7th September, 2023

EV's Driving Force in Canada

An electric-powered road trip across Canada? It's not crazy – yes, even given the country's vastdistances – thanks to more and more urban and rural destinations supporting electric vehicle (EV) travel. In recent years, the number of EV charging stations has grown to nearly 20,000 stations at 8,249 charging sites. And, thanks to programs such as the Canadian federal government's Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, infrastructure development to support EVs is rapidly expanding.

Green powerhouse: EVs are poised to become a driving force of the future. In 2021, a record 86,032 electric vehicles were registered in Canada, making up 5.3 percent of total vehicle registrations for the year. In December 2022, Canada's first full-scale electric vehicle manufacturing plant opened in Ingersoll, Ontario, with vehicles being produced for customers such as FedEx and DHL. And, rental companies such as Hertz and Turo are incorporating EVs into their Canadian fleets, enabling people who aren't ready to purchase an electric vehicle to enjoy greener commutes. Drivers seeking transport for quick trips can try hourly EV rentals or car sharing in some cities, including Communauto (based in Montréal, Quebec, and operating in 15 Canadian cities) and Zerocar (offered in Vancouver, BC). (Tip: Pre-plan your EV trips by finding charging stations around the world, including Canada, via the PlugShare website.)

Electric ride: Wherever you go in Canada, you'll find support for electric vehicle travel. Here are a few examples:

Central Canada
➢ Electric Circuit was introduced in 2012 – well before EVs became as widespread as theyare today. When the project was started by Hydro-Québec, it operated 34 charging stations; a decade later, its offerings have expanded over a hundredfold with 3,700 charging stations – including 700 fast-charging stations that can recharge a car in less than an hour – situated across Quebec and parts of eastern Ontario.

➢ The Lion Electric Co. manufactures zero-emission school buses, minibuses for special needs or urban transit, and urban trucks in Quebec – even Amazon has noticed its innovative designs, purchasing several vehicles for its fleet.

British Columbia 
BC has a vast network of charging stations located along highways and communities throughout the province. Companies like BC Hydro, ChargePoint and Flo provide maps identifying their charging stations, making it easy to explore BC's scenic routes sustainably.

➢ Map your travel route using EV-centred itineraries such as EV explorations of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, EV roadtripping along the Gold Rush Trail, EV travel on BC Fishing Highway 24 and The Electric North: Exploring Route 16 by EV.

Atlantic Canada
➢ While Prince Edward Island is only 225 kilometres (140 miles) long, many tourism businesses have installed EV stations at their locations so visitors can explore the island with a lower carbon footprint. Plan your route by visiting Charge Hub's website.

➢ Over 100 EV charging stations are located across Nova Scotia. Its very first was installed at Trout Point Lodge, a remote wilderness resort committed to sustainability.

➢ New Brunswick has 171 EV charging stations – the most of any Atlantic Canada province – including in popular parks such as Fundy National Park,
Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, and Kouchibouguac National Park.

Canada's Parks
➢ Parks Canada protects an extensive network of parks that covers millions of hectares. The organization has pledged that its administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80 percent zero-emission vehicles by 2030, and is currently working to install supporting infrastructure. Storyteller: Justin Brisbane, regional communications officer at Parks Canada is passionate about the EV program.

➢ Visitors will find more than 230 EV charging stations in 43 parks to support the responsible exploration of the outdoors, including La Mauricie National Park, in Quebec; Point Pelee National Park, in Ontario; and Riding Mountain National Park, in Manitoba.

Readers wanting more information about holidays in Canada go to www.explore-canada.co.uk

For more media information please contact Nim Singh, Media and PR Manager, Destination Canada , singh.nim@destinationcanada.com (not for publication)