Canada has set a mandatory target: 100% of new passenger vehicle sales must be zero-emission by 2035. That is not an aspiration — it is a regulation under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. With this deadline less than a decade away, the EV transition is no longer a question of "if" but "how fast." And the single biggest factor determining how smoothly that transition goes is charging infrastructure — both public and private.
For homeowners, property managers, and business owners, the implications are significant and immediate. The decisions you make today about your electrical infrastructure will determine how well your property serves the transportation needs of the next 20 years.
Where EV adoption stands today
As of 2025, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) account for roughly 12% of new vehicle sales in Canada, with Ontario and British Columbia leading adoption. The trajectory is steep — that number was under 4% just three years ago. Major automakers have committed billions to EV production, and model availability is expanding rapidly across every vehicle category from compact cars to full-size pickup trucks.
The practical reality for most EV owners in Canada is that 80% of charging happens at home. Public fast-charging networks are expanding along major highways, but for daily driving, a Level 2 home charger is the backbone of the EV ownership experience. This makes residential electrical infrastructure critically important to the EV transition.
Government rebates and incentives
The federal government offers up to $5,000 toward the purchase of eligible zero-emission vehicles through the iZEV program. Several provinces add their own incentives on top of that. For charging infrastructure specifically, Natural Resources Canada's Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) provides funding for public and workplace chargers, and some utility programs offer rebates for residential charger installations.
Ontario homeowners should also check with their local utility for time-of-use rate programs that make overnight EV charging significantly cheaper. Charging a typical EV overnight on off-peak Ontario rates costs roughly $1.50–$2.50 per 100 km — a fraction of the gasoline cost for the same distance. Smart chargers with scheduling capability let you automate this for maximum savings.
What this means for multi-unit residential buildings
The biggest infrastructure challenge is not single-family homes — it is condominiums and apartment buildings. Retrofitting underground parking garages with EV charging capability requires significant electrical upgrades, load management systems, and coordination among condo boards, property managers, and utilities. Ontario's new construction building code now requires EV-ready parking (roughed-in conduit and panel capacity) in new multi-unit buildings, but the existing building stock needs retrofit solutions.
Energy management systems like load-sharing and smart panel technology allow multiple chargers to share available electrical capacity, reducing the infrastructure cost per charger significantly. For condo boards and property managers, this technology makes EV charging feasible without a full service upgrade — an important cost consideration.
Preparing your property for the EV future
Whether you drive an EV today or not, preparing your property makes financial sense. For homeowners, this means ensuring your panel has capacity for a 240V/50A EV circuit and, if you are doing any renovation or new construction, roughing in the circuit to your garage now. For commercial property owners, installing EV charging stations is quickly becoming a competitive advantage — tenants, customers, and employees increasingly expect it.
The cost of installing EV charging infrastructure is lowest when done proactively — during new construction, during a renovation, or as part of a planned electrical upgrade. Waiting until you need it urgently means paying premium prices for emergency work and potentially delaying your EV purchase or losing tenants to buildings that already have charging.
By 2035, every new car sold in Canada will be electric. Properties without charging capability will be at a measurable disadvantage in resale value, rental desirability, and daily functionality. The time to prepare is now — not when the deadline arrives.
Safer Electric installs EV charging for homes, condos, and commercial properties across the GTA. We handle everything from panel assessments and load calculations to charger selection, installation, and ESA permitting. Ask about our EV-ready packages for new construction and renovation projects.
Safer Electric Team
Licensed Electricians · Toronto, ON
Our team of licensed GTA electricians writes these guides to help homeowners make informed decisions. Every article is reviewed for technical accuracy.