The federal government has reiterated its request for proposals (RFP) under the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced on July 2.
The RFP aims to support the deployment of electric vehicle chargers in public places, such as highways and public lots, across Canada. It will also support the deployment of chargers at private locations, meaning 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,” said Wilkinson in a statement. “This will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a prosperous net-zero future.”
The call is not new, but with news of two typically EV-pro provinces looking to shelf their EV rebates, the call for applications is perhaps a reminder of the federal government’s 2035 ZEV goal — one that may be difficult to reach 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 the call for proposals aims to help meet consumer expectations for convenient, affordable, and reliable charging.
Federal EV incentives are still being offered, though it remains to be seen how provincial investments in more charging infrastructure as opposed to EV incentives will bridge the gap between consumer affordability concerns in an unflattering economic environment, and buying a new electric vehicle.
Natural Resources Canada said applications will be accepted until September 19, 2024.
