Connect with us

Technology

New Request for Proposals and Tools to Deploy Thousands More EV Chargers Across Canada

Published

on

OTTAWA, ON, July 2, 2024 /CNW/ – From coast to coast to coast, Canadians are saving thousands of dollars a year on gas by rapidly making the switch to electric vehicles, with over 320,000 new electric vehicles registered in 2023 alone. The Government of Canada is taking action to make it more affordable for Canadians to purchase, charge and drive electric vehicles (EVs) across the country while driving toward a net-zero future, including by making it easier to access public EV charging through historic direct investments, research and partnerships with the private sector and other levels of government.

Funding and Request for Proposals

To advance these efforts, today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, launched a new request for proposals (RFP) under the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP). The RFP will support the deployment of EV chargers, including fast chargers, in public places across Canada such as highways and public lots. The RFP will also support the deployment of chargers at private locations, including multi-unit residential buildings, workplaces and where on-road vehicle fleets are serviced. Applications will be accepted until September 19, 2024. 

This funding will deploy thousands of new chargers across Canada, building on the Government of Canada’s progress to deploy 84,500 EV chargers across Canada, including through ZEVIP, the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)’s Charging and Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure Initiative, and incentive credits under both the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard and the Clean Fuel Regulations. 

In addition to investments by provinces, territories, municipalities and the private sector, the federal government has supported approximately 20% of the nearly 30,000 public chargers that are operating in Canada. As a result, there were 70 percent more EV chargers in Canada in 2023 than in 2022, with thousands more on the way each year.

Supporting Deployment Through Tools and Research

Today, Natural Resources Canada released  Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Canada: Updated forecasts of vehicle charging needs, grid impacts and cost for all vehicle segments (2024 EV Charging Needs Report).The independently produced report assesses the country’s charging landscape, guides decision-making and informs investment needs, including by provinces, territories, municipal governments and the private sector.

The 2024 EV Charging Needs Report provides a detailed regional analysis of public and private charging needs for both light-duty vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, together with related grid readiness requirements and investments. The report highlights that a coordinated effort is needed from all levels of government, industry, utilities and other private-sector stakeholders to continue to accelerate deployment.

Additionally, to help investors, stakeholders, provinces, territories and communities determine the most suitable locations for chargers, the Government of Canada has developed the National Public EV Charging Planning Map.

These evidence-based tools will support the deployment of chargers in the areas with the greatest public charging need, including along routes, highways and communities.

Canadians are making the switch to electric vehicles, reducing their energy costs while driving down emissions. The Government of Canada will continue to support them in accelerating toward a prosperous, net-zero future, including by ensuring all new passenger vehicles sold in Canada are zero-emission by 2035; by supporting the deployment of public charging stations across the country; and by building out a Canadian-made electric vehicle supply chain that creates sustainable, good-paying jobs for Canadian workers.

Quotes

“Canadians are making the switch to EVs because it’s a great way to save money while ensuring clean air in our communities and fighting climate change. We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more available where Canadians live, work, travel and play. Today, we launched another funding request for proposals via the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which will help deploy thousands more chargers across Canada. This will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a prosperous net-zero future.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 

“Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are making the switch to an EV every year. They expect access to convenient, affordable and reliable charging — including in public spaces. Today’s call for proposals does that by investing in thousands more chargers and equipping the private sector and governments with the tools they need to deploy more chargers, faster.”

Julie Dabrusin 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and 
to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

The federal government’s investment in EV charging infrastructure is supporting Canadians by reducing barriers to EV adoption while spurring investment and growth across Canada’s EV supply chain, including through Transport Canada’s Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles Program (iZEV), which makes zero-emission vehicles more affordable for Canadians and has received another $1.7 billion in Budget 2022; and,Budget 2024 announces the government’s intention to introduce a new 10-percent Electric Vehicle Supply Chain investment tax credit on the cost of buildings used in key segments of the electric vehicle supply chain for businesses that invest in Canada across three supply chain segments:electric vehicle assembly;electric vehicle battery production; and,cathode active material production.The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has made significant strides in the automotive and battery sector in recent years. Since 2017, the Fund has announced over $5.5 billion in funding toward the automotive and battery sector, of which approximately $5.3 billion has been directly in support of the EV transition.These investments include projects focused on producing battery materials, battery components and packs and on manufacturing EVs and developing vehicle components specific to low-carbon transportation (e.g., next-generation tires).Investing $3.8 billion in the mining, processing and recycling of critical minerals,Since 2016, the Government of Canada has allocated over $1.2 billion in funding to support the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations across the country.Since 2019, a total of over 40,000 EV chargers (Level 2 and Level 3) have been supported by ZEVIP.The 2024 EV Charging Needs Report provides an update to a 2022 NRCan-commissioned study, Updated Projections of Canada’s Public Charging Infrastructure Needs, based on changing trends in the EV market, charger utilization and assessment methodologies.As noted in the report, “The results are intended to support the Government of Canada — as well as provincial and municipal governments, utilities and other stakeholders — in planning to ensure that sufficient charging infrastructure will be deployed to support Canada’s targets”As of May 2024, NRCan’s infrastructure programs and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank’s Charging and Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure Initiative had already committed funds for the installation of over 46,000 chargers across the country, with more than 14,000 of these federally funded chargers already in operation.EV charger deployment has seen significant growth: an average of 45 percent annually since 2016 and a jump to 72-percent growth between 2022 and 2023.With Budget 2023, the Government of Canada has now committed more than $40 billion to support Canada’s clean electricity sector, including related grid updates for EV charging infrastructure.This significant investment is building an EV charging network for Canadians, and we continue to work with all levels of government, industry, utilities and other private sector stakeholders to further accelerate deployment.

Related Information

Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure ProgramThe Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) Charging and Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure Initiative (CHRII)2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy Electric Charging and Alternative Fuelling Stations LocatorZero-emission vehicles: IncentivesBuilding a green economy: Government of Canada to require 100% of car and passenger truck sales be zero-emission by 2035 in Canada

Follow us on LinkedIn

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

PONY AI Inc. and Uber Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Autonomous Mobility

Published

on

By

GUANGZHOU, China and SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pony AI Inc. (“Pony.ai”) (Nasdaq: PONY), a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility, and Uber Technologies, Inc. (“Uber”) (NYSE: UBER), today announced a strategic partnership to deploy Pony.ai’s Robotaxis onto the Uber platform.

The partnership is expected to first launch in a key market in the Middle East later this year, with a goal of scaling deployments to additional international markets in the future. Once available, when a rider requests a qualifying ride on the Uber app, they may be presented with the option to have their trip fulfilled by a Pony.ai autonomous vehicle. During the initial pilot phase, these vehicles will have a safety operator onboard, until the companies’ fully autonomous commercial launch.

This is a key step in Pony.ai’s global expansion strategy, leveraging its established ecosystem to showcase robust technological readiness. Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system facilitates the mass production of Robotaxis on a more scalable and cost-effective basis. This technological advancement aligns with the strategic goals of the partnership, empowering Uber’s platform to more quickly and safely integrate autonomous vehicles as the collaboration expands to new markets.

“At Pony.ai, our vision is to develop autonomous driving technology that is not only safe and reliable but also scalable, transforming daily transportation,” said Dr. James Peng, Co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai. “Partnering with Uber accelerates our shared mission to make autonomous mobility a real, everyday experience for more consumers around the world. By combining our proven autonomous systems, with Uber’s unparalleled ride-hailing platform, we’re poised to set a new standard for the commercialization of driverless services, starting in the Middle East before expanding to new markets.” 

“Our partnership with Pony.ai is another meaningful step towards introducing the benefits of autonomous mobility to the world,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. “As the leading on-demand platform of its kind, spanning mobility, delivery, and freight, Uber is uniquely positioned to help accelerate the commercialization of this exciting technology.”

About Pony AI Inc.

Pony AI Inc. is a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility. Leveraging its vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver technology, a full-stack autonomous driving technology that seamlessly integrates Pony.ai’s proprietary software, hardware, and services, Pony.ai is developing a commercially viable and sustainable business model that enables the mass production and deployment of vehicles across transportation use cases. Founded in 2016, Pony.ai has expanded its presence across China, Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and other regions, ensuring widespread accessibility to its advanced technology.

About Uber Technologies, Inc.

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 58 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Pony.ai: media@pony.ai
Uber:press@uber.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pony-ai-inc-and-uber-announce-strategic-partnership-to-advance-autonomous-mobility-302447005.html

Continue Reading

Technology

CAE launches a new era in airline operations with Flightscape – Powered by CAE

Published

on

By

ATHENS, Greece, May 6, 2025 /CNW/ – (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) – CAE today announced that it has rebranded its portfolio of airline operations solutions to Flightscape – Powered by CAE. Flightscape is a data-driven platform for airlines that provides real-time insights to improve operational performance. With Flightscape, CAE is ushering in a new era in operational intelligence, empowering all Operations Control Centre (OCC) stakeholders to prevent disruptions and adapt seamlessly when challenges arise, to optimize operations and costs in even the most complex and time-sensitive situations.

“Flightscape is the ultimate decision-making platform for airlines, powered by CAE. In a dynamic operating environment, airlines need to seize every opportunity to improve performance, reduce costs and optimize resources while enhancing the passenger experience,” said Pascal Grenier, Division President, Flightscape, Airline Operations Solutions. “Flightscape provides real-time insights that enable airlines to adapt to ever-changing conditions.  We recognize that our customers aren’t just buying a solution, they are choosing a long-term partner and our objective with Flightscape is to ensure our airline partners have advanced solutions to optimize their operations.”

Flightscape is the next chapter for CAE’s operations platform. Since entering the airline operations market three years ago, CAE has transformed the business and has put customers at the heart of everything it does. The company has invested significantly in its solutions and growing its airline OCC offering into a unified, modular platform that can scale with evolving needs. It has also strengthened its implementation process and customer service globally to ensure long-term success of its airline partners, including French regional airline, HOP! where Flightscape’s Operations Control solution was successfully implemented earlier this year.

“The implementation of our first module, Flightscape’s Operations Control solution was completed in the first quarter of this year, and we could not be more pleased with the results and impressed by the successful and customized implementation process,” said Eric Chaumette, Chief Information Officer of HOP!. Two more modules, Crew Manager and Crew Planner, are expected to go live in late 2025, a process overseen by a dedicated onboarding team. “This represents a technological transformation for us, as we were using old systems that were locally hosted. Moving to Flightscape’s cloud-based solution – which is continuously updated – we feel confident this new system is setting us up to be more cost-effective, reactive and proactive going forward, while maintaining a high passenger experience level.”

Built on a modular architecture, Flightscape enables airlines to deploy the solutions they need for operations control, crew management, flight management, airport management, and in-flight service management. Flightscape’s Unified Task Board integrates data from multiple OCC systems to streamline critical decision-making and boost operational efficiency during time-critical situations.

Delivered as a cloud-native SaaS, the Flightscape portfolio provides a more agile, cost-effective, and future-proof solution than proprietary software, ensuring continuous access to the latest features, security updates, and regulatory compliance without manual intervention. The system integrates easily with existing tools via secure APIs, and its architecture adapts to evolving technologies, making it a long-term, low-risk investment for modern airline operations.

About HOP!

HOP! is 100% owned by AIR FRANCE. The company provides flight hours in ACMI on behalf of Air France and offers more than 60 destinations in France and Europe. Flights, mainly to and from the Hubs at Roissy-CDG and Lyon, are operated regularly at times suited to business travellers and leisure customers alike. HOP’s Maintenance and Engineering Division carries out all maintenance of the airline’s fleet thanks to expertise acquired over more than 20 years of work on regional aircraft. It proposes engineering services, base maintenance and major maintenance inspections to other airlines operating regional aircraft. HOP!, which is Part-CAMO, Part-21-J, Part-147 and Part-145 approved, also operates an aircraft maintenance technician training centre in Clermont-Ferrand.

About CAE

At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees in more than 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

Read our FY24 Global Annual Activity and Sustainability Report.

Follow us on X/Twitter: @CAE_Inc
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae
Hashtags: #CAE; #CAEpilot

CAE Contacts:

General Media:
Samantha Golinski, Vice President, Public Affairs & Global Communications
+1-438-805-5856, samantha.golinski@cae.com

Investor Relations:
Andrew Arnovitz, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Enterprise Risk Management
+1-514-734-5760, andrew.arnovitz@cae.com

Trade Media:
Jessica Shergill, Director, Integrated Marketing
+1-514-264-9672, jessica.shergill@cae.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cae-launches-a-new-era-in-airline-operations-with-flightscape–powered-by-cae-302446463.html

SOURCE CAE Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

Bell Canada introduces Ateko: New tech services brand simplifying enterprise operations with leading automation and tech collaboration

Published

on

By

Bell proudly unveils Ateko, a dynamic new brand poised to redefine the landscape of cloud and workforce automation solutions.Ateko brings deep understanding of the world’s leading enterprise platforms and cloud services to help businesses rapidly improve automation, streamline operations, and make smarter, data-driven decisions, accelerating outcomes and time to value.Ateko’s dual role as integrator and operator, backed by Bell’s extensive network and business solutions, gives it a significant competitive advantage, enabling it to challenge expensive and disconnected IT System Integration delivery models and drive better customer outcomes.

MONTRÉAL, May 6, 2025 /CNW/ – Bell Canada, Canada’s largest communications company1, today proudly unveiled Ateko, a dynamic new brand poised to revolutionize business operations with AI-driven automation and technology collaboration. The company serves clients across diverse sectors, including telecommunications, media, technology, public sector, utilities and finance.

Bell unveils Ateko, a dynamic new brand poised to redefine the landscape of cloud and workforce automation solutions.

Ateko’s human-centric and collaborative consulting approach has helped clients deliver dramatic results faster with their tailored solutions and deep expertise in leading hyperscaler platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), Salesforce and ServiceNow.

For customers, Ateko has driven significant operational efficiencies and unlocked new capabilities for improved customer experiences by modernizing processes and integrating critical systems. As a case in point, with Bell as one of its largest clients, Ateko implemented AI-driven Virtual Repair, saving customers over 500,000 calls for technical support in the last two years.

As an end-to-end solutions integrator and operator, backed by Bell’s next-generation pure fibre and 5G networks, resources and scale, Ateko is positioned to challenge disconnected IT System Integration delivery models with significant growth and expansion in Canada and into new markets across the globe.

One of the fastest growing tech services companies in Canada, Ateko is formed from the unification of Bell’s acquired tech service providers: FX Innovation, CloudKettle and HGC Technologies. Maintaining its agile culture of ingenuity and operating under the leadership of CEO Guillaume Bazinet (co-founder of FX Innovation), Ateko will drive Bell’s objective to help transform businesses with end-to-end automated cloud and IT solutions.

Ateko is participating at ServiceNow’s Knowledge 2025 conference in Las Vegas on May 6-8. Visit us at booth #2604. You can also learn more about Ateko at our website: Ateko.com  

Leadership perspectives

“The launch of Ateko represents a powerful new force in global technology. We are excited to partner with customers worldwide, bringing our expertise with Salesforce, ServiceNow, and global hyperscaler partners to deliver AI-driven automation solutions and contribute to the broader technological landscape. With Ateko, we look forward to building a strong global presence from our home base in Montréal.”

–       Mirko Bibic, President & CEO, Bell Canada

“Ateko signifies a new chapter for our company. We are excited to continue our journey, building on the strength of Bell’s support while retaining our entrepreneurial spirit and our mission to deliver exceptional customer outcomes. Our unique position as both integrator and operator allows us to develop, deploy, and manage solutions, allowing our clients to focus on their core business.”

–       Guillaume Bazinet, CEO of Ateko

“As one of the fastest growing tech services companies in Canada, Ateko is a cornerstone of Bell’s ambition to build a $1-billion tech services business. Its capabilities in cloud and workforce automation, combined with Bell’s network and support services, position us to deliver world-class solutions and achieve significant growth.”

–       John Watson, President, Bell Business Markets, AI and Ateko

“The new Ateko brand will provide unique value to our joint customers with the combined power of Salesforce and Bell’s comprehensive business solutions. We have a long history with this incredibly talented team, who has demonstrated a high degree of excellence in driving customer success with Salesforce’s deeply unified platform including Agentforce and Data Cloud. We look forward to working with Ateko to maximize ROI across business processes and functions for our customers.”

–       Jim Steele, President, Global Strategic Customers & Partners, Salesforce

“The partnership between ServiceNow and Bell Canada is delivering best-in-class automation and service to customers and employees. Now, with Ateko joining the partnership, we will further define the future of enterprise transformation by uniting the power of ServiceNow’s AI Platform with the industry expertise of Bell Canada and Ateko. We look forward to continuing to deliver connected digital experiences for our mutual customers that accelerate real value.”

–       Paul Fipps, President, Global Customer Operations at ServiceNow 

“Ateko is an essential partner for us, helping us modernize our IT service management and operations processes with ServiceNow, while seamlessly integrating several critical systems.  We were able to achieve this ambitious goal in just 12 months. Thanks to Ateko, we are improving our operational efficiency, which contributes to enhanced user satisfaction and better service. Their collaboration and determination have been exemplary, and this success is a testament to their talent and team spirit!”

–       Julie Lévesque, CIO, National Bank of Canada

About Ateko

Ateko stands for Automation and Tech Collaboration, a leading provider of cloud and workforce automation solutions with deep expertise in leading hyperscaler platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), Salesforce and ServiceNow. One of the fastest growing tech services companies in Canada, Ateko helps clients across diverse sectors streamline and modernize their operations, including in telecommunications, media and technology, public sector, utilities and finance. Ateko is wholly owned by Bell Canada. To learn more, please visit Ateko.com

About Bell 

Bell is Canada’s largest communications company1, providing advanced broadband Internet, wireless, TV, media and business communication services. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities. This includes the Bell Let’s Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

1Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.

 

Contacts:

Media: media@bell.ca

Investor Relations: richard.bengian@bell.ca

SOURCE Bell Canada (MTL)

Continue Reading

Trending