This year, four LC3 Network members are taking place‑based, equity‑driven approaches to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) charging where it’s needed most. With support from the Trottier Family Foundation, these initiatives are working to ensure that inadequate and inequitable charging infrastructure will not remain a barrier to electrified transportation.
From site selection guidance to car‑sharing pilots and freight charging feasibility, each project is helping cities move faster towards reducing a key source of urban emissions while keeping affordability and access front and centre.
Smarter EV charger siting for Halifax
EV adoption is growing in Nova Scotia, but charging infrastructure isn’t keeping pace. To close that gap, the Halifax Climate Investment, Innovation and Impact Centre (HCi3), through its EV Forward program, is developing an EV Charger Siting Guide to accelerate smart, market‑ready deployment.
Designed for site hosts and private operators, the guide will:
- demystify the charging installation process
- build private‑sector confidence and investment
- activate workplaces as priority charging locations, leveraging long dwell times
Developed with Navigate Energy and Thinkwell Research, the guide, launching later this year, will serve as an accessible entry point for organizations new to EV charging, while also supporting more productive conversations with charging providers.
A core feature of the work is intentional engagement with Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities, ensuring charging investments support broader goals around community resilience and equitable access to low‑carbon mobility.
Advancing equitable EV car‑sharing in Edmonton
Transportation accounts for 36% of Edmonton’s community greenhouse gas emissions, and many residents face ongoing mobility barriers tied to cost, car ownership and limited transit access.
Supported by Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s Climate Innovation Fund, the Transportation Equity Initiative is piloting a community‑based EV car‑sharing model designed explicitly for equity‑denied residents.
Delivered through trusted family, seniors’, and community housing sites, the pilot will provide up to three shared EVs per site, level 2 charging infrastructure, and a low‑barrier, user‑friendly digital access system.
The project aims to:
- reduce transportation insecurity and social isolation
- improve access to employment, healthcare, food, and education
- lower household transportation costs
- expand access to clean, low‑emission mobility
Beyond the hardware, the pilot pairs EV access with culturally responsive supports, including income‑based memberships, EV driving orientation, safety training and mobility education. The goal is a tested, scalable model for equitable low‑carbon transportation—one that delivers real emissions reductions while expanding opportunity.
Tackling commercial freight emissions in Greater Montréal
In Quebec, nearly 30% of transportation emissions come from commercial freight. While the province is progressing on passenger vehicle electrification, decarbonizing local logistics and delivery fleets remains a major challenge—particularly when it comes to fast, reliable charging.
The Greater Montréal Climate Fund’s (FCGM) is tackling this gap head-on through a new charge initiative. Started in September 2025 and officially launched in early 2026, this two‑year feasibility study explores how a shared fast‑charging network could support electric commercial fleets while minimizing downtime. Led by FCGM, in collaboration with Propulsion Québec and Dunsky Energy + Climate, the initiative brings together a stakeholders advisory committee to:
- identify deployment success factors
- define viable business and ownership models
- build a strong financial case for future pilot projects
The work prioritizes companies who are already electrifying their fleets or are ready to start, and will culminate in a market‑specific report, investment prospectus, and implementation roadmap to support next‑phase pilot deployment.
Planning public EV charging for Toronto
In Toronto, the biggest EV charging opportunity lies beyond municipal land. That’s where The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) is focusing its efforts through Future Charge Toronto, a citywide Public EV Charging Action Plan targeting non‑municipal sites.
Directed by Toronto City Council, TAF is convening utilities, landowners, charging providers, funders, and users to develop a practical plan that complements City‑led installations and unlocks charging across commercial, institutional, industrial and private properties.
The need is clear: many Toronto residents live in multi‑unit buildings without charging access, while others are “garage orphans” with no private driveway. A well‑coordinated public charging network at workplaces, hospitals, campuses, shopping centres, and gas stations will be essential for equitable EV adoption.
The Action Plan will leverage best available research to:
- identify priority locations and site types
- clarify roles across the charging ecosystem
- assess business models that enable scale
- surface near‑term actions within existing mandates
- reflect broader community needs and interests
The work is being overseen by an independent Future Charge Steering Committee hosted by TAF, with members representing key stakeholders such as potential public EV charging site owners from the institutional and commercial sectors, EV charging service providers, key users such as ride-hailing companies, utilities, and municipal representatives. The plan is in development through 2026, with the goal of public release and stakeholder endorsement.