Public Charging

Driven by a mission to make electric vehicle travel possible across remote northern Manitoba, this talk shares the story of building a First Nations-led EV charging network from Winnipeg to Thompson – a close to 800 km route, with chargers strategically placed every 200-300 km. Learn how community partnerships and creative problem-solving brought high-speed chargers to these Indigenous communities at no cost. Kent Heinrich will walk you through hard-won lessons from installations at Grand Rapids, Fairford and other First Nations communities, including how to tackle utility upgrades and other grid challenges, curtail demand charges and solve for internet connectivity and oongoing maintenance, with insights applicable to other remote and underserved locations far beyond Manitoba.

Toronto Hydro will introduce a new pilot designed to make it easier to connect electric vehicle (EV) direct current fast charging infrastructure. More details will be shared during the announcement.

Whether in urban cores or remote corridors, connectivity is the backbone of EV charging. When the network drops, so does revenue, customer trust and brand reputation. This session breaks down a modern, cellular-first connectivity stack – where LTE and 5G are foundational, not an add-on. Learn how operators and OEMs combine cellular, Wi-Fi, wired and LEO satellite to keep chargers online, visible and ready to transact. Discover how intelligent, redundant network design accelerates deployment, ensures real-time visibility, and delivers true always-on performance. The result: resilient infrastructure, fewer truck rolls and a network customers can rely on – every time.

While 2025 was a record year for public fast charging development in Canada, charging providers have faced major barriers getting stations in the ground. As former Expo speaker and behavioural scientist Loran Nordgren reminded us, progress doesn’t stall because of a lack of ambition – it stalls because of friction. Across the country, deeply embedded, system-level barriers are slowing the rollout of charging infrastructure at the speed and scale required. On the ground, that friction shows up as outdated municipal bylaws, inconsistent permitting requirements between jurisdictions, delayed utility connections or months lost to seemingly minor approvals – each adding cost, uncertainty and risk. In many cases, these delays are enough to undermine an otherwise viable private investment, and they can be especially challenging in areas that remain underserved with fast charging infrastructure. For municipalities, utilities and charging providers, this session will help you identify where friction lives in your systems and what you can do to remove it. The biggest takeaway won’t be technology, but how we can modernize the processes and coordination needed to enable Canada’s electric future and unlock private charging investment.

Get a deep dive into the critical accessible design elements and principles of universal design, from the charging station interface to the physical site layout for public EV charging infrastructure that is usable by all users. The Canadian Standards Association and subject matter experts will share insights from their research with BCIT, EV users with disabilities and the charging industry for a new technical specification that will serve as a foundation for standardization efforts. Whether you are a site host, hardware manufacturer, charging network operator, real estate professional or municipal planner, if your work involves public charging, this session is your essential guide.