Gas vehicles to be phased out in Canada by 2035. Will you be able to charge near your home?
With the federal government phasing out the sale of gas vehicles by 2035, and more electric models hitting the streets of Toronto, some drivers are wondering where and when they will be able to charge their vehicles.
Damon Runyan lives on a residential street in the east end. Outside his door is one of 50 charging stations installed across Toronto by the city.
“I don’t think just having two stations on a street is actually going to help anyone,” Runyan said. “It’s going to be overcrowded. I don’t know how they can mandate that, it seems a little advanced.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Even before the announcement to wind down gas vehicles, the City of Toronto started developing its public electric vehicle charging strategy, which included gathering information on where, when, and how much people need to charge EVs in a survey – and also looking at the role of the private sector.
“It's not going to be the government providing all that charging, there’s going to be a case for the private sector,” James Nowlan, executive director of Toronto’s environment and climate division, told CTV News Toronto.
Nowlan said the federal mandate helps take out the guesswork of what’s to come and makes a business case for new apartment buildings and condos to install chargers.
Currently, Toronto has 1 million vehicles on the road, with just over 20,000 of those being electric, so many more charging stations will eventually be needed.
READ MORE: Gas-powered cars and trucks to be phased out by 2035: federal government
In addition to private chargers at malls and workplaces, and the ones in city-run parking lots, Nowlan said there will be more than 150 charging stations on Toronto streets by the end of next year.
Because it’s a federal mandate, the government will have to support infrastructure to make the transition happen, while considering older vehicles, Teresa Di Felice with the Canadian Automobile Association, said.
“You’re still going to need gas stations in 2035, while you’re also going to need an extensive public charging network and ensure when it comes to home charging, whether in a building or house, you’ve put the parameters in place,” Di Felice said.
While there are many factors to consider, eventually the standards for charging will be worked out with provinces and municipalities, she said.
The city said the survey on electric charging stations has now closed, but input can still be provided by emailing transformto@toronto.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft has landed on the moon’s far side to collect rocks in a growing space rivalry with U.S.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.