EV Growth: With the right support, Canada’s electricity grid can handle it
November 8, 2023
Canada’s electric utilities are broadly prepared to support growing EV adoption in the near term, but achieving a fully electrified transportation system will require coordinated planning, regulatory innovation, and investments across generation, transmission, and distribution, with collaboration between federal, provincial, and local stakeholders.
Electric mobility is driving a historic transformation of Canada’s automotive industry, creating new economic opportunities for companies, workers, and consumers in the growing electric vehicle (EV) economy. A key new player in this transition is electric utilities, which historically had little direct involvement in road transportation. With the rise of electric powertrains, utilities have become central to enabling EV adoption, supporting lower energy costs for drivers, reducing transportation emissions, and improving air quality. At the same time, Canadians expect reliable and affordable electricity, even as public understanding of the impacts of widespread electrification remains limited. This statement provides a high-level overview of utilities’ role in supporting the transition to an electrified transportation system.
Across the country, Canada’s electric utilities are leading in technology, policy, and programming to integrate EVs while maintaining affordability, responsive customer service, and workforce evolution. Utilities are also advancing the shift from fossil fuel generation to distributed and non-emitting energy resources. Each utility faces unique challenges depending on geography, regulatory frameworks, and past investments, but common trends—such as the growing importance of EV batteries, demand management tools, and other distributed energy resources—highlight their evolving role in Canada’s clean energy future