 chargers. On the other end, individual condo corporations received as little as $39,900 for 20 charger installations — a small investment that can transform an entire building's EV readiness.

The Condo Charging Problem — Finally Getting Attention

If you rent an apartment or own a condo, you've probably faced the biggest barrier to EV adoption that has nothing to do with the vehicle itself: where do you charge at home?

Roughly 30% of Canadians live in multi-unit residential buildings. For years, this group has been largely locked out of convenient EV ownership because installing a charger in a condo parking garage requires approval from strata councils, significant electrical upgrades, and coordination among dozens of unit owners who may have zero interest in EVs.

The fact that condo corporations represent the largest single category of ZEVIP recipients is a meaningful signal. It means the federal government recognizes that expanding EV adoption beyond single-family homeowners requires meeting people where they actually park.

For condo boards considering an application, ZEVIP covers up to 50% of total project costs to a maximum of $2 million per project. That's a substantial subsidy. A typical condo building can install 20-40 Level 2 chargers for $100,000-$200,000 — meaning federal funding could cover half the bill. When spread across unit owners, the remaining cost might be as low as $1,000-$2,500 per parking spot. Compare that to the $2,000-$3,000 annual fuel savings of driving electric, and the investment pays for itself within a year or two.

Part of a Much Bigger Picture: $1.5 Billion and Counting

The $84.4 million ZEVIP announcement didn't happen in isolation. It's one piece of a multi-layered federal strategy to electrify Canadian transportation. Here's the full picture:

The $1.5 billion Canada Infrastructure Bank commitment. Announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on February 6, 2026, this funding supports both EV charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure through the Charging and Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure Initiative (CHRI). Unlike ZEVIP grants, CHRI offers interest-free loans for projects costing at least $20 million — targeting the large-scale, fast-charging corridor buildouts that Level 2 chargers can't address.

The return of the $5,000 federal EV rebate. Starting February 16, 2026, Canadians can get up to $5,000 off a new battery electric vehicle through the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP). The combination of purchase incentives and charging infrastructure investment creates a one-two punch: make EVs cheaper to buy AND easier to charge.

A National Charging Infrastructure Strategy. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson confirmed that a comprehensive national strategy will be released in fall 2026. This will "guide the construction and development of EV chargers from coast to coast to coast," including private sector partnerships and skills training for the electricians who'll install all this equipment.

$7.2 million for EV education. Thirty projects across the country will receive funding to increase public awareness about EVs and charging technology. Notably, 11 of these projects are led by Indigenous organizations and communities. In Quebec, non-profit Équiterre received $300,000 specifically to counter misinformation and simplify complex EV topics for the public.

How Far Behind Are We? The Gap Nobody Talks About

Here's the uncomfortable truth: even with 8,000 new chargers, Canada's charging network remains far short of what we'll need.

According to a 2024 study prepared for Natural Resources Canada, the country will need approximately 447,000 public charging ports and 11.9 million home charging ports by 2035 to support the government's target of three-in-four new car sales being electric by that year.

As of February 2026, Canada has roughly 38,000 public chargers across 14,500 locations. The 8,000 new ports will bring us to around 46,000 — roughly 10% of where we need to be in less than a decade.

Even more concerning: the pace of deployment actually slowed in 2025. Only 6,170 ports were built last year, down from over 7,000 in both 2024 and 2023. To hit the 2035 target, Canada would need to install roughly 45,000 chargers per year — more than seven times the current rate.

"The infrastructure has improved dramatically over the last couple of years," said Travis Allan, president of the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council. "It is not where it needs to be to service 75% of all new vehicles sold in 2035. So there is a large investment opportunity here."

That's a diplomatic way of saying: we need a lot more money and a lot more urgency.

What This Means If You're Considering an EV

If you're on the fence about going electric, here's the practical takeaway from this announcement:

Workplace and condo charging is coming. The focus on Level 2 chargers at multi-unit buildings and workplaces means the "I can't charge at home" barrier is being actively addressed. If your condo hasn't installed chargers yet, this ZEVIP funding round gives your strata council a strong financial incentive to act.

Long-distance corridors need more work. This round of funding won't dramatically improve highway fast-charging. For that, watch the Canada Infrastructure Bank's $1.5 billion CHRI program, which targets large-scale fast-charging projects along major travel corridors.

The window for maximum savings is now. Between the returned $5,000 federal rebate, provincial incentives in Quebec and British Columbia, and the expanding charging network, 2026 is shaping up as the best year yet to make the switch. The federal rebate drops to $4,000 in 2027 and continues declining until 2030.

Charging speeds will keep improving. Today's Level 2 chargers and DC fast chargers are already far more capable than models from just five years ago. As the network expands, expect more 150 kW and 350 kW ultra-fast stations along highways — some capable of adding 300 km of range in just 15 minutes.

The Big Question: Is $84 Million Enough?

Let's be honest: $84.4 million sounds like a lot of money. But in the context of building an entire national charging network, it's a down payment.

Canada needs roughly 400,000 more public chargers by 2035. At an average cost of $10,000-$15,000 per Level 2 port (and far more for DC fast chargers), that's a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project. The federal government's total commitment — including the $1.5 billion CIB allocation, ZEVIP funding, and other programs — gets us partway there, but private sector investment will need to fill the gap.

The good news? As EV adoption accelerates, charging becomes a viable business. Gas stations didn't need government subsidies to proliferate — once enough drivers needed fuel, the private market built them. The same dynamic is beginning to play out with EV charging. Companies like FLO, Electrify Canada, Tesla, and ChargePoint are all expanding aggressively, often with a mix of public and private funding.

For EV drivers — and those about to join the ranks — the trajectory is clear. The charging network is growing. It's not growing fast enough yet, but the federal government just put another $84 million behind the effort, with billions more committed through other channels. Combined with falling EV prices and generous purchase rebates, the practical case for going electric has never been stronger.

The chargers are coming. The question now is whether they'll arrive fast enough to keep up with the drivers who need them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many EV chargers does Canada have in 2026?

As of February 2026, Canada has approximately 38,000 public EV charging ports across roughly 14,500 locations nationwide, according to Natural Resources Canada data. With the new ZEVIP funding, an additional 8,000+ ports will be added through 122 federally funded projects. Ontario and Quebec together account for 67% of all public charging ports, with British Columbia holding 20% and Alberta at 5%.

What is the ZEVIP program and how does it fund EV chargers?

The Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) is a Natural Resources Canada initiative introduced in 2019 to expand EV charging infrastructure. It covers up to 50% of total project costs to a maximum of $2 million per project for public chargers. In February 2026, the federal government announced $84.4 million in ZEVIP funding for 122 projects that will install more than 8,000 new charging ports nationwide. The program has a target of installing 84,500 chargers and 45 hydrogen fuel stations by 2029.

What types of EV chargers are being installed with the $84 million investment?

Based on the average cost of $10,500 per charging port across 122 projects, the vast majority of the 8,000 new chargers will be Level 2 chargers rather than DC fast chargers. Level 2 chargers typically cost $4,000-$15,000 per port and provide 20-40 km of range per hour of charging, making them ideal for workplaces, apartment buildings, hotels, and public parking areas where vehicles are parked for extended periods.

How many EV chargers will Canada need by 2035?

According to a 2024 study prepared for Natural Resources Canada, the country will need approximately 447,000 public charging ports and 11.9 million home charging ports by 2035 to support the government's target of 75% of new car sales being electric. As of early 2026, Canada has roughly 38,000 public chargers — about 10% of the projected need — indicating a significant infrastructure gap that will require sustained public and private investment.

Can condo buildings apply for EV charger funding through ZEVIP?

Yes. Condominium and strata corporations are the largest single category of ZEVIP recipients in the February 2026 funding round. The program covers up to 50% of total installation costs to a maximum of $2 million per project. Individual condo buildings have received funding for as few as 20 chargers, making the program accessible to buildings of various sizes. This directly addresses one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption for the approximately 30% of Canadians who live in multi-unit residential buildings.

Sources: [CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/national-charging-infrastructure-strategy-9.7081772), [Natural Resources Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2026/02/canada-advances-new-auto-strategy-by-expanding-ev-charging-infrastructure-across-the-country.html), [Electric Autonomy Canada](https://electricautonomy.ca/policy-regulations/2026-02-11/ottawa-announces-84-4-million-investment-for-ev-charging-infrastructure/). Use our [EV vs Gas Calculator](/) to see how much you could save by going electric.