Toronto, Ontario – November 3, 2025 – Today, the Ontario government unveiled the next phase of its plan to build a robust and reliable EV charging network spanning the entire province—another key step in supporting the shift to electric vehicles across the province. Building on the success of the EV ChargeON Program to date, the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) will deliver the Community Sites Stream to build more EV charging stations faster, encourage more drivers to adopt EVs, and ensure communities across Ontario benefit from expanded access to charging infrastructure.
“We are delivering on our plan to protect Ontario by making historic investments in transportation infrastructure that connect communities and build a stronger, more self-reliant economy,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By expanding EV ChargeON’s Community Sites Stream through OVIN, we’re adding more public chargers in underserved communities, making it easier for families and businesses to choose electric, and supporting Ontario’s growing EV sector.”
Through EV ChargeON, Ontario has supported the installation of 270 public EV charging stations across the province, resulting in increased coverage, reduced range anxiety, and improved long-distance travel—concerns and barriers that the government aims to address to drive EV adoption. EV ChargeON’s competitive, application-based funding model provides between 25 and 75 per cent of capital costs via post-construction rebates, allowing charging stations to be built faster, rapidly closing gaps across the province’s EV charging network.
“Recognizing that the cars of the future are electric, Ontario is taking critical steps to ensure that EVs become a practical choice for drivers across the province, a feat only possible when every community can reliably access public EV charging stations,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “The expansion of EV ChargeON’s Community Sites Stream through OVIN will play a key role in providing drivers with the EV charging solutions they need, at every leg of their journey.”
In this expanded phase, OVIN will leverage its proven expertise in bringing together an extensive network of partners across power generation and distribution, utilities, automotive, and technology sectors to catalyze the growth of transformative automotive and mobility solutions. Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), OVIN will administer the Community Sites Stream and facilitate faster public EV charger installation. Together, MTO and OVIN will deliver on the government’s commitment to establish a world-class, province-wide EV charging network.
“The Ontario Centre of Innovation is proud to lead OVIN in administering this important program,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation. “By combining government leadership with OVIN’s sector expertise, we are enabling an Ontario-specific strategy to build a more connected, sustainable and competitive transportation network.”
About EV ChargeON
The EV ChargeON Program supports the installation of public EV charging stations in Ontario communities to reduce range anxiety, improve coverage and enable long-distance EV travel. The program provides 25–75 per cent of capital costs through post-construction rebates.
About the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is an initiative of the Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario’s position as a North American leader in advanced automotive technology and smart mobility solutions such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles and electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies.
Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies.
For more information: https://www.ovinhub.ca or OVINcharge@oc-innovation.ca
About the Ontario Centre of Innovation
The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative R&D, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians.
As an ecosystem connector, OCI initiates unparalleled partnership opportunities, develops and manages successful industry-academic collaborations, supports high-potential SMEs in commercializing ground-breaking research, and provides hands-on training and skills development opportunities for the next generation of highly-skilled talent.
OCI drives economic growth and job creation through investments in the development, commercialization, and adoption of advanced technologies.
For more information: https://www.oc-innovation.ca
Media
Scott Fowlie, sfowlie@oc-innovation.ca