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

What is the impact of EVAFIDI?

Participating organizations gained skills and knowledge

Local contractors and electricians learned how to install infrastructure

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?

Have questions?
Email us at ZEV-infra-VEZ@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca