Electric Vehicles (EV)

The Future is Electric

Through partnerships and ongoing investment, ERTH Power is committed to advancing the electric vehicle (EV) charging station network across southwestern Ontario, and making the adoption of electric vehicles more convenient for consumers.

Why drive an electric vehicle?

Save money on transportation

As the pricing of gasoline continues to rise, the cost of charging an electric vehicle is significantly lower than fueling up a gasoline vehicle. Incentives are also available to consumers when purchasing electric or hybrid vehicles making the switch to electric even more cost-effective.

Protect the environment

Transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada, accounting for a quarter of Canada’s total GHG emissions with almost half of these emissions coming from cars and light trucks. By owning an electric or hybrid vehicle, you can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment.

Enjoy the ride

Electric cars deliver full torque right away, providing responsive, fast and smooth acceleration. With an increasing selection of EVs available on the market, you can find an EV that suits your lifestyle and budget.

EV Frequently Asked Questions

How does an electric vehicle work?

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) run 100 percent on electricity with a battery pack that powers an electric drivetrain. When depleted, the battery is recharged from a wall socket or a dedicated charging unit. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also have an electric motor and battery but use a gasoline-powered engine when the battery runs low.

How much does it cost to own an electric vehicle?

Electric vehicles start from as low as $27,000 with many incentives available through the Federal government’s Incentives for Purchasing Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program. Electric vehicles come in a wide range of sizes, from compact to midsize to SUV and even trucks. With more than 35 makes and models currently available, and more being introduced each year, consumers have many options when it comes to purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle.

The cost of charging an electric vehicle depends on the electricity rate and the model of the vehicle. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) provides consumption ratings for electric vehicles, just like it provides fuel economy ratings for traditional gas-powered vehicles.

Industry statistics suggest that charging an electric vehicle is approximately 78 percent less expensive than fueling up a similar-sized/model of a gasoline vehicle.

With rising gasoline prices, incentives for purchasing electric vehicles, and opportunities to reduce charging costs even further by charging during off-peak times, the cost advantages of owning an electric vehicle are becoming undeniable.

How much can I save by owning an electric vehicle?

According to Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation:

On average, a typical battery EV will cost less than $300 per year, or about $0.78 a day to charge at night.*1
A typical plug-in hybrid EV will cost about $700 per year, or $1.92 a day for fuel (including gasoline and electricity costs).*2
Comparable gasoline cars can cost between $1,000 and $2,500 annually to fuel or up to eight times more money daily than an EV.*3

The average Canadian driver, travelling 20,000 km each year, can save as much as $2,000 per year on fuel by owning an electric vehicle, not including the savings on maintenance and repairs.

Are the incentives available to buy an electric vehicle?

Through the Federal government’s Incentives for Purchasing Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program, which launched May 1, 2019, consumers may be eligible for discounts off the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on many new electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrids. Depending on the model and other criteria, consumers may be eligible for $2,500 to $5,000 in discounts on an electric or hybrid vehicle.

Businesses purchasing or leasing new electric vehicles can also take advantage of the iZEV program by applying the rebate at the time of purchase or lease. Businesses are eligible for up to then such incentives per calendar year.

When planning your next vehicle purchase, do some research to see what incentives may be available to you. As Provinces continue to promote the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, look for additional incentives to be introduced.

ERTH EV Initiatives

Through partnerships, ongoing investment and funding support from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), ERTH is committed to making electric vehicle charging stations more convenient and accessible within the communities we serve.

ERTH Energy Community EV Network

The ERTH Energy Community EV Network is a network of 24 public and on-street Level 2 EV chargers connecting ERTH’s 15 service communities that stretch from Lake Erie to Lake Huron. Via its Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) provided partial funding to ERTH Corporation to help build the level 2 EV charging network. With the participation of its municipal shareholders, who provided access to public EV-only parking spots, ERTH contributed the remaining funds required to purchase and install the EV chargers. The installation of the EV chargers was completed by ERTH’s high and low-voltage distribution services and electricity to the chargers is provided by ERTH’s local electricity distributor, ERTH Power Corporation. The chargers are pay-for-use and EV drivers pay a competitive market rate to charge their vehicles, which is currently $1.50 per hour of charging.*

Workplace EV Chargers (Level 2)

In partnership with the County of Elgin and the Municipality of Central Elgin, ERTH also received funding under NRCan’s ZEVIP program to install 20 Level 2 workplace EV chargers, including four Level 2 EV chargers at ERTH’s head office in Ingersoll, Ontario. These four chargers, which were installed by ERTH’s high and low-voltage distribution services, are available to EV-driving employees during working hours and they are open for paid public charging after business hours.

ERTH Workplace EV Charger at Ingersoll Office

Goderich DC Fast Charger (Level 3)

In partnership with ChargerCrew, ERTH received funding approval from NRCan under its Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative to deploy a publicly-available Level 3 EV fast chargers at the Tourist Information Centre in Goderich, Ontario. NRCan will be partially funding the costs to install the fast chargers, while ERTH will manage the installation and fund the remaining costs and the Town of Goderich provided the public parking spot for fast and convenient EV charging. This new fast charger opened to the public in June 2022, and it will charge vehicles quickly at a rate of $0.35 per minute.*

Find an EV Charging Station

With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, EV charging stations are becoming more convenient and widely available in public spaces and workplaces, along with rural communities. With a little planning, you can now access public EV chargers in almost any community. Visit PlugShare to find the EV charging station nearest to you or plan charging stops along your travel route.

ERTH’s public EV chargers are located at fourteen locations in nine communities, including Aylmer, Belmont, Clinton, Goderich, Ingersoll, Mitchell, Norwich, Port Stanley, and Tavistock.