Ontario Building More Electric Vehicle Chargers in Alliston, Collingwood, Thornbury and Wasaga Beach

New electric vehicle chargers will make life easier and more convenient for drivers

NEWS November 12, 2024

Simcoe-Grey – Ontario is building 20 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Simcoe-Grey. This marks a major milestone in the province’s plan to increase access to EV chargers outside of large urban centres and support the electrification of transportation across the province. As the province continues to see substantial job creation and investment in the growing EV and EV battery manufacturing sector, these new charging stations will provide critical supporting infrastructure in communities across the province, including for EVs made right here in Ontario.

“For EV drivers finding a charging station that’s close by and available can mean the difference between a quick stop and a time-consuming detour that takes time away from work, school or family,” said Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson. “I’m proud to be delivering 20 new EV charging stations in Alliston, Collingwood, Thornbury and Wasaga Beach to make life easier and more convenient for drivers.”

These new chargers, part of the government’s $63 million EV ChargeON Program Community Sites Stream, will be located at:

8 new chargers at Collingwood Loblaws Market
4 new chargers at Alliston Trillium Ford
4 new chargers at Thornbury, Blue Mountain Parking Lot
4 new chargers at Wasaga Beach, 535 River Road

“With more than 201,000 electric vehicles on the road in Ontario, we’re putting shovels in the ground to build more charging stations and make life easier for drivers,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “That includes a focus on smaller and underserved communities across our province where we are providing more certainty for parents and workers during their commutes.”

Each new EV charging site will include Level 2 charging stations, Level 3 charging stations, or a combination of the two. The government has also launched a new Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan and is exploring options for an Electric Vehicle Charger Discount Electricity Rate to further support EV adoption and reduce emissions. The new Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan is helping customers who use more electricity at night, including those who charge their electric vehicle, save up to $90 per year.

“Improving EV charging infrastructure is essential to ensuring drivers are confident in electric vehicles,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By focusing on smaller and medium-sized communities, we’re filling gaps in underserved areas to build a more connected charging network for everyone in Ontario.”

QUICK FACTS

The government is investing a total of $91 million through the EV ChargeON program which consists of two streams: the Community Sites Stream and the Government Sites Stream. Through the Community Sites Stream the government is building over 1,300 chargers. Requests for bids for the Government Sites Stream closed in September 2024.
Businesses, not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and broader public sector organizations (such as hospitals, universities, and colleges) were invited to submit funding applications for the Community Sites Stream.
As of October 2024, there were more than 201,000 EVs registered in Ontario, including both battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. By 2030, over one million EVs are expected on Ontario’s roads.
This initiative builds on Driving Prosperity: The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector, a government plan that includes measures aimed to encourage EV uptake across Ontario.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

EV ChargeON program

Ontario Tackles Energy Demand by Introducing Affordable Energy Act