Electric Vehicle Charging Program FAQ

With over 300 eligible municipalities, we have received quite a few questions about the Electric Vehicle Charging Program. Here are answers to many of your most frequently asked questions.


Program overview

Learn about this program’s purpose and how it is relevant to you.

Who is this program aimed at?

This program aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Alberta by:

  1. Encouraging municipalities to place charging stations in public locations.
  2. Supporting municipalities purchasing charging stations for their own fleets.
What kinds of electric vehicles is this program designed for?

This program can rebate the purchase of charging stations for electric passenger vehicles and electric light-duty trucks (i.e., cars, pick-up trucks, and SUVs). Ice resurfacers (e.g., Zamboni EV), heavy-duty trucks, and transit vehicles use different charging technology and are ineligible for this rebate.

Does my community need a charging station?

We are aiming to close gaps between locations throughout Alberta. To see if your community is in a “charging desert” please visit PlugShare.com to see the availability of public stations in your area. We encourage all EVCP participants to list their new, public stations on PlugShare.

Are electric cars here to stay?

EV sales are growing in Canada. There are now over 65 models on sale and 200,000 EVs on the road. Over 9% of total vehicle registrations in British Columbia were electric in 2020. While sales are still much lower in Alberta, the Government of Canada has mandated that 100% of sales be for zero emission vehicles by 2035.

I’m interested, but don’t know much about EVs. What kind of one-on-one support can you offer?

MCCAC staff can help you understand your community’s situation and how EV charging stations can fit in. We can help you consider options based on power availability, local amenities, municipal fleet needs, proximity to tourist destinations, and more.


Eligibility

Where and what type of chargers is this program for.

Who can apply for a rebate?

This program is only available for municipalities in the province of Alberta. The applicant may be a non-profit community organization if it operates on municipally-owned land or in a municipally owned facility. However, the municipality must sign the funding agreement and will receive all rebates.

What types of chargers can be rebated?

This program can rebate the purchase of charging stations for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks (i.e., cars, pick-up trucks, and SUVs). Chargers can be level 2 or level 3 (otherwise known as DC fast charging) with any standard connector. Charging stations must be networked. For more detail on the technology available, read the EV Knowledge Guide.

Where can the charging station be located?

Charging stations can be installed on municipally-owned land or land in which the municipality has a long-term lease. Suitable locations for public chargers could include at recreation centres, libraries, town hall, and curbside locations near amenities like restaurants or tourist attractions. Chargers reserved for municipal fleet use can be installed in restricted locations.

Can the charging station be built on non-municipal property?

No, the charging station must be installed on municipally-owned or leased land.

Can Indigenous communities apply for a rebate?

This program is only for municipalities and community-related organizations. Other funding opportunities may exist for First Nations and Métis settlements through other Natural Resources Canada delivery partners. Visit the listing for more information.


Costs

What could this cost up-front, and how much could you make back.

What kind of costs can be expected?

There are many variables that influence the total installed cost of a charging station, including: site conditions, labour rates, and equipment costs. We estimate a level 2 station can fall in the range of $8,000 to $20,000 and Level 3 fast chargers it varies from $80,000 to $150,000.

Will this program cover the full cost of a charging station?

We expect our rebates to align with the total project costs in most cases. The maximum rebate is $20,000 for a level 2 charger and $150,000 for a level 3 charger. See Section 3.1 of the EVCP Guidebook for full details.

Can we apply for a retroactive rebate?

No, this program cannot cover expenses incurred prior to the signing of a Funding Agreement. Do not go ahead with any purchase of equipment or services prior to signing an agreement.

Are there any costs that cannot be covered?

This program is only meant to cover the purchase and installation of charging stations. Ineligible costs include extended warranties (purchased as an add-on), electrical service upgrades, and ongoing costs such as networking fees, maintenance, electricity and electrical demand costs.

Can we charge drivers to use the charging stations?

Municipalities have the choice to charge for use or provide free charging. We encourage a small fee to encourage turnover and help recoup costs. Typical usages fees are $1.50–2.00 per hour for use of a level 2 station and $0.25–0.35 per minute ($15–20 per hour) for use of a level 3 station.

How many charging stations can we apply for rebate?

Municipalities can receive a maximum of $200,000 across any number of chargers and applications.

Can I combine a rebate from EVCP with funding from other sources?

Municipalities can leverage other sources so long as they do not come from Natural Resources Canada’s ZEVIP program. Municipalities must disclose any participation in other funding programs and total funding must not exceed 100% of costs.


Program process

Understand the program’s steps and any constraints or requirements.

What is the timeline for this program?
  • Applications are being accepted from Jan. 18, 2022 until March, 2023. The program may close to new applications if funding becomes fully allocated.
  • Assuming the application package includes all required information and attachments, and no follow-up is required, a funding agreement will typically be processed and sent within a few weeks.
  • Projects are expected to be complete within 12 months of the funding agreement signing date. This includes the EV charging stations being installed, fully operational, and all public engagement activities completed. See Section 4.0 step 4 in the EVCP Guidebook.
  • A rebate will be delivered after our team can verify that the project has been completed and all conditions in the Funding Agreement have been satisfied.
At what point am I guaranteed to be in the program?

The Expression of Interest is a non-committal first step and does not determine a queue or priority access. We will review applications in the order in which they are received but no funds are reserved for your project until you sign a funding agreement. See Section 3.5 in the EVCP Guidebook.

Instead of a rebate, can the funds be used to directly pay contractors?

The EVCP is a rebate program and will only provide funding to the participating municipality after the project can be verified to be complete. We understand the constraint can be a challenge for smaller municipalities, but unfortunately, we cannot advance funding directly to contractors.

Do you recommend we use specific contractors or vendors?

Municipalities are free to choose any certified contractor or vendor. The MCCAC will not be managing an approved vendor list but will be releasing an EV charging install and operations guide that will include several providers that municipalities may choose to contact. We recommend getting 2–3 quotes to find a competitive price.

Can a municipality submit multiple applications?

Municipalities may bundle projects together or submit separate applications for each. You may consider separate applications if you anticipate delays with a subset of projects or if separate applications allow you to submit earlier. Rebates will not be granted until all projects within an application are completed.

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