Agora initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles

MONTREAL — Two Canadian charging networks – The Electric Circuit and BC Hydro – and ChargeHub, a company in EV roaming solutions, announce the launch of Agora.

This industry initiative, made possible with Natural Resources Canada’s financial support, aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) through EV roaming. Although the concept is still at its early stage, Agora’s main goal is to create awareness and provide educational resources about the fact that in Canada, it is possible for EV drivers and commercial fleet managers to use a single account to connect on multiple charging networks.

“As manager of the Agora project, ChargeHub seeks to federate the industry around greater charging network interoperability, which we believe is essential to accelerate the electrification of transportation,” said Simon Ouellette, CEO, ChargeHub. “With the growth of public charging networks, we as an industry must always aim to offer the best charging experience for end users. The Agora initiative ensures that the industry shares this vision and scales up EV roaming.”

EV roaming is a pillar of the electrification of transportation by allowing access to a maximum number of public charging stations, while enabling EV drivers to use their preferred method of activation and payment. To this end, Agora is proposing a bilingual pan-Canadian campaign to promote awareness of the subject not only among the general public, but also among fleet managers and industry players.

Agora offers several features:

• A website to answers questions about EV roaming,
• A tool to find charging networks compatible with the most important mobility services in Canada and the United States,
• Statistics on the state of interoperability in Canada, as well as dedicated resources for the industry.

“Zero-emission vehicles are helping Canadians to reduce emissions and save money on fuel while creating good jobs throughout the supply chain,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada. “Investing in zero-emission vehicles will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals.”

This industry initiative, made possible with a $184,369 investment to Mogile Technologies Inc (ChargeHub’s parent company) provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Awareness Initiative, will support the adoption of EVs through a better charging and payment experience for EV drivers and commercial fleet managers.

“British Columbia is a great place to drive an electric vehicle because about 98 per cent of the electricity BC Hydro generates comes from clean and renewable resources. We are pleased to partner with Agora to help make EV adoption easier and more accessible for EV drivers, no matter where you’re traveling in Canada,” said Chris O’Riley, CEO, BC Hydro.

This initiative is also supported by many other industry partners, who are also committed to raising awareness of the importance of EV roaming to help deliver the best charging experience to Canadians: Nissan, VinFast, Ivy Charging Network, Hypercharge, SWTCH, ATCO, NB Power, Chargelab, Electric Vehicle Society, Running Electric campaign, Propulsion Québec, Quebec Electric Vehicle Association (AVEQ), and Bectrol.

“EV roaming is a significant asset for the electrification of transportation, and Agora will enable its effective promotion. Facilitating access to interoperable networks through a single account is a priority for the Electric Circuit. That’s why we are proud to be a partner in this initiative,” said France Lampron, Director – Development of Energy and Mobility Offers at Hydro-Québec.