May 7, 2012 – Today, Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Transportation released a request for information (RFI) to help the province develop a strategy to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Through strategic partnerships, the province plans to spur development and investment in the EV industry and expand the availability of charging stations across Ontario. Developing EV charging infrastructure is part of the Ontario government’s plan to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, encourage electric vehicle use and improve the availability of electric vehicle charging stations. Electric vehicles support Ontario’s target to reduce greenhouse gases from the transportation sector”.

Information gathered through the RFI process will help the province determine a strategy for expanding the availability of EV charging infrastructure and identify opportunities to partner with the public and private sectors to build, test and expand it.

Ontario has set a goal of having 5% of all new cars be electric by the year 2020. The province’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program provides consumers between $5000 and $8500 toward the purchase or lease of eligible plug-in hybrid and battery EVs purchased on or after July 1, 2010.

Infrastructure Ontario is managing the RFI process on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation. The RFI process is not part of a procurement process and RFI submissions will not be evaluated as part of any potential future procurement.

Interested respondents are encouraged to participate in this voluntary RFI process. The RFI is posted at www.merx.com. The deadline for submissions is June 4, 2012.