Jolt makes Canadian debut

Australian charge point operator Jolt has installed its first chargers in Canada in the city of Richmond Hill, part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The firm already operates in its home Australian market, New Zealand, and the UK.

Jolt’s USP is offering 7kWh, or around 45 km, of fast charging for free every day, subsidised by advertising on digital screens at its charging kiosks. It says its offer will translate to over C$1,100 ($818) in annual savings for Canadian drivers. Its electricity supply is also fully renewable.

“Jolt is all about making EV ownership accessible, affordable, and seamless,” says Brendan Dillon, country manager, Jolt Canada. “As more Canadians switch to EVs, our mission is to eliminate the barriers that would otherwise hold them back.

“With the support of forward-thinking partners like the city of Richmond Hill, we are delivering infrastructure solutions that make the EV transition not just possible, but inevitable,” Dillon continues.

“Richmond Hill is happy to lead the way in the GTA and we welcome Jolt as another green partner in our city,” says Richmond Hill’s mayor David West. “We are committed to leading on the climate initiatives outlined in our Community and Energy and Emission Plan, as we strive to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and our doors are open to partnerships that help us achieve that goal.

"It is a win-win for our residents, local businesses in the area, and our city as a whole.”

Jolt plans to install up to 5,000 public DC fast chargers across Canada, promising “hundreds more locations set to launch in the coming months”. The chargers will also support an integrated digital out-of-home advertising network, which funds the free charging allocation.

“This platform allows municipalities and brand marketers to connect with the highly engaged communities in sustainable and creative ways,” the CPO says.

Canada’s federal government has a goal of installing 200,000 public EV chargers by 2030. As such, other CPOs, including Flo Charging, also have ambitious expansion targets. Canada will ban the sale of new ICE cars from 2035.