In 2021, just over a third (34 per cent) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Toronto came from on-road transportation (cars, trucks, vans, and buses), with gasoline consumption in passenger cars and trucks accounting for 24 per cent of Toronto’s GHG emissions. This means that switching from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EV) is important for meeting the City’s goal of achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2040.
To ensure that Toronto is on track to reach net zero by 2040, the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy identifies actions and targets to be achieved by 2030 in key sectors. The 2030 goals for transportation are:
Electric vehicles have other benefits, beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They cost less to operate and don’t have tailpipe emissions, helping to reduce air pollution. They are also quiet, helping to reduce noise pollution.
More information about EVs is available on Plug’n Drive. Plug’n Drive is a non-profit organization committed to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles to maximize their environmental and economic benefits. On their site, you can book an EV test drive, and use their EV Match tool to get information on EV models available in Canada and compare costs to a similar gas-powered vehicle.
Toronto has a goal of getting to net zero carbon emissions by 2040. For trips that can’t be taken by cycling, walking or taking transit, switching from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles is an important part of the pathway to net zero.
Electric vehicles do not have tailpipe emissions, helping to reduce local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about EVs and the benefits they can bring.
Electric vehicles have batteries that need to be charged, and the time it takes depends on the car and on the level of charging. Learn more about public and at-home charging.
Public charging is important for the transition to electric vehicles. While many people charge their EVs at home or work, public EV charging is needed by people who do not have access to home or workplace charging, and by all EV drivers who need to charge their EVs while they are out.
According to ChargeHub, as of January 2024, there were 2,745 public EV charging stations in Toronto, including 2,310 Level 2 charging stations and 235 DC Fast Charging stations. You can find public charging stations in Toronto by visiting websites such as ChargeHub or PlugShare. These websites have maps which show the locations of public charging stations and provide details about each location, including the number and type of charging stations available, fees, and other information.
The City of Toronto is helping to increase access to public EV charging in Toronto by providing public EV charging stations at on-street parking spaces and in Green P off-street parking facilities. These charging stations are managed by Toronto Parking Authority (TPA), an agency of the City of Toronto. TPA is playing a leadership role in delivering EV charging services to customers and accelerating the adoption of EV vehicles.
In 2021 TPA developed and advanced an EV Charging Infrastructure Program that supports:
TPA currently operates:
TPA’s goal is to have 550+ public charging stations in place by the end of 2024.
More information, including charging station locations, rates, how to use the charging stations, and more can be found at EV Charging- Green P Parking.
The City of Toronto is undertaking long-term planning to help ensure that public EV charging will be available when and where it is needed across Toronto to support the transition to EVs. This work includes geospatial data analysis and modeling, research on best practices and approaches taken in leading jurisdictions, and engagement with Toronto residents, City staff, and a wide range of external organizations including EV charging providers and site hosts, commercial fleet and vehicle-for-hire operators, EV advocacy organizations, environmental groups, community and civic organizations, and provincial and federal government agencies. In 2024, staff will submit a report for City Council consideration on long-term public EV charging needs in Toronto and the City’s role in meeting these needs.
Funding is available to help offset the cost of installing EV charging infrastructure in multi-unit residential buildings and workplaces:
The City of Toronto offers low-interest loans to home and building owners to cover the cost of a variety of improvements, including EV charging stations.
To help ensure that new buildings in Toronto are ready to meet EV charging needs in the future as people switch to electric vehicles, the Toronto Green Standard and the Toronto Zoning Bylaw include requirements for EV charging infrastructure in new buildings. For more information:
The Government of Canada provides incentives of up to $5,000 for consumers who buy or lease an eligible ZEV.
Learn more about incentives for purchasing zero-emission vehicles.
The City of Toronto is undertaking long-term planning to help ensure that public EV charging will be available when and where it is needed across Toronto to support the transition to EVs.
Throughout September 2023, through an online survey and virtual and in-person meetings, we gathered input from Toronto residents — current and potential EV owners and drivers and non-drivers — to help identify where and when public charging will be needed in Toronto for current and future EV drivers, and better understand how public EV charging fits into an equitable low carbon transportation system.
The City is demonstrating leadership by electrifying City-owned fleet vehicles.
The Sustainable Fleets Plan aims to transition City-Fleets to sustainable, climate resilient, net-zero operations. The Plan’s key objectives are:
The City is undertaking a major expansion of its corporate EV charging infrastructure to enable and support accelerated transition of City fleets to electric vehicles, and help with broader promotion and adoption of EVs in Toronto and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region.
The expanded charging station network has 142 charge ports available at 72 City locations. The network is expected to have 850 charge ports available by the end of 2025 at more than 100 City locations. The network will also enable the expansion of the City’s workplace charging program, with charging ports accessible to the public where feasible.
Since 2019, the City has been operating a pilot workplace EV charging program at City Hall and Metro Hall.
City of Toronto hosted a webinar on March 24, 2023 with Cara Clairman, President and CEO of Plug’n Drive, sharing information for fleet owners and operators about charging options, EV maintenance requirements, and the upfront and operating costs of EVs compared to gas-powered or diesel-powered vehicles. Watch the recording below:
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Green Bus Program was approved by the TTC Board in November 2017, with the target of procuring only zero-emission buses starting in 2025 and achieving an entirely zero emissions bus fleet by 2040.
Since the Board’s approval of the Green Bus Program, the TTC has procured 310 of the latest clean diesel buses, 255 of latest generation hybrid electric buses (HEV), the City of Toronto’s first 60 battery-electric eBuses, and retrofitted three of TTC’s eight garages with the required eBus charging systems infrastructure. The TTC has gained valuable experience from its last procurement of 255 HEVs and 60 eBuses. The TTC will be applying lessons learned to develop technical and commercial specifications for the next 600 new accessible buses, including approximately 300 HEVs and 240 eBuses, to be delivered in 2023 through early 2025.
In June 2019, the TTC’s first of 60 eBuses entered service.
Since 2017, the TTC has been working in partnership with Toronto Hydro on the installation of required electrification infrastructure for the existing fleet of 60 eBuses. As the TTC continues on its path to full electrification of the bus, Wheel-Trans and non-revenue vehicle fleets, this infrastructure must be expanded accordingly. The TTC is working with Ontario Power Generation and Toronto Hydro to ensure on-time upgrade of the local grid distribution system and implementation of required infrastructure at TTC sites.
Between 2018 and 2019, a total of 255 of the latest generation hybrid diesel-electric buses were procured by TTC. Hybrid diesel-electric buses are equipped with both a clean diesel engine and an electric generator/motor. The on-board batteries, which drive the electric traction motor, are charged by the generator driven by the diesel engine and supplemented by the recovery of braking energy through regenerative braking. The clean diesel engine used on the hybrid buses is smaller in size compared to the engines used in the clean and conventional diesel buses. In addition, these buses have all-electric accessories such as electric power steering, air compressor, power steering, etc. All these features result in reduced fuel consumption and in turn, reduced tailpipe emissions.
Learn more: TTC Green Initiatives
Toronto’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy was approved by City Council on January 29, 2020.
With a focus on the electrification of passenger vehicles (cars, vans, trucks and SUVs) the Strategy identifies 10 actions the City can take to: increase charging availability, address cost and convenience barriers, increase public awareness and education, and create economic opportunities that will benefit the local economy. Passenger cars and trucks accounted for about 23 per cent of GHG emissions in Toronto in 2020.
An Update on Electric Vehicle Strategy Implementation was considered by Toronto City Council at their July 19, 2022 meeting: Item 2022.IE31.17. Read the EV Strategy Staff Report for more information.
The City contracted Pollution Probe and The Delphi Group to lead the development of a comprehensive review of the current electric mobility landscape, existing policies, barriers and opportunities, best practice, convene key stakeholders and assess these findings to create a baseline. The assessment phase report was used to inform the Strategy actions.
Learn more: Electric Mobility Strategy Assessment Phase Report
The City engaged the public and stakeholders through multiple workshops and a public online survey to help co-create the Electric Vehicle Strategy.
Learn more: Electric Vehicle Strategy Consultation Summary