Canada Invests in Innovative EV Charging Technology

November 10, 2020                                        Ottawa, Ontario                                           Natural Resources Canada

The Government of Canada remains committed to building a clean energy future to strengthen the economy, create good, middle-class jobs and support the natural resource sectors. This commitment will be more important than ever as we reopen the economy and plan our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a $1-million investment in SWTCH to address barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The company will demonstrate an innovative blockchain-based EV charging platform that will significantly reduce the cost of EV charging transactions and enhance grid efficiency. SWTCH, along with project partners Opus One Solutions, Toronto Hydro, University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, IBI Group and PowerCharge, is contributing to this project, bringing the total project cost to over $2.6 million.

The transportation sector accounts for 25 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The increased adoption of EVs is key to decarbonizing our transportation sector and transitioning to a low-carbon future. By demonstrating an efficient and scalable blockchain-based platform that can record transactions to reduce transactional costs and reduce network congestion, the platform offers a unique option to EV drivers, charging service providers and utilities that would contribute to an increased uptake of EVs.

The federal funding for this project was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Infrastructure – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration program, which aims to accelerate the market entry of next-generation clean energy technologies.

The government is committed to spurring innovation and encouraging the widespread adoption of EVs. We will continue to support innovative energy initiatives that reduce pollution, create healthier communities and provide opportunities for economic development.