Canada needs 679,000 public charging ports by 2040. Today we have fewer than 40,000. Voltrise is building the Black-owned EV charging network that powers Canada's electric future — from British Columbia to the Atlantic coast.
Natural Resources Canada commissioned Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors to assess the scale of Canada's EV charging infrastructure deficit. The findings are stark: Canada must install an average of 40,000 new public charging ports every single year between 2025 and 2040 to meet demand.
With zero-emission vehicle sales mandated to reach 100% by 2035, the EV fleet is set to grow from 480,000 vehicles today to 5 million by 2030 and 21 million by 2040. The charging network is running years behind schedule.
The latest data from Natural Resources Canada, Dunsky Energy, and Paren's Q4 2025 State of Industry Report reveals the full scale of the infrastructure challenge — and the opportunity.
As of early 2026, Canada has approximately 38,000 public charging ports at ~14,500 station locations. A 24% increase year-over-year — but still far behind the mandate.
Canada needs 679,000 public charging ports by 2040 to support 21 million ZEVs on the road — one port for every 31 electric vehicles. The gap is 641,000 ports.
Canada must install 40,000 new public charging ports per year — every year — from 2025 to 2040. In 2025, only ~6,200 were built, falling drastically short of the target.
NRCan estimates the cumulative capital cost of building new public charging infrastructure to be at least $18 billion through 2040. Federal programs cover only a fraction — private operators must fill the gap.
Canada's national EV-to-public-charger ratio stands at 26 EVs per charger as of late 2025. In high-adoption markets like BC, the ratio is far higher and deteriorating fast.
Canada's DC fast chargers averaged 93.2% reliability in Q4 2025. BC's Vancouver market saw DCFC utilization near 30% — signalling urgent need for more fast chargers.
A national AutoTrader survey released April 14, 2026 found that EV purchase intent among non-EV owners has increased for the first time since 2022 — reversing a four-year decline and signalling a major shift in Canadian consumer sentiment.
The average price of a new battery electric vehicle dropped 10.6% year-over-year, and overall new EV prices fell 6% YOY. Used EVs also declined 2.1% — making the switch more attainable across income brackets.
89% of respondents cited fuel savings and efficiency as their primary reason for considering an EV. Canada's renewed federal EV rebate program — a $2.3B commitment announced February 2026 — was also a major factor cited by prospective buyers.
British Columbia recorded the largest absolute jump in EV interest of any province — hitting 60% consideration. Voltrise's Phase 1 launch in Vancouver and Kamloops directly targets Canada's most EV-ready market at exactly the right moment.
The rebound was national, not regional — every province except Alberta showed growth. Atlantic Canada's underserved charging network combined with rising EV intent creates the conditions Voltrise's Phase 3 Atlantic expansion is built to serve.
Ontario and Quebec together hold 67% of all charging ports. BC adds another 20%. The remaining provinces — including all of Atlantic Canada — are critically underserved and represent the highest-priority expansion zones.
Canadians have long accepted volatile fuel prices as a fact of life. But rising global oil markets, lingering geopolitical instability, and Canada's own fuel tax structure mean that the gap between what you pay to fill a tank versus what you pay to charge an EV has never been wider. Clean Energy Canada calculates that charging an EV is equivalent to paying just $0.40 per litre for gasoline — at a time when Canadians are regularly paying $1.60–$1.90 at the pump.
With Canada's national average gas price sitting around $1.78/litre in 2025 — and spiking higher in BC, Ontario, and the Atlantic provinces — the financial case for switching to electric has become impossible to ignore. Add in 40–50% lower maintenance costs, no oil changes, and dramatically fewer mechanical failures, and the internal combustion engine is fast becoming the expensive option.
National average gas price in 2025. BC and Atlantic Canada regularly exceed $1.90/L. Over a full tank (60L) that's $107 — every time.
What Clean Energy Canada calculates EV charging costs in gasoline-equivalent terms. Home charging in BC costs as little as $2/100km vs $14–18/100km for gas.
Average Canadian EV owner saves $3,000+ per year on fuel alone vs. a gas vehicle. Over 10 years: $30,000+ in fuel savings — enough to buy another car.
Based on 20,000 km/year, national avg. gas price $1.78/L, avg. electricity $0.12/kWh. Sources: Clean Energy Canada, CAA, NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide 2026.
| Vehicle | Type | Fuel/100km | Annual Fuel Cost | vs. Gas Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 (2.5L gas) | GAS ⛽ | 8.6 L/100km | $3,061 | — |
| Toyota bZ4X (EV equivalent) | EV ⚡ | 18.3 kWh/100km | $440 | Save $2,621/yr |
| Honda Civic (1.5T gas) | GAS ⛽ | 7.7 L/100km | $2,741 | — |
| BYD Dolphin / Seal (equivalent) | EV ⚡ | 14.5 kWh/100km | $348 | Save $2,393/yr |
| Ford F-150 (3.5L gas) | GAS ⛽ | 13.8 L/100km | $4,913 | — |
| Ford F-150 Lightning (EV) | EV ⚡ | 27.7 kWh/100km | $665 | Save $4,248/yr |
| Chevrolet Silverado (5.3L gas) | GAS ⛽ | 15.2 L/100km | $5,411 | — |
| Chevy Silverado EV | EV ⚡ | 31.2 kWh/100km | $749 | Save $4,662/yr |
Fuel costs calculated using $1.78/L gasoline (Canada national avg. 2025) and $0.12/kWh electricity. Fuel economy figures sourced from NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide 2025/2026. 20,000 km annual mileage assumed. Actual savings will vary by driving patterns, province, and utility rate.
Volatile fuel prices — Global oil markets, geopolitical conflict, and refinery capacity mean Canadians can never predict what they'll pay at the pump next month.
ZEV sales mandates accelerating adoption — The federal standard and BC's revised ZEV Act (75% by 2035) mean gas-only vehicles are a shrinking share of new sales. Resale values of ICE vehicles will decline as mandates tighten.
Higher maintenance complexity — ICE engines have hundreds of moving parts, requiring regular oil changes, exhaust work, transmission service, and timing belt replacements EVs simply don't need.
Transportation is 40% of Canada's emissions — Growing carbon accountability and corporate ESG requirements will increasingly favour fleets that run on electricity.
Fixed, predictable energy costs — Electricity prices in Canada are regulated and stable. Home charging overnight locks in your "fuel" cost for the day before you wake up.
40–50% lower maintenance costs — Regenerative braking, no oil changes, no exhaust system. CAA EV owners report dramatically fewer dealer visits after switching.
Chinese EVs entering Canada from $22K — Affordable BYD, Zeekr, and Chery models will remove the upfront price premium that has kept some buyers on the fence.
BC electricity is 98% renewable — Charging in British Columbia produces a fraction of the emissions of any gas-powered vehicle. EV charging is genuinely clean in most of Canada.
In January 2026, Prime Minister Carney's state visit to Beijing produced a landmark trade deal: Canada slashed tariffs on Chinese-made EVs from 106.1% to just 6.1%, opening an annual quota of 49,000 Chinese EVs. BYD, Chery, and Geely — including its Zeekr brand — are targeting Canadian dealerships before the end of 2026.
At the 2026 El Prix Winter Range Drive in Norway, six of the top ten performing EVs were Chinese-made. These are not budget vehicles — they outperform Tesla in cold-weather range and fast-charging efficiency. When BYD alone plans 20 Canadian dealerships starting in Toronto in late 2026, the resulting surge in EV ownership will accelerate demand for public charging infrastructure dramatically.
Chinese EVs are typically 20–30% cheaper than equivalent Western models. A BYD Seagull starting at ~$22,000 CAD — potentially under $10,000 after Quebec incentives — will drive EV ownership into demographics that have never considered an electric vehicle before. More EVs means more charging demand. Canada's public network must be ready.
World's largest EV manufacturer. 4.27M EVs sold in 2024. 20 Canadian dealerships planned for late 2026. Registered with Transport Canada. Models: Seal, Dolphin, Atto 3, Seagull.
Confirmed 2026 Entry2.8M passenger cars sold in 2025. Trademark filings for Exeed, iCar, Jaecoo, Omoda brands. Industry Minister met Chery execs in Beijing in January 2026.
Targeting 2026Parent of Volvo & Polestar. Trademarked Zeekr brand in Canada in 2025. Zeekr built on SEA platform — cold-weather engineered. SEA platform also underpins Polestar.
Trademark FiledXPeng dominated the 2026 winter range test — outperforming Tesla on cold-weather charging efficiency. NIO's battery-swap model offers a unique charging alternative.
Evaluating CanadaCanada imposes 100% tariff on Chinese-made EVs, effectively shutting out BYD, NIO, XPeng, and Chery. Chinese-built EVs from Lotus, Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo already present but affected.
PM Carney's state visit to Beijing. Tariff drops from 106.1% to 6.1%. Canada gets agricultural market access (canola). Import quota set at 49,000 Chinese EVs per year.
Global Affairs Canada opens import permit process. First-come, first-served. 24,500 units permitted March 1 – August 31, 2026. Second 24,500 tranche Sept 2026 – Feb 2027.
BYD, Chery, and Geely/Zeekr vehicles expected at Canadian dealerships. Certification and homologation work underway. The BYD Seagull could be Canada's most affordable new EV ever.
Annual import quota set to increase to 70,000 units by 2030. Over half must be priced under C$35,000. Affordable Chinese EVs will drive mass EV adoption — and massive new charging demand.
49,000 new EVs in 2026 alone — at a national ratio of 26 EVs per charger — requires approximately 1,900 additional public charging ports just to keep pace with Chinese EV imports in year one. By 2030, the 70,000-unit annual quota will add demand for a further 2,700+ ports per year from Chinese imports alone, before accounting for domestic brands.
The federal Electric Vehicle Availability Standard mandates rising ZEV sales minimums starting in 2026. Combined with Chinese EV market entry, BC's mandate, and $2.3 billion in new federal EV incentives announced in February 2026, the EV fleet is set to grow exponentially.
Sources: NRCan Electric Vehicle Availability Standard; Dunsky 2024 Infrastructure Study; Transport Canada ZEV Dashboard
Governments are paying operators to build charging infrastructure. Provincial and federal programs cover up to 98% of equipment costs — Voltrise deploys stations with minimal capital while Canadian EVs multiply and revenue grows year over year.
49,000 Chinese EVs arriving in 2026 alone — growing to 70,000/year by 2030. Affordable BYD, Zeekr, and Chery models will put EVs in the hands of Canadians who never expected to own one. Every new EV is a new charging customer.
Voltrise installs, owns, and operates at no cost to property hosts. Hosts earn a 10% revenue share and increased foot traffic from EV drivers. 10-year site commitment. This removes the #1 barrier to site acquisition and accelerates network growth.
Atlantic Canada has just 2% of the nation's charging ports while holding 8% of the population. NRCan's planning map designates Atlantic highway corridors as Priority 4–5 zones — strong federal funding eligibility and near-zero competition.
Year 1 launches in two of Canada's most strategically positioned EV markets — the nation's EV capital and the Interior's most critical highway corridor.
Supported by ACOA REGI funding and Year 2 operating momentum. Blackonsult Ltd.'s head office is already in Saint John, New Brunswick — making NB the home province. Only three extra-provincial registrations required for a full Atlantic rollout.
Home province — Blackonsult HQ at Saint John. Trans-Canada corridor. Moncton–Fredericton–Saint John triangle. NB Power rebates available. Sites in Year 3 pipeline.
Halifax metro — Atlantic Canada's fastest-growing EV market. Cape Breton tourism corridor. EfficiencyOne NS rebates. ACOA REGI funding eligible.
Extremely underserved. NRCan Priority 5 corridor designation. Trans-Canada island route. St. John's metro. Virtually no competition. Strong federal funding eligibility.
Island tourism drives EV rental demand. Confederation Bridge corridor. Maritime Electric incentives. Charlottetown urban core. Small market, outsized opportunity.
Whether you own a parking lot, run a hotel, manage a shopping centre, or want to partner on Canada's growing EV charging network — Voltrise wants to hear from you.
A Blackonsult Ltd. subsidiary · nelson@voltriseev.ca