eVentures:
NW Alberta EV Charging Network
Past Initiative
Collaborating to build charging infrastructure in rural areas to fills gaps in Canada’s EV charging network
THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE LAB'S IMPACT STUDIO
Overview
Greenhouse gas emissions from Canada's transportation sector are responsible for roughly 22% of national emissions. To address this, enabling the switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric-powered ones is a key strategy. However charging infrastructure to meet the needs of an anticipated 21 million electric vehicles in 2040 will require a significant growth in publicly available charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas and along transportation corridors where it's currently lacking.
Rural communities in northwest Alberta face a patchwork of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, resulting in missed opportunities for efficient grid management and cost-effective development. The eVentures NW Alberta Charging Network initiative changed that by coordinating local efforts through collaboration agreements and a shared network map, accelerating the creation of a connected regional EV charging network.
Why It Matters
The Challenge
A majority of Albertans now believe in the need for an energy transition in Canada, however stories shared about it through political rhetoric and echoed in media continue to be starkly polarizing, often negative and demotivating.
Energy transition isn’t simply a technological feat. The challenge ahead is multi-faceted, impacting each and every one of us in unique ways. It’s also a conversation, a matter of culture and an opportunity for people from across disciplines to develop a shared vision for our energy future and engage with it via both technical and non-technical mediums.
Our Approach
The Energy Futures Lab played a key role by convening and facilitating interactive workshops with rural municipalities, in partnership with the Community Energy Association, federal and provincial governments, and Energy Futures Lab Fellow Megan Lohmann.
This initiative successfully brought together eight local governments and municipal districts to jointly advance the charging network, complete a regional network map, and prepare capital funding proposals.
Impact
In 2025, construction began on the new network of charging stations, with some stations scheduled for opening before the end of 2025.
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