Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative
What is EVAFIDI?
The Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative (EVAFIDI) was launched by Natural Resources Canada in 2016 to provide funding to organizations to help establish:
- a coast to coast network of EV fast-chargers along core routes and highways
- natural gas refuelling sites along key freight corridors
- hydrogen refuelling sites in major cities
This public infrastructure will help Canadians feel confident making the switch to low- or zero-emission vehicles. EVAFIDI has now ended. The Program is no longer launching Request for Proposals.
Sites funded by EVAFIDI
Includes sites that have signed a contribution agreement but are not yet installed
Text version
Distribution of infrastructure
British Columbia
- Electric: 285
- Hydrogen: 4
- Natural gas: 3
Alberta
- Electric: 67
- Natural gas: 1
Saskatchewan
- Electric: 51
Manitoba
- Electric: 30
Ontario
- Electric: 281
- Hydrogen: 1
- Natural gas: 5
Quebec
- Electric: 236
- Hydrogen: 1
- Natural gas: 4
New Brunswick
- Electric: 32
Prince Edward Island
- Electric: 6
Nova Scotia
- Electric: 17
Newfoundland
- Electric: 33
Yukon
- Electric: 14
Approved VS. Targets
Electric
- Approved: 1090
- Program target: 1000
Hydrogen
- Approved: 10
- Program target: 15
Natural gas
- Approved: 22
- Program target: 21
Charger/Station status
- Open – Electric: 1052/1090
- Open – Hydrogen: 6/15
- Open – Natural gas: 14/22
What is the impact of EVAFIDI?
Participating organizations gained skills and knowledge
Local contractors and electricians learned how to install infrastructure
58 organizations
received funding to install chargers or build refuelling stations
- Municipalities
- Utilities
- Retailers
- Provinces & Territories
- Universities & Colleges
- Charging/refuelling companies
For every $1 NRCan invested,
$2 of outside funding was leveraged.
$260 MILLION in total investments
What participants say about the Program
What worked
- Funding catalyzed projects that would not otherwise have happened
- Program helped organizations build the business case to invest
- Participants had a high level of overall satisfaction with the Program
- Participants appreciated the day-to-day support from NRCan staff
- Risk management by NRCan helped ensure the success of projects
Feedback for future programs
- Provide more technical guidance to help participants anticipate challenges and costs, based on real-world experiences from past participants
- Adjust timelines to align with organizations’ approval cycles and the construction season and give ample notice
- Create tailored programs for different kinds of organizations at different stages of deployment
- Continue to help participants access other sources of funding that can be stacked or integrated with federal funding
- Offer higher funding limits where appropriate
Canada needs to scale up its zero-emission vehicle infrastructure
Canada has committed to building 50,000 new EV charging and hydrogen refuelling sites.
What needs to be done to take the next step?
- Scale up programs
- Ensure equitable access and converage
- Focus on net-zero compatible technologies
Have questions?
Email us at ZEV-infra-VEZ@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
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