Greentech Lead America: Infrastructure Ontario and the
Ministry of Transportation is looking at creating a strategy to expand electric
vehicle charging infrastructure.
As part of framing strategies, it released a request for
information (RFI). The proposed strategic partnerships enable the Province to
increase development and investment in the electric vehicle industry and expand
the availability of charging stations across Ontario.
Ontario government is planning to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, create jobs, encourage electric vehicle use and improve the
availability of electric vehicle charging stations.
Developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure is part
of the green initiatives. Electric vehicles support Ontario’s target to reduce
greenhouse gases from the transportation sector.
RFI process will help the province determine a strategy
for expanding the availability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and
identify opportunities to partner with the public and private sectors to build,
test and expand it.
Ontario has set a goal of having five percent of all new
cars be electric by the year 2020. Electric vehicles provide many benefits to
the environment and the economy by using clean energy resources instead of
gasoline.
The province’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program
provides consumers between $5,000 and $8,500 toward the purchase or lease of
eligible plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles purchased on or after
July 1, 2010.
Infrastructure Ontario is managing the RFI process on
behalf of the Ministry of Transportation. The RFI process is not part of a
procurement process and RFI submissions will not be evaluated as part of any
potential future procurement.