Electrify Canada to Operate 32 Site Locations near Major Highways and Metro Areas
AJAX, Ontario, July 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volkswagen Group Canada announced today the formation of Electrify Canada, a new company that will build an ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) direct current (DC) charging network across Canada, which is anticipated to be operational starting in the second quarter of 2019.
“The Canadian electric vehicle market is growing, creating a great need for charging that is fast, convenient and available in key locations,” said Daniel Weissland, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group Canada, Inc. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this service and to take a leadership position in providing this key EV adoption enabler to the Canadian market.”
The initial plan includes the installation of 32 EV charging sites near major highways and in major metro areas in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Each charging site will have four chargers on average and use the non-proprietary DC fast charging technologies (CCS and CHAdeMO). Charging power will range from 150kW to 350kW for the expected longer range, larger battery vehicles coming to market and will also deliver 50kW charging power to support today’s EVs from all automotive manufacturers.
Electrify Canada, a new limited partnership company based in Ajax, ON, will manage the rollout and ongoing operation of the network. The company will engage with local vendors to locate, build and operate the network providing Canadian drivers with a comprehensive, technologically advanced, and customer-friendly charging network.
Electrify Canada covers the planning, procurement, implementation and ongoing customer care which will support all automotive brands in order to help ensure that all EV drivers have access to these chargers, regardless of their choice of manufacturer, to drive EV adoption.
Navigant Research forecasts that Canadian electric vehicle sales will grow at a compounded annual rate of 29 percent to reach about 140,000 vehicles per year in 2026. 1
About Volkswagen Group in Canada
Volkswagen Canada was founded in 1952. Today, along with Audi Canada, it makes up Volkswagen Group Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars. Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. has been a part of the Canadian automotive landscape for over fifty years and is a subsidiary of Porsche AG headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
Volkswagen Canada
PR Manager: Thomas Tetzlaff
Phone: 905-428-5858
Email: Thomas.Tetzlaff@VW.ca
Audi Canada
PR Manager: Cort Nielsen
Phone: 905-428-5820
Email: Cort.Nielsen@Audi.ca
Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd.
PR Manager: Patrick Saint Pierre
Phone: 647-531-2992
Email: patrick.saint-pierre@porsche.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3ea62f7-dc93-4c11-ba1c-841a83066d64