The City of Markham is already home to numerous electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and will be home to even more this spring.
The federal government is investing $250,000 in Alectra Energy Services to install 50 Level 2 EV chargers across Markham, St. Catharines and Barrie.
The investment is funded through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program and will “put more people in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future” and help the government achieve its climate goals, according to Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson. Alectra Energy Services also contributed more than $710,000, bringing the total project cost to more than $960,000.
The federal government reports it has invested $1 billion since 2015 to make EVs more affordable and to help create a coast-to-coast network of chargers. It’s also funding rebates of up to $5,000 to help Canadians switch to an EV. Budget 2022 proposes an additional $1.7 billion to extend the government’s purchase incentive program until March 2025 and to expand the types of vehicle models eligible under the program, including more vans, trucks and SUVs.
The government has set a target of ensuring all new passenger vehicles sold in Canada are zero-emission by 2035. Transportation accounts for 25 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, it reports. Investments in charging infrastructure made so far will result in more than 25,000 new chargers across the country. To date, more than 136,000 Canadians and Canadian businesses have taken advantage of the federal incentive to purchase a zero-emission vehicle.
Electric charging and alternative fuelling stations are located throughout Markham, including Markham Village Community Centre at 6041 Hwy. 7, Scotiabank at 10 Main St., FLO – Cadillac Fairview Markville Mall at 5000 Hwy. 7, Markham Stouffville Hospital staff lot 5 and emergency department entrance, Aaniin Community Centre on 14th Avenue. and Markham Civic Centre on Town Centre Boulevard. Click here for a complete list of locations.
