The Evolution of Electric Car Charging Infrastructure in Canada

It’s no secret that there’s been a greater push for electric vehicles in recent years. But while the transition is happening in Canada, there’s a question that’s on everyone’s mind: Is there the proper charging infrastructure in place to support going electric? How has public charging infrastructure evolved? All of these are important questions to ask if you’re planning on purchasing an electric car. Let’s take a look at what the current EV charging infrastructure looks like and how it has evolved.

How Has the Charging Network Evolved Over Time?

In just the past few years, there’s been a large increase in charging stations made available to Canadians who need to access chargers publicly. In 2021, there were an estimated 12,585 Level 2 charging ports in Canada (Level-2 chargers are suitable for fast charging while parking for brief periods) and 3,138 DC fast charger ports.

While more data still needs to be collected as we navigate 2024, 2023 data does show a 30% increase in available charger stations, indicating that their use is on the rise and that demands are gradually being met. In total, there are now about 20,478 charging ports available across over 8,000 charging stations scattered across Canada.

As EV cars play a more prominent role in transportation, electric car charging infrastructure is growing to support these vehicles.

What Are Some of the Biggest Challenges Facing Charging Infrastructure?

While we are seeing growth, it’s important to understand that there are still challenges that face charging electric vehicle charging infrastructure that will impact Canada’s ability to expand these stations in the coming years.

Some of these major challenges include:

• A consistent demand for service for traditional vehicles that use gas, which can prevent some stations from investing in the technology needed to cater to greater amounts of EV car drivers.
• A lack of adoption may result in issues with trying to scale as fast as Canada wants, throwing a wrench in current plans and putting off the building of new EV charging stations for years or more.
• On the other hand, some sources state that growing demand could actually exceed current electrical infrastructure, with some believing that there might be a need for as many as 200,000 EV charging stations in the future.
• Charging infrastructure requires modern technology as well as constant maintenance, which can be difficult to implement and even costlier to maintain as more drivers regularly use charging stations.

Put simply, there are many roadblocks ahead that could pose major issues for charging infrastructure ahead.

What Is the General Attitude Toward EV Adoption?

EV adoption can make or break the continuing development of EV charging infrastructure. As of now, demand looks strong, and it’s evident that driving electric vehicles is becoming more normalized in Canada with the implementation of laws like Ontario Legislature Bill 123, which fines those who park in charging spaces and don’t actively use the chargers. With the push from the federal government to make zero-emission vehicles more common and solid demand from consumers from Quebec to Toronto, EV adoption could be enough to push greater infrastructure growth.

It’s also worth noting that big manufacturers like the Chrysler brand and the Dodge brand have already released or plan on releasing vehicles, which could make EVs more accessible to those with an interest in driving them.

EV cars are the future, and Canada is working hard to ensure that this future is fully supported. Are you ready to find your first electric vehicle? Start here with South 20 Dodge in Humboldt, Saskatchewan!