Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure saw significant growth in 2025, with nearly 2,000 new fast-charging ports added across the country, according to a report by Paren, an EV charging data platform. This expansion marks a 28% year-over-year increase, bringing the total number of DC fast charging ports to 8,804. Despite a dip in EV sales, the report highlights 2025 as a pivotal year for scaling Canada’s fast-charging network.
## Paren’s Role in EV Infrastructure
Paren, founded in 2024, specializes in providing insights into EV charging trends. The company began releasing quarterly reports for the U.S. market in 2025 and has now expanded its focus to Canada. Paren’s reports analyze key factors such as deployment, utilization, pricing, and reliability, which are crucial for assessing the sustainable growth of EV infrastructure.
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## Regional Deployment and Utilization
The report indicates that the majority of new charging ports were concentrated in British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario. However, there was also notable expansion in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada, improving national corridor coverage. Utilization rates increased slightly from 11.6% in Q3 to 11.9% in Q4, suggesting that the new capacity is meeting growing demand. Vancouver led in utilization with a rate of 29.8%, followed by Toronto at 20.8%. Conversely, cities like Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg showed lower usage, attributed to higher single-family home ownership and the prevalence of home-based charging.
## Pricing and Reliability Insights
Paren’s report also sheds light on pricing and reliability. The national average cost for charging was $0.42/kWh in Q4, with Alberta and Saskatchewan having the highest prices at $0.65/kWh. The Yukon Territory offered the lowest prices at $0.37/kWh. In terms of reliability, Ontario and Saskatchewan topped the list with scores of 94.8, while the Yukon Territories recorded the lowest at 83.8. These metrics are based on successful charging attempts and station downtime.
The expansion of Canada’s EV fast-charging network is a critical step toward supporting the country’s transition to electric mobility. As infrastructure continues to develop, the focus will likely shift to enhancing reliability and managing costs, ensuring that the growing demand for EV charging can be sustainably met.
