Electric Vehicle (EV) ChargeON
The Electric Vehicle (EV) ChargeON Program supports the installation of public EV charging stations across Ontario.
For more on this program’s current status and intake dates please visit the Programs Overview page.
Program overview
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% of eligible expenses through post-construction rebates.
Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 3, 2025 | Application period opens. |
| December 15, 2025 | Application period closes at 5:00 p.m. EST. |
| Winter 2026 | OVIN reviews and evaluates Applications. |
| April 1, 2026 | Applicants are notified of the evaluation results. |
| Up to 12 months from Agreement | Recipients have up to 12 months from receipt of Agreement date to complete installation and operationalize their approved EV charger(s). |
Learn More
Building on the success of the EV ChargeON Program to date, 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.
To learn more, read the ChargeON Program press release.
Benefits
EV ChargeON aims to:
- increase the number of public EV charging stations throughout Ontario to build a more connected network
- make public chargers more accessible and affordable
- encourage more people to switch to EVs
Eligibility
Eligible applicants, located and operating in Ontario, include:
- businesses
- not-for-profit corporations
- municipal governments
- Indigenous communities, organizations or businesses
- broader public sector organizations
We encourage you to apply, especially if you represent a small or medium-sized business/organizations.
To apply, you must be the current owner of the site, or have written approval from the owner or Band Council, to install and operate the charging station for a minimum of 5 years.
Eligible Project Locations
EV chargers that cannot be used by the general public are ineligible for this Program. Projects must be located in the province of Ontario to apply.
Sites approved for funding as part of the initial intake of EV ChargeON (2023/2024) are ineligible for funding support as part of this intake.
Site and Infrastructure Requirements
| Number of Level 2 Ports | Level 2: Minimum four Level 2 Ports per Site. |
| Number of Level 3 Ports | Level 3: Minimum one Level 3 Port if co-located with a Level 2 Port. Minimum two Level 3 Ports if not co-located with Level 2 Port(s).To provide redundancy to the Site, Tandem Installations are required to meet these minimums (i.e., a single Multi-Port Charger on its own does not fulfill the minimum requirements for Level 3 Ports).If there is another public Level 3 Charger within 2 km of the proposed Site3, this redundancy requirement does not apply (i.e., a single Multi-Port Charger is acceptable). |
| Installation | Commitment to performing work in accordance with local and provincial codes (e.g., AODA, building, electrical, zoning, parking, environmental).Installed by a licenced electrical contractor in compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.Not replacing an existing charger. |
| Chargers | Be new and purchased after program launch date.Permanent hard-wired installation (mounted or fixed).Certified for use in Canada (e.g., CSA, UL, Interlink) and be commercially available.Remain operational for a minimum of five years or be replaced with a charger of equal or higher output that remains operational for five years from the date of the original project installation. |
| Lighting and Site Visibility | The Site must be visible from the nearest public roadway and has/will have adequate lighting for evening usage. Applicants are required to submit a site plan illustrating proximity to the road and lighting. Applications without a submitted site plan will be deemed incomplete and ineligible for funding. Appendix H provides requirements and guidance on submitting a site plan. |
| Signage and Wayfinding | Site will have the following minimum signage requirements, including signage stating hours of operation, if applicable: Permanent signage identifying each dedicated EV parking space as per Ontario Regulation 615 Section 23; adequate wayfinding signage to direct drivers to Site from parking lot entrance and/or the nearest street; and signage identifying station terms of use including hours/dates of operation, if applicable. |
| Parking | One dedicated parking space per port for EV parking/charging only. |
| Payment Standards | If payment is required, include at least one method of payment that does not require a charging network account, membership or app. |
| Accessibility | Comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, its standards, and requirements of local codes and regulations. |
| Operations and Maintenance | Applicants will be required to submit completed Appendix E, Operations and Maintenance Plan template. |
| Budget | Applicants will be required to submit completed Appendix G, Project Budget template and supporting cost estimates / quotes for outlined project expenditures. |
| Proof of Secure Funding | Funding required to build and operate the project shall be secured. |
| Five Year Operations Requirement | Chargers must not be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of within five years following the project completion date. |
| Insurance Requirement | If Project is selected to receive funding, the Recipients must abide by insurance requirements as identified in the Agreement. |
Funding
The Ministry’s contribution through this Program will be limited to a maximum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per Project. A single Applicant may submit multiple Applications where the total value of all Projects exceeds one million dollars. OVIN reserves the right to cap the number of approved Projects per Applicant.
Financial support is based on the total amount of funds available for the Program and the Program timeframe. Recipients are responsible for funding any cost overruns related to their Project.
*the below percentages represent reimbursement through the Program for eligible expenses*
| Northern Ontario | Rest of Ontario | Sites open less than 24/7/365 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Community or Business | 75% | 75% | 25% |
| Municipalities with populations below 170k | 75% | 75% | 25% |
| Businesses, not-for-profit corporations, and broader public sector | 75% | 50% | 25% |
| Municipalities with populations above 170k | 75% | 50% | 25% |
For the purposes of Program funding, Northern Ontario is defined by the Ministry of Transportation’s Regional Boundaries of Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario.
How to apply
- To begin the Full Application submission process, please complete a client intake form (Resource Documents – OVIN – Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (ovinhub.ca)). The Applicant may also reach out to an OCI Business Development Manager or Sector Lead if already connected with one. An OCI Business Development Manager (BDM) or Sector Lead (SL) will contact you to discuss the opportunity and assist you with developing your proposal. If you are already working with a BDM/SL, please indicate this in the form.
- If the proposed project meets the program’s eligibility, criteria, and documentation requirements, the applicant will be invited to complete the Full Application. Applicants must submit their Full Application for review.
- Your BDM/SL must endorse your application for eligibility and suitability prior to submission.
- All submitted Full Applications will undergo an internal review by OCI to ensure completeness and eligibility of site, infrastructure and proposed expenses. Any identified deficiencies will be communicated to the applicant for correction and resubmission.
- All applications will undergo an external review process. Those that are recommended for funding will be endorsed to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for funding consideration. MTO will make the final funding decisions.
- Successful Applicants will be notified by OCI and provided an outline of conditions and additional information necessary to activate the project.
- Applicants who are not selected will be notified by OCI. Feedback on the decision can be provided by their BDM.
- For more information or to stay up to date on the latest ChargeON news, email ovincharge@oc-innovation.ca
Other Links
Intake Form
Submit this intake form and see if this program is the right fit for your business!