Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative — Light-Duty Vehicle — Not-for-profit

This funding initiative offers significant contributions to support projects increasing awareness of zero-emission and low-emission vehicles and fuels in Canada. The financing modalities are framed to ensure broad accessibility and effective project implementation.

• NRCan will provide cost-shared, non-repayable contributions for eligible projects.
• Funding will cover up to 50% of project costs for for-profit organizations.
• Funding will cover up to 75% of project costs for non-profit organizations, other orders of government, and Indigenous organizations or businesses.
• Successful applicants may incur costs upon receiving the Letter of Conditional Approval but prior to signing a contribution agreement, although these costs will not be reimbursed.
• Projects may begin at the proponent's own risk before the contribution agreement is finalized, but related costs incurred cannot be claimed from NRCan.

Eligibility for this grant requires applicants to be organizations and legal entities that meet specific criteria.

• Applicants must be validly incorporated or registered in Canada or internationally, including both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.
• Eligible Canadian organizations include electricity or gas utilities, private sector companies, industry associations, research associations, standards development organizations, Indigenous and community groups, Canadian academic institutions, and provincial, territorial, regional, or municipal governments or their departments or agencies.
• Eligible international organizations include private sector companies, industry associations, research associations, standards organizations, and academic institutions.
• Softwood lumber companies and entities vertically integrated with such companies are not eligible for this funding opportunity.
• A separate funding stream is available for Indigenous-led Awareness and Education Projects, which remains open for applications until March 31, 2024.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes specific types of companies due to restrictions mainly related to affiliations with softwood lumber. The aim is to focus the funding on strategic initiatives conducive to advancing clean transportation and fuels.

• Softwood lumber companies.
• Companies that are vertically integrated with softwood lumber companies.

Eligible expenses

The grant supports initiatives to enhance understanding and confidence in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and clean fuels. Eligible activities aim to address awareness and education gaps across various sectors and fuel technologies.

• Developing in-person or online education and awareness events, such as test drive opportunities.
• Creating curriculum or training materials.
• Conducting outreach and awareness campaigns.
• Creating web-based resources.
• Developing in-person professional training or industry-led skills training.
• Increasing knowledge of charging and refueling options as well as clean fuels technologies.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is open to organizations and entities that are incorporated or registered in Canada. Additionally, international entities validly incorporated or registered abroad are also eligible to apply.

• Organizations incorporated or registered across Canada, including not-for-profit and for-profit entities.
• International organizations incorporated or registered outside of Canada.

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The assessment of proposals will be based on various criteria to determine the successful applicants.

• Organization capacity and experience
• Clarity and alignment with program goals
• Innovativeness and potential impact
• Budget realism and cost-effectiveness
• Engagement with target audiences
• Evaluation and performance measurement plan

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The service standards aim to achieve a response within specified timeframes for inquiries and application processing, targeting 80% success under normal circumstances.
• Information about successful projects will be shared once contribution agreements are signed.
• Multiple areas of focus can be integrated into a single application without disadvantage or advantage.
• Projects may begin upon receiving a Letter of Conditional Approval, at the applicant's risk regarding unreimbursed expenses.