Canada’s Ministry of Natural Resources has announced a $4.6-million investment for Petro-Canada, a Suncor business, for building 92 electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers in its coast-to-coast network.

The first completed station, in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, will be part of a larger network of more than 50 Petro-Canada locations, each with two charging units on site.

The chargers can provide up to a 200 kilowatt charge – enough to provide an 80 per cent charge to most EVs in less than 30 minutes. The units are capable of 350 kilowatt charging with future upgrades.

“Keeping Canadians moving is what we do. We know that our customers’ needs are changing, and with more than 1,800 retail and wholesale locations across the country, we have the network in place to address some of the challenges being faced by electric vehicle drivers. By combining the elements from our top-tier national network with the fastest technology available, we will be able to meet the needs of our customers today and into the future,” said Deborah Gullaher, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Suncor

This is part of the Government of Canada’s $182.5-million investment to build a coast-to-coast charging network for electric vehicles and support other zero- and low-carbon demonstration and deployment projects.

“Our government is making historic investments in green infrastructure, helping us to move from traditional fuels to cleaner choices that will power our future while lowering costs for families. With more electric vehicles on our roads, we will reduce pollution and create strong and sustainable communities,: said Bill Casey, Member of Parliament for Cumberland–Colchester.

Over 500 electric vehicle fast chargers are built or planned this year, with hundreds more expected over the next two years. Through Budget 2019, a further $130 million is being invested in charging infrastructure, and a new incentive, worth up to $5,000, is available for Canadians who purchase or lease a zero-emission vehicle.