Canadian utilities play an important role with regards to the electrification of transportation, including electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), for both high-powered and low-powered electric transit systems, as well as hydrogen fuel cell electric transit systems. Canadian transit agencies recognize the need to develop robust utility relationships to ensure sustainable electrification initiatives. However, most major utilities in Canada are poorly prepared for transit electrification as most of the few utility-led transportation electrification strategies existent in Canada today are focused on light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) as personal passenger cars.
This report provides a comprehensive market scan of electrification of transportation strategies launched by Canadian electrical utilities. It also provides a review of case studies and best practices across North America related to electrification strategies, including legislation and regulation that promote utility involvement in the electrification of transit fleets.
This market scan is based on documents available online on the websites of Canadian utilities. These documents are examined to identify strategies related to electrified transportation, with an emphasis on information related to electric buses. Overall, few utilities mention electrified transport strategies in any manner on their websites or in other publicly available documents. In cases where electrified transportation is mentioned, it most often relates to light-duty EV charging stations and networks or the purchase of EV fleets for utilities themselves.
