Closed
Education and Awareness Project Funding – Electric Vehicle Test Drives and Charging Education
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Canada
Funding for EV test drives and charging education outreach programs
Grant and Funding
Overview
Natural Resources Canada will soon open a call for proposals to fund national or underserved-region outreach and education projects that measurably increase public, industry, and local government knowledge and confidence in light-duty EV charging, charging infrastructure, and EV ownership and operation (maximum funding amount not specified). Eligible activities include hands-on outreach campaigns and events such as EV test drives with charging demonstrations, experiential charging education (including winter/cold-weather experiences), and the development of educational resources and training for enablers like fleet managers, municipal planners, utilities, educators, and first responders.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increasing community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Reduce the ecological footprint
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Closing date : February 24, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Utilities
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Public administration
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Other Racialized Persons
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Activities funded
- EV test-drive campaigns paired with hands-on charging demonstrations for the general public and commercial drivers (including winter/cold-weather test drives where relevant).
- Outreach campaigns that deliver hands-on learning to improve knowledge and confidence in light-duty EV charging, charging infrastructure, ownership and operation.
- Events and experiential programs such as test-drive/trial programs, mobile showcases, and ambassador or mentorship programs, including in underserved regions/communities.
- Development of resources and education for “enablers” (e.g., corporate decision-makers, fleet managers, municipal planners/governments, EV salespeople, utilities, schoolteachers, first responders) focused on EV charging and charging infrastructure deployment.
- Interactive educational activities for enablers on EV charging infrastructure policy and practical deployment topics (e.g., permitting and purchasing) and on EV ownership/operation.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an organization or legal entity that is validly incorporated or registered in Canada (for-profit or not-for-profit), such as a private sector company, utility, industry association, research/standards organization, Indigenous/community group, academic institution, or a provincial/territorial/regional/municipal government entity.
- International for-profit or not-for-profit legal entities incorporated or registered abroad may also apply (e.g., private sector companies, industry associations, research/standards organizations, academic institutions).
- The project must measurably increase public, industry, and/or local government knowledge and confidence related to light-duty electric vehicle charging, charging infrastructure, and vehicle ownership/operation, and must include charging education.
- The project must align with at least one eligible area of focus: (1) EV test drives and experiential charging education, or (2) resources and education for “enablers” (e.g., corporate decision-makers, fleet managers, municipal planners/governments, EV salespeople, utilities, schoolteachers, first responders).
- The project must be national in reach or regionally focused on an underserved region of Canada (Territories, Prairie Provinces, Atlantic Canada, rural areas, or marginalized/racialized urban communities).
Who is eligible?
- Electricity or gas utilities
- Private sector companies
- Industry associations
- Research associations
- Standards development organizations
Who is not eligible
- Softwood lumber companies, and companies that are vertically integrated with softwood lumber companies.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada (projects must be national in reach).
- Underserved regions of Canada, including: Territories.
- Underserved regions of Canada, including: Prairie Provinces.
- Underserved regions of Canada, including: Atlantic Canada.
- Underserved regions of Canada, including: Rural areas in Canada.
- Underserved regions of Canada, including: Marginalized or racialized urban communities in Canada.
How to apply
1
Confirm project fit
- Confirm your project will increase knowledge and confidence in light-duty EV charging, charging infrastructure, and EV ownership/operation
- Note the call for proposals is opening in the coming weeks
2
Choose area of focus
- Select Area of Focus 1 (EV test drives and experiential charging education) or Area of Focus 2 (resources and education for enablers)
- If relevant, choose a secondary area of focus and clearly justify alignment
3
Validate eligible activities
- Ensure the project includes charging education in all activities
- Exclude out-of-scope activities: technician training, digital-only public projects, and vehicle-only education projects
- If test drives are included, plan a charging demonstration
4
Confirm geographic reach
- Confirm the project is national in reach or regionally focused on an underserved region in Canada
- Use the definition of underserved areas: Territories, Prairie Provinces, Atlantic Canada, rural areas, or marginalized/racialized urban communities
5
Confirm applicant eligibility
- Confirm the applicant is a valid legal entity incorporated/registered in Canada, or an international legal entity incorporated/registered abroad
- Ensure the organization type matches the eligible examples listed by NRCan
- Confirm you are not a softwood lumber company or vertically integrated with one
6
Plan timeline and spending
- Plan for a project start in spring 2026 and an end date no later than September 30, 2027
- Ensure planned NRCan-funded spending is fully expended by March 31, 2027
7
Prepare project activities
- Develop the project plan (e.g., hands-on outreach campaigns, test drive/trial programs, mobile showcases, ambassador/mentorship programs)
- For Area of Focus 2, design resources and education for enablers (e.g., decision-makers, fleet managers, municipal planners, utilities, teachers, first responders)
8
Submit the application
- Submit your application when the call for proposals opens
- Ensure the proposal clearly demonstrates alignment with the selected area(s) of focus
9
Await NRCan decision
- Wait for NRCan’s approval or rejection notification (service standard: within 100 days of the call deadline)
- Be prepared to receive a Letter of Conditional Approval if successful
10
Begin after conditional approval
- Start the project upon receiving the Letter of Conditional Approval (if approved)
- Note: costs incurred before signing the contribution agreement may count toward total project costs but are not reimbursable by NRCan
11
Sign contribution agreement
- Review NRCan’s draft contribution agreement (service standard: sent within 30 business days after the conditional approval letter)
- Sign the contribution agreement to formalize the project
12
Submit payment claims
- Submit duly completed and documented payment claims
- NRCan reviews claims within 15 business days and issues payment within 30 business days of receiving a complete claim
13
Contact NRCan for questions
- Send questions by email to awareness-projects.projets-de-sensibilisation@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
- Expect a response to general inquiries within 5 business days (service standard)
Additional information
- A call for proposals is expected to open in the coming weeks.
- Successful projects are anticipated to start in spring 2026 and end no later than September 30, 2027.
- Projects may begin after receiving a Letter of Conditional Approval from NRCan (before signing the contribution agreement), but any costs incurred before the agreement is signed are not eligible for NRCan reimbursement.
- NRCan service standards include assessing applications and issuing an approval/rejection notification within 100 days of the call for proposal deadline (under normal circumstances).
Contacts
awareness-projects.projets-de-sensibilisation@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
