Grey County is taking a major step toward its climate action targets with the installation of twenty new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at County-owned sites. The move is part of the "Charging Ahead: Electrifying Fleets in Grey County" project, supported in part through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP).
“This infrastructure investment represents a significant step forward in Grey County's commitment to reducing our corporate greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning our fleet to clean transportation,” said Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs. “These charging stations will not only support our fleet transition to zero-emission vehicles but will also enable operational cost savings over the life cycle of the vehicles.”
The project will see chargers installed at four locations: six at the Grey County Administration Building, two at the Ayton Transportation Depot, six at the Chatsworth Transportation Depot, and six at the Clarksburg Transportation Depot.
The federal government is contributing $100,000 through ZEVIP, covering roughly half of the project’s cost. The remainder is included in the County’s 2025 budget.
“With this federal funding, Grey County will install 20 new EV chargers to support its growing electric fleet – reducing emissions and lowering operational costs,” said Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “It’s a practical investment that supports our national climate objectives while delivering long-term benefits to the community.”
The investment supports Grey County’s Going Green in Grey climate action plan, which aims to reduce corporate emissions by 20 per cent by 2026 and achieve net-zero by 2045. County fleet vehicles currently account for about 38 per cent of overall corporate greenhouse gas emissions.
Once the new charging stations are in place, Grey County plans to begin by purchasing two electric half-ton pickup trucks. Transitioning to zero-emission vehicles for light-duty fleet replacements is expected to play a key role in reducing emissions while saving costs thanks to the higher efficiency of electric vehicles.
Construction of the charging stations is already underway following engineering and design work completed earlier this summer. The chargers are scheduled to be fully operational by March 31, 2026