Charge News Canada

Chery's Omoda and Jaecoo Launch Canadian Website, Promise 2026 Market Debut

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Chinese automotive giant Chery has launched a dedicated Canadian website for its Omoda and Jaecoo brands, signalling the first formal commitment by a Chinese EV maker to enter the Canadian market in 2026. The move follows months of speculation and sightings of Chery test vehicles in the Toronto area.

First Chinese brand to commit to 2026 Canadian launch

While BYD, Geely, and other Chinese automakers have been linked to Canadian expansion plans, Chery is the first to launch a public-facing Canadian web presence and explicitly target a 2026 debut. The website showcases the Omoda 5 compact crossover and Jaecoo 7 mid-size SUV — both expected to be offered in gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric variants.

Chery has been testing vehicles in Canada since at least April 2026, with multiple sightings of Omoda and Jaecoo models in Toronto and Montreal. The company has also flown Canadian dealers to China for brand familiarization trips, suggesting dealer network development is underway.

Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7: what to expect

Omoda 5: Compact crossover (~4.4 m length), positioned against the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, and Hyundai Tucson. Global markets offer 1.5L turbo gasoline, 1.5L PHEV, and BEV versions with up to 450 km WLTP range.
Jaecoo 7: Mid-size SUV (~4.5 m), targeting the Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, and Hyundai Santa Fe segment. Available with 2.0L turbo gasoline, PHEV, and BEV powertrains.

Both brands use Chery's latest platforms and share technology with the company's premium Exlantix (Stellar) line. The Jaecoo 7 PHEV, in particular, has drawn attention in Europe for its claimed 1,200+ km combined range.

Tariff context: the 6% window

Chery's timing aligns with Canada's reduced 6% tariff on Chinese-made EVs — down from the 100% rate the U.S. imposed — which took effect after Canada declined to match American tariffs. This tariff differential creates a window for Chinese automakers to enter Canada while the U.S. market remains effectively closed.

However, the federal government has not yet clarified how it will allocate import quotas for Chinese EVs under the new framework. Chery has publicly stated that homologation costs (certifying vehicles to Canadian safety and emissions standards) require volume certainty to justify the investment.

Dealer network and service questions

Key questions remain unanswered: How many dealers will Chery appoint? Will service be handled through existing networks or dedicated facilities? What warranty terms will be offered to build trust with Canadian buyers unfamiliar with the brand?

Chery sold over 2.6 million vehicles globally in 2025 and is China's largest passenger vehicle exporter. The company has successfully entered markets including Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and several European countries — but Canada would represent its first North American market.

What this means for Canadian buyers

If Chery delivers on a late-2026 launch, Canadian shoppers could see new EV and PHEV options priced below established competitors. The Omoda 5 EV, for example, could undercut the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV on price while offering comparable range.

However, buyers should weigh the risks of a first-year market entrant: parts availability, service network maturity, and residual value uncertainty are all factors. The federal EVAP rebate (up to $5,000) would apply if models meet Transport Canada's eligibility criteria and MSRP caps.

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Honda Developing New Hybrid Powertrain for Canadian-Built CR-V, Targeting February 2027 Production

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Honda is reportedly developing a new hybrid powertrain for its popular CR-V crossover, with the Canadian-built version potentially hitting Alliston, Ontario assembly lines as early as February 2027 — a month ahead of U.S. production ramp-up, according to a report from Nikkei Asia cited by driving.ca.

New hybrid system promises efficiency and cost gains

The revised hybrid powertrain is said to be up to 10% more efficient than the current CR-V Hybrid system while also cutting production costs by over 25%. In a North American market roiled by tariff uncertainty, that cost reduction could help Honda offset potential tariff taxes — either protecting its margins or holding the line on MSRP increases for Canadian buyers.

The current CR-V Hybrid, available across several trims, uses Honda's two-motor hybrid system. The next-generation version would represent a significant upgrade in both efficiency and manufacturing economics.

Canada first on production cadence

Canada is a major producer of CR-Vs, with Honda's Alliston plants building both the CR-V and Civic. The manufacturing roll-out cadence could place Canadian production ahead of U.S. assembly, which isn't expected to ramp up until March 2027 — a notable win for Ontario's auto sector.

This timing aligns with Honda's broader strategy to increase hybrid offerings while navigating a transition to full electrification. The company has pledged to launch 30 electric models globally by 2030 and make EVs and fuel-cell vehicles 40% of sales by that date.

'Pilot XXL' three-row SUV also rumoured

Beyond the CR-V, Nikkei Asia reports Honda may be working on a larger three-row crossover — dubbed "Pilot XXL" by observers — that would slot above the current Pilot and compete with the Toyota Grand Highlander and Hyundai Palisade. Production of that vehicle isn't expected until around 2032.

Hyundai has successfully navigated a similar two-model strategy with the Santa Fe and Palisade, both three-row crossovers, suggesting there's room in the market for Honda to expand upward.

What this means for Canadian buyers

For Canadian shoppers, a more efficient and potentially more affordable CR-V Hybrid arriving in early 2027 would strengthen one of the country's best-selling SUVs. The CR-V has been a consistent top-seller, and a hybrid variant with better fuel economy and a lower price point would be compelling in a market where fuel costs remain high.

The Alliston production timing also underscores Canada's continuing importance in Honda's North American manufacturing footprint — even as the company evaluates whether to build an eighth North American assembly plant, a decision tied to the future of the USMCA trade agreement.

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Nova Scotia EV Levy Takes Effect Oct. 1: $500 Every Two Years for EV Owners

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Nova Scotia will become the fourth Canadian province to impose a dedicated tax on electric vehicles when a new levy takes effect on October 1, 2026. Electric vehicle owners will pay an additional $500 every two years when renewing their registration, while plug-in hybrid owners will pay $250. Traditional hybrids — those that cannot be plugged in — are exempt.

Budget measure now law

The levy was introduced in the provincial government's most recent budget as a way to ensure drivers who pay little or no fuel tax at the pump still contribute to road maintenance. With about 5,500 EVs and 4,500 plug-in hybrids registered in the province, Finance Department officials estimate the fee will bring in about $1.9 million per year.

For context, paving one kilometre of a two-lane highway costs over $1 million, while resurfacing costs $700,000 per kilometre, according to the Public Works Department.

How Nova Scotia compares

Nova Scotia joins three other provinces with EV-specific fees:

Saskatchewan: $300 per year ($600 per two-year renewal)
Alberta: $200 per year ($400 per two-year renewal)
Quebec: Plans to introduce a $125 per year fee in 2027

Nova Scotia's $500 per two-year renewal ($250 per year equivalent) sits between Saskatchewan and Alberta. The fees apply to passenger vehicles, light trucks, and vans, but exempt municipal, fire, and police vehicles.

Advocates call it punitive

EV owners and advocates have criticized the levy as punitive, arguing it discourages adoption at a time when the federal government is pushing for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. A February 2026 CBC report quoted Nova Scotia EV drivers who said the fee feels like a penalty for choosing cleaner transportation.

The province counters that road funding must be sustainable as fuel tax revenue declines. The levy is structured as a registration surcharge rather than a per-kilometre charge, meaning low-mileage EV owners pay the same as high-mileage drivers.

What this means for buyers

For Nova Scotians considering an EV or plug-in hybrid, the levy adds $250–$500 per year to the total cost of ownership. On a five-year ownership cycle, that's $1,250–$2,500 in additional fees — roughly equivalent to a 2–4% price increase on a $50,000 vehicle.

Buyers should factor this into their calculations alongside the federal EVAP rebate (up to $5,000 for BEVs, $2,500 for PHEVs) and any remaining provincial incentives. Nova Scotia ended its provincial EV rebate program in recent years, so the levy further tilts the economics toward gas and conventional hybrid vehicles.

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Carney Says Canada Working to Reduce Dependence on Starlink for National Security

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:10:00 GMT

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is actively working to reduce its reliance on Starlink, citing national security concerns and the need for sovereign control over critical communications infrastructure.

The pivot

In an interview with The New York Times, Carney acknowledged that other satellite networks do not yet match Starlink's capabilities and resilience. He suggested that working with partners in Europe and potentially South Korea could help Canada build enough scale to reduce its dependence on the SpaceX system, particularly for defence communications.

The comments, first reported by CultMTL, signal a shift in how the federal government views satellite internet — not just as a consumer service but as strategic infrastructure.

Domestic alternative: Telesat Lightspeed

Canada already has a homegrown project underway. Ottawa has committed a $2.14-billion loan to Telesat Lightspeed, a planned low Earth orbit satellite network. The federal government has also secured capacity on Lightspeed for internet providers serving rural and remote areas. In Nunavut, Northwestel plans to use that capacity to connect communities across the territory.

Telesat Lightspeed is expected to begin serving remote communities in the coming years.

Provincial programs: a mixed picture

Several provinces have struck their own Starlink deals, creating a patchwork of dependencies:

Quebec signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink to hard-to-reach households, covering equipment costs and part of the monthly bill for eligible customers.
Ontario planned a $100 million Starlink program for up to 15,000 underserved homes and businesses, but cancelled the partnership before it launched amid a tariff dispute between Premier Doug Ford and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Alberta offers eligible rural households a rebate toward satellite equipment.
Nova Scotia has offered a rebate of up to $1,000 for setup costs through qualified satellite providers.

What happens next

Carney's comments do not mean Canadians will be asked to give up Starlink directly — anyone can still sign up for the service. The focus is on government procurement decisions: when public money connects remote communities or funds defence communications, Ottawa wants alternatives.

Until Telesat Lightspeed or international partner networks are operational, governments will still need to decide where Starlink remains the most practical way to keep people and essential services connected. The timeline for a viable Canadian alternative remains the critical question.

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Tesla FSD v14.2 Lite Begins Rolling Out to HW3 Model S and Model X in Canada

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:05:00 GMT

Tesla has started rolling out FSD v14.2 Lite to Hardware 3 (HW3) Model S and Model X vehicles in Canada, bringing the automaker's latest generation of supervised self-driving software to its older flagship vehicles for the first time.

What is rolling out

The update is currently reaching a limited number of early-access vehicles on software version 2026.27.10, with a subsequent build (2026.27.11) also including FSD v14.2 Lite. Neither release has reached the wider customer fleet yet, and Tesla has not announced a timeline for broader availability.

Owners taking delivery of the update report that core V14 improvements carry over, including smoother intersection handling, better pedestrian and cut-in detection, refined navigation logic, and fewer unnecessary slowdowns — the most common complaint about earlier HW3 releases.

Why the wait mattered for Canadian owners

Hardware 3 Model S and Model X vehicles — built roughly between 2019 and 2023 — were left out when Tesla began rolling out FSD V14 Lite to other HW3 cars (Model 3 and Model Y) in July. Those owners, many of whom purchased Full Self-Driving years ago when it cost far less than today, have been waiting without official communication from Tesla on timing.

The HW3 population in Canada skews older and more loyal: these are early FSD adopters who were told a hardware upgrade would come, then watched V14's full feature set land on newer HW4 vehicles first. V14 Lite is the compromise — same software generation, scaled to the older computer.

The signal that the wait was ending

The strongest indication that the rollout was imminent came from Tesla's Vice President of AI Software, Ashok Elluswamy, who — asked about the S/X timeline at the Cybercab launch in Austin on September 3 — replied: "Oh, I thought it was supposed to go out last week." The comment, reported by Drive Tesla Canada on September 24, was the first substantive signal that deployment was days or weeks away rather than months.

What Canadian HW3 S/X owners should watch for

As with the Model 3/Y deployment, expect a staged rollout — early access first, then wider waves — rather than a single-day push. Canadian owners should watch their mobile app and in-car software tab for the V14.2 Lite release notes. And as always with FSD: the software remains supervised, meaning the driver is responsible for the vehicle at all times, regardless of hardware generation.

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Tesla Reverses Some Supercharger Price Hikes in Canada While Other Sites Rise

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Tesla has adjusted Supercharger prices across Canada for the second time in less than two weeks, leaving drivers facing a mixed bag of increases and decreases depending on where they charge. A review by Drive Tesla Canada found rates changed at 240 locations — 170 went up, 70 went down, and 10 held steady.

Biggest drops: Alberta urban centres

The most significant relief comes in Calgary and Edmonton, where Tesla owners now pay $0.48/kWh, down from $0.57 after the September 11 increase. Before that hike, those same stations charged $0.51/kWh — meaning Alberta drivers are now paying less than they were two weeks ago.

Non-Tesla drivers using the NACS adapter path see even steeper savings in Calgary: rates fell from $0.82 to $0.66/kWh.

Saskatoon also dropped notably, from $0.54 to $0.48/kWh. Similar cuts appeared across other major cities, while highway and rural locations generally saw smaller increases of one or two cents.

Biggest climbs: Atlantic Canada

Nova Scotia continues to get more expensive. Enfield's peak rate has climbed from $0.64 before September 11 to $0.71, and has now seen another increase to $0.75/kWh. Non-Tesla drivers at Digby face an even higher rate of $1.01/kWh, up from $0.96/kWh previously.

Ottawa: mixed signals

Ottawa saw divergent changes at different stations. Some locations dropped to $0.50/kWh during peak hours, while Campeau Drive and Boundary Road increased to $0.55/kWh.

What this means for Canadian drivers

The practical takeaway is that Supercharger pricing is genuinely dynamic — checking the app or in-car navigation before a session matters more than remembering last month's rate. The widening gap between peak and off-peak pricing also strengthens the case for comparing home charging against public fast charging costs, since even the largest increases are billed only during peak windows.

For a rough sense of scale: a 50 kWh top-up at Enfield's new $0.75 peak rate costs about $37.50, versus $32 at the old rate and $25.50 at the pre-September rate.

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Kempower Chargers Now Live at GCT Vancouver as DP World Deal Adds 46 More Across Canadian Ports

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 02:20:00 GMT

Canadian ports are quietly becoming one of the country's fastest-growing fast-charging markets. Finnish charging manufacturer Kempower has installed new DC fast-charging infrastructure at Global Container Terminals' (GCT) Vancouver terminal this month, and separately struck a multi-site framework agreement with DP World, Canada's largest terminal operator, to supply charging equipment across all of its Canadian sites.

GCT Vancouver: 42 ports, 2.05 MW, already running

At GCT's Vancouver terminal, which serves the Port of Vancouver, Kempower and its official Canadian sales and service partner EVlution Charge have installed 21 dual-plug satellite chargers, providing 42 charging ports and 2.05 megawatts of power. The chargers are already operational and supporting GCT's electric service vehicle fleet.

GCT is a majority Canadian-owned operator that runs Canada's largest container terminal at the Port of Vancouver, part of the Pacific Gateway network, and has set a target of cutting its absolute emissions by 45 percent by 2030. Kyron Harvett, GCT's manager of operations technology, said a technical review found Kempower's system offered the charging density and flexibility needed for 24/7 terminal operations.

GCT recently ran a multi-day trial of a heavy-duty battery-electric terminal tractor using only opportunity charging and reported near-total uptime. "The system enables opportunity charging during shift changes and breaks, maximizing equipment availability while minimizing operational disruption," Harvett said in a statement to Electric Autonomy Canada.

DP World: 46 satellite chargers across three BC terminals

DP World runs five terminals in Canada — Vancouver, Fraser Surrey, Nanaimo and Prince Rupert in B.C., plus Saint John, N.B. — and is building a new container terminal at Contrecoeur, near the Port of Montreal, expected to be finished by 2030.

In the first phase of the partnership, Kempower will install 46 of its satellite chargers across the Vancouver, Fraser Surrey and Prince Rupert terminals, delivering a combined 4.4 megawatts. The deal standardizes equipment across DP World's Canadian terminals, supporting electrification of its service vehicles and container-handling machinery.

"This agreement with Kempower gives us a scalable, reliable charging platform that can support our operations today while creating the flexibility to electrify more of our equipment over time," said Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada, in a statement. The agreement extends a relationship that began with Kempower supplying charging infrastructure at DP World's London Gateway logistics hub in the United Kingdom in 2024.

Why ports are the sweet spot for electrification

Jed Routh, vice-president of markets and products with Kempower North America, told Electric Autonomy that ports are ideal candidates for electrification: diesel trucks sit idling waiting for loads, many vehicles stay on port premises where depot charging is available anytime, and short low-speed trips around a port are exactly the duty cycle where diesel engines suffer and electric drivetrains thrive.

"If you're doing low-speed start and stop, you're taking advantage of that regeneration, and so you get a little more efficiency on the vehicle itself than you would if you were just hammering down the road," Routh said.

Both installations use dynamic power sharing, which can raise or lower the power delivered at each port based on vehicle needs, fleet schedules and demand-charge exposure — effectively letting the same hardware act as a fast charger or a 25 kW overnight top-up without penalties.

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Tesla Doubling Port Hope Supercharger to 16 Stalls With New V4 Build

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 02:15:00 GMT

Tesla is expanding its Supercharger network in Ontario, with construction underway on eight new V4 charging stalls at its existing Port Hope station. Drive Tesla Canada reported the build on September 24, 2026, citing photos shared by reader Dale C.

Where and what

The expansion is taking place at the existing Supercharger location on Telephone Road, just off Highway 401, beside Harvey's and Free Topping Pizza. The site currently has eight Supercharger stalls capable of delivering up to 150 kW, making it a convenient charging stop for Tesla owners travelling between Toronto and eastern Ontario.

Based on the construction activity, Tesla appears to be adding eight new V4 charging posts immediately west of the existing chargers, which sit on the eastern side of the parking lot — doubling the site's capacity from eight to 16 charging stalls.

Why the expansion matters

Congestion relief: The addition should help reduce congestion at the location, particularly during busy travel periods along the Highway 401 corridor between Cobourg and Belleville.

V4 hardware: The new posts bring V4 architecture to the site. V4 stalls support higher peak power and come with longer cables and a magic-dock-style form factor designed for non-Tesla vehicles.

Corridor context: Port Hope sits roughly 100 km east of Toronto on Canada's busiest highway, where holiday-weekend Supercharger queues are a recurring complaint among Ontario Tesla drivers.

Ontario's busy Supercharger month

The Port Hope build continues a busy stretch for Tesla's charging network in Ontario and across Canada. Earlier in September, Tesla rewrote Supercharger pricing at more than 200 Canadian sites, and the company has been expanding V4 hardware nationwide — from new stations in Ottawa and London to northern-BC openings in Vanderhoof, Terrace and Prince Rupert.

No timeline has been announced for the Port Hope activation, but with stalls visibly installed and groundwork progressing, the expanded station should come online in the coming weeks, ahead of the winter travel season.

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Tesla Building Previously Unannounced Supercharger in Montcerf-Lytton, Northern Quebec

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 02:10:00 GMT

Tesla is quietly pushing its Supercharger network into a relatively underserved part of Quebec, with a previously unannounced charging station now under construction in Montcerf-Lytton, north of Mont-Laurier. Drive Tesla Canada reported the find on September 24, 2026, after a member of a Tesla Ottawa Facebook group spotted the work in progress.

What is being built

According to photos shared by reader Jacquelin Delage, construction is already well underway at an Ultramar gas station located at 2 Route 117 in Montcerf-Lytton. Based on the site layout, the station appears set to feature 8 V4 Supercharger posts.

What makes the find unusual: the location has never appeared on Tesla's official Find Us map — not as a proposed "in development" location and not as "under construction." The Montcerf-Lytton station is a previously unknown addition to Tesla's Canadian Supercharging network.

Why Route 117 matters

Highway corridor: The site sits along Route 117, a major highway connecting southern Quebec with communities farther north, including Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda.

Charging gap: While Tesla has steadily expanded across Quebec, drivers heading north beyond Mont-Laurier have had relatively few fast-charging options compared with the province's more heavily populated corridors.

Next steps north: Another Supercharger was previously planned farther north in La Vallée-de-l'Or, east of Val-d'Or, but that site is still listed as "in development."

The bigger Quebec picture

Quebec has been one of Tesla's most active Canadian build markets in 2026. The Drummondville Supercharger opened in late August — the fourth new station in the province this year — following earlier 2026 openings in Laval, Quebec City and Sherbrooke. Tesla also named Mont-Laurier a winner in its recent Supercharger Voting round, and the current candidate slate lists 18 Quebec sites, including two in Val-d'Or.

The Montcerf-Lytton station will help address the northern gap, providing another charging option for Tesla owners travelling through the Outaouais and Abitibi regions. No opening date has been announced, but with construction visibly underway, an activation in late 2026 appears plausible based on Tesla's typical build timelines.

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Volkswagen's PowerCo Delays St. Thomas Battery Plant to 2029 Amid Weak EV Demand

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:17:17 GMT
Volkswagen's battery production subsidiary, PowerCo Canada, says its EV battery gigafactory in St. Thomas, Ont., will not begin operations until 2029, two years later than the 2027 start date it had targeted since the project was announced in 2023. PowerCo confirmed the delay Thursday while announcing the appointment of Canadian construction firm EllisDon Corp. as general contractor for the southwestern Ontario site. Joel Karlsberg, PowerCo Canada's chief procurement officer, said the company is "aligning the project's timeline and product strategy with evolving market demand, technological advancements, and the Volkswagen Group's long-term strategy." ### 'Getting the pacing right' PowerCo says the later start date will allow the plant to accommodate next-generation battery technology and give the company room to scale production as demand shifts. Despite the delay, Karlsberg said the company is not scaling back its ambitions for the site. He said the St. Thomas plant remains a "cornerstone" of PowerCo's North American strategy, adding that the slower timeline is about "getting the pacing right — not stepping back— to protect our long-term investment, support regional jobs, and position Canada, Ontario, and St. Thomas to benefit in a dynamic and evolving market." Construction at the site has continued since the 2025 groundbreaking, with work now moving into what PowerCo calls its core infrastructure and structural phases. That includes building the shell of the production facility, along with mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and energy and utility infrastructure. ### Government investment The initial investment in the 370-acre facility included $7 billion from Volkswagen, with the Ontario government offering $500 million in incentives. The federal government added $13.2 billion in investments, subsidies and tax credits tied to output. The gigafactory is expected to produce up to 90 gigawatt-hours, or up to 1 million EV batteries, annually. It is also expected to employ around 3,000 skilled workers when fully operational and support thousands of indirect jobs in the region. About 60 EllisDon workers are currently on-site. PowerCo expects the EllisDon workforce to grow to roughly 1,300 at peak construction, alongside other personnel supporting the project. The gigafactory, first announced in 2023, is a joint undertaking among Volkswagen Group, PowerCo and Canada's federal, provincial and municipal governments. It is expected to be PowerCo's largest cell manufacturing plant worldwide, supplying battery cells for future Volkswagen Group electric vehicles sold in North America. PowerCo SE was founded in 2022 as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group. PowerCo Canada, headquartered in St. Thomas, oversees the company's Canadian operations.
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Geely Unveils 2.25 MW Smart Charge System Challenging BYD's Flash Charging Dominance

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 20:19:28 GMT

Chinese automaker Geely has officially unveiled its "Geely Smart Charge" technology, a new AI-driven charging system capable of delivering up to 2,250 kW (2.25 MW) of peak power through a single charging gun—surpassing BYD's Flash Charging column maximum of 1,500 kW.

The announcement, made in Ningbo alongside the fifth-generation Geely Smart Charging Station, centers on Geely's _Xingrui PowerMind_ energy model developed in collaboration with Chinese AI company StepFun. This system enables three core functions: Extreme Charge, Smart Charge, and Auto Charge, utilizing thermal prediction algorithms to forecast battery temperature changes 30 seconds in advance and dynamically adjust charging power.

Technical specifications and performance

According to Geely, the system maintains battery average temperature below 55°C and peak temperature strictly under 65°C through liquid cooling extending from stationary battery storage through the charging station, cable, connector, and into the vehicle battery.

Test data from the China Automotive Technology and Research Centre (CATARC) shows a Lynk & Co 10 model equipped with this technology achieved:

Peak charging power of 1,093 kW

During 10% to 97% charging: battery maintained temperatures below 55°C for 57% of total charging time

Maximum recorded temperature of 64°C

Charging time: 4 minutes 30 seconds from 10% to 70%

Charging time: 8 minutes 40 seconds from 10% to 97%

Geely also introduced its new generation of Aegis Golden Brick ultra-short blade batteries to complement the charging system:

12C battery: 395 mm version featured in Lynk & Co 10 and Zeekr 001 models, achieves peak charging rate of 12C, charging 10%-70% in approximately 4 minutes 30 seconds and 10%-97% in about 8 minutes 40 seconds

6C battery: 370 mm version debuting in the new Geely Galaxy E5, offers peak charging rate of 6C, achieving 10%-70% charge in approximately 8 minutes 25 seconds

Infrastructure rollout and consumer incentives

By the end of 2027, Geely aims to deploy over 100,000 charging guns nationwide, with more than 50,000 being Geely Smart Charge units, ensuring coverage across all counties in China.

To support adoption, Geely announced a new user incentive policy: first-time owners of new models equipped with Geely Smart Charge technology receive a charging allowance of 1,000 yuan (approximately $150 USD) annually for two years (totalling 2,000 yuan / $300), valid for vehicles purchased before January 1, 2028. Additionally, the battery warranty for both new and existing eligible models has been upgraded from 8 years/150,000 km to 8 years/200,000 km.

The company also addresses battery longevity concerns through a lithium-ion pulse regeneration process that uses micro-pulses to reactivate lithium ions accumulated at the negative electrode, claiming this combined with AI-based charging management increases cycle life by up to 20 percent.

Context: Charging the EV infrastructure arms race

Geely's advancement comes as BYD had already installed 10,000 of its Flash Charging stations by the end of August 2026 and aims to reach 20,000 by the end of 2026. Battery manufacturer Sunwoda has also introduced a fast-charging battery and plans to build 10,000 megawatt-class charging stations by the end of 2027.

While Geely's peak power exceeds BYD's current offering, real-world test results show the Lynk & Co 10 achieved only 1,093 kW peak power—suggesting the full 2,250 kW capacity may require specific battery and vehicle configurations to realize. Nevertheless, the push toward megawatt-level charging infrastructure highlights the intensifying competition not just on battery and vehicle technology, but on building the appropriate charging network to support ultra-fast charging capabilities.

For the Canadian market, where charging speed and infrastructure availability remain key considerations for EV adoption, these developments signal increasing options for ultra-fast charging solutions as Chinese EV manufacturers continue to innovate in both vehicle and charging technology domains.

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OBE Power Secures North Sky Capital Investment to Expand EV Charging Network Across Canada and U.S.

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 20:19:28 GMT

EV infrastructure company OBE Power has closed an equity investment from North Sky Capital to accelerate deployment of its electric vehicle charging network across the United States and Canada over the next three to five years.

The investment adds equity capital to OBE Power's existing credit facility with Gresham House, giving the company additional funding to expand a network that it owns and operates directly. Financial terms of the equity investment were not disclosed.

Fully owned and operated model

Rather than selling charging equipment to property owners, OBE Power deploys, owns, operates and manages the charging infrastructure itself. That model allows property owners and institutional partners to offer EV charging without funding the full upfront infrastructure investment or taking responsibility for ongoing network operations.

OBE Power handles infrastructure deployment, network management, maintenance and driver support, as well as energy reimbursement and management of carbon credit income.

"With this strategic investment, OBE Power has secured the capital foundation required to support its ambitious expansion goals over the next three to five years," said Luis Paul, co-founder and managing director of OBE Power.

Capital structure for infrastructure scaling

The investment from North Sky provides another source of long-term capital alongside OBE Power's debt financing as the company expands a business that requires significant upfront spending on physical infrastructure before generating recurring revenue from charging operations.

That capital structure is particularly relevant to EV charging because scaling a network involves more than installing chargers. Operators must finance equipment, coordinate installation and electrical infrastructure, maintain hardware, manage software and payments, provide driver support and keep charging stations operational over their useful lives.

OBE Power's approach places those responsibilities with the charging operator rather than individual property owners.

North Sky Capital's infrastructure focus

North Sky Capital said it had evaluated the EV charging sector for several years before making the investment.

"We believe OBE Power presents a compelling and well-structured expansion opportunity in the market," North Sky Managing Director Adam Bernstein said.

Ying Lucy Fan, a principal on North Sky's infrastructure team, pointed to OBE Power's fully owned and operated model, management team and growth strategy as factors aligning the company with North Sky's infrastructure investment approach.

North Sky has been investing in impact-focused strategies since 2005. Now in its 26th year, the firm has deployed more than $1.7 billion across approximately 200 impact investments. Its strategies target environmental and social outcomes alongside market-rate investment returns.

Target property types and Canadian relevance

For OBE Power, the new equity capital comes as it seeks to build density across property types where vehicles typically remain parked long enough for destination charging. Multifamily properties, hotels, healthcare facilities and commercial sites can provide recurring charging demand while giving landlords and operators an amenity increasingly relevant to EV drivers.

The combination of North Sky's equity investment and OBE Power's existing Gresham House credit facility gives the company a broader financing base for that expansion.

OBE Power plans to use that capital to continue building a fully managed charging network in the U.S. and Canada while absorbing much of the financial and operational burden that property owners would otherwise face when installing and maintaining EV charging infrastructure themselves.

For the Canadian market, this represents additional private capital flowing into EV charging infrastructure at a time when federal and provincial programs continue to support network expansion. The fully managed model may appeal to Canadian property owners and institutions looking to offer charging without taking on operational complexity.

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Rivian Issues OTA Recall for Rearview Camera Obstruction

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Rivian has issued an over-the-air recall covering 98,828 vehicles in the United States because a drive mode notification can obscure the rearview camera image when a driver shifts into reverse. Transport Canada has not yet issued a parallel recall for Canada.

What happens

According to Rivian’s filing with NHTSA, the issue requires an unusual sequence. If a driver turns off stability control in certain drive modes, leaves the vehicle, then returns, a prompt may appear asking whether to switch back to a mode with stability control enabled. Shifting into reverse before dismissing the prompt can leave the notification overlaying the camera image.

The image appears once the vehicle starts moving, which may prevent compliance with federal rear visibility requirements. Drivers can manually bring up the camera via the centre display.

Vehicles and fix

The recall covers 62,259 R1S, 34,088 R1T and 2,481 R2 vehicles. Rivian discovered the problem during internal testing and says it has received no customer reports. A free OTA software update is already available; as of September 16, more than 95% of affected vehicles had installed it. Vehicles built after August 10 have the corrected software.

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Tesla Optimus Gen 3 Design Appears in Android App

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Design assets for Tesla’s next-generation Optimus humanoid robot have appeared inside the Android version of Tesla’s mobile app. Files labelled “gen3” were extracted from the app APK and include renders comparing Optimus Gen 2.5 and Gen 3 side by side.

What’s changed

The Gen 3 renders show fully enclosed joints replacing exposed actuators, a more unified torso shell for a smoother appearance, thicker forearms with slimmer wrists suggesting tendon-driven finger control relocated into the forearms, and more tapered calves with feet resembling integrated boots.

The assets reportedly began appearing in Android builds around August 27, 2026, with higher-resolution versions emerging around September 5.

Timeline

Tesla originally planned a Q1 2026 unveiling, then pushed to mid-2026 to avoid giving competitors a preview. The appearance of Gen 3 assets in the company’s app, combined with recent supplier audits in China for mass production, suggests a public reveal could be approaching even if Tesla is not yet ready to show a physical unit.

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Tesla Opens Prince Rupert Supercharger, Completing Northern BC Highway 16 Corridor

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Tesla’s Supercharger build on Highway 16 reached the Pacific coast on September 23, 2026, with the activation of a four-stall V4 site in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The station sits at Atlin Terminal, 215 Cow Bay Road, and marks the third northern BC opening in three days after Vanderhoof on September 21 and Terrace on September 22.

Prince Rupert details

The Prince Rupert site features four V4 stalls capable of up to 325 kW. Tesla owners pay $0.24/kWh and non-Tesla drivers pay $0.32/kWh. The location provides a critical stop for traffic arriving from the ferry terminal and for vehicles heading south on Highway 16.

Together with Vanderhoof and Terrace, the three openings add 16 new stalls along Highway 16. The corridor now supports reliable electric travel between Prince George and the coast, with spacing of 100–185 km between sites.

What remains

A gap remains between Vanderhoof and Terrace where additional sites at Burns Lake and Smithers are still pending. Tesla has previously indicated interest in these locations, and the company’s recent rapid northern build suggests further activations are likely.

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Carney's '3% Chinese EV' Claim Masks 28% of Canada's EV Market

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly stated that Chinese electric vehicles will make up "less than 3 percent of the Canadian car market" under his trade deal with Beijing — a figure he cited to Donald Trump at the G7. The number that actually matters for the EV segment: 28 percent.

The quota math

The 49,000-vehicle annual quota Ottawa negotiated equals nearly 28 percent of every EV sold in Canada in 2025, according to analysis by The Hub. The ceiling escalates to 67,000 units by 2031 — over a third of the current EV market.

As of mid-September 2026, Canada has imported 15,603 Chinese EVs under the quota, less than a third of the annual allowance. The deal lowered Canada's tariff on Chinese EVs from 100 percent to 6.1 percent in January 2026.

International context

Taiwan: Imports zero complete Chinese vehicles, citing national security, information security, and industrial development.

United States: Commerce Department rule bars Chinese-linked automakers from the U.S. market starting with the 2027 model year — even for cars built on American soil.

Poland, U.K., Israel: Keep Chinese EVs off military bases.

Canada: Cut tariffs to 6.1% and is courting BYD, Chery, and Geely for joint ventures.

Security and industrial risks

The Biden administration's 2024 review warned that connected Chinese cars can harvest driver data, map infrastructure through cameras, and be "piloted or disabled remotely." The U.S. trade representative has opened a Section 301 investigation into 60 countries — including Canada — over forced-labour enforcement. Aluminum in Chinese EVs traces to smelters and coal mines staffed by transferred Uyghur workers, as China analyst Margaret McCuaig-Johnston told MPs in April.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly travelled to China in June with a "build where you sell" pitch; BYD, Chery, and Geely are all exploring joint ventures. BYD also wants to operate the charging network. Ottawa's conditions — majority Canadian ownership, Canadian parts, secure software — describe a company that would no longer be BYD, The Hub notes.

Industrial math

Beijing spent an estimated $230 billion USD subsidizing EVs and batteries between 2009 and 2023 (Center for Strategic and International Studies). BYD makes more than 70 percent of its parts in-house and controls batteries, motors, and electronic controls. Taiwan Institute of Economic Research president Chang Chien-yi calls the playbook "origin-washing": assemble in a third country, import cells from China, ship under a local certificate, price below cost until domestic producers exit, then raise prices.

Honda and Toyota invested in Canadian plants on the assumption the rules would not be rewritten beneath them. The quota resets on February 28, 2027 — the same model year Washington's ban takes effect.

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P.E.I. Solar Farm Battery Fire Burns for Two Weeks — Experts Warn Canada Isn't Ready

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

A lithium-ion battery fire at the Summerside Sunbank solar farm in Prince Edward Island burned for two weeks, starting on Labour Day and only being declared out on September 21. The incident has fire experts warning that Canada's volunteer-heavy fire services are unprepared for the battery fires that come with the clean energy transition.

What happened at Summerside

The fire began on September 7 in a battery energy storage system at the 30-hectare Summerside Sunbank, a 21-megawatt solar array capable of powering the city of 16,000. The blaze triggered a shelter-in-place order and a voluntary evacuation notice for nearby residents due to toxic smoke risk. Fire crews from across the Maritimes rotated 24/7 for 14 days, using a cooling strategy to stop thermal runaway — the chain reaction where one overheating cell ignites its neighbours.

City officials confirmed the fire is out and have moved into a recovery phase to assess damage and determine the cause.

Why battery fires are different

Fire and explosion investigator Richard Meier explained that lithium-ion battery fires cannot be extinguished by cutting off oxygen. The batteries generate their own oxygen-like chemicals during thermal runaway, and their flammable electrolyte — similar in consistency to kerosene — can eject under pressure "like a flamethrower."

Meier said the tightly packed cells in a shipping-container-sized battery bank keep setting each other off. The only effective tactic is cooling the batteries enough to halt the chain reaction, which requires sustained water application and specialized training.

Canada's preparedness gap

Paul Maynard, vice-president of the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association, said most rural Canadian communities rely on volunteer firefighters who lack the equipment, training, and time to handle long-duration battery incidents.

"The technology seems to be evolving faster than what the public safety system can kind of keep up to," Maynard said. He called for a national strategy covering site identification, common training standards, and manufacturer engagement — treating firefighters as "design stakeholders, not simply end users of emergency information."

Design changes can help: Meier recommended spacing battery containers like explosives depots, with berms and separation so one failure doesn't cascade.

The scale of the challenge

Large-scale battery storage is expanding across Canada to support renewable energy integration, including in rural areas protected by volunteer departments. The Summerside Sunbank is one of many such installations. Every EV charging station, residential solar battery, and grid-storage site adds to the response burden.

Maynard emphasized he is not opposing clean energy — "the technology is not going away" — but said Canada must figure out how to support it safely.

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CAA EV Circuit 2026 Shows EVs Use 40% Less Energy Than Gas Vehicles

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The Canadian Automobile Association’s 2026 EV Circuit tested 22 electric vehicles on a 230-kilometre route from Blue Mountain to Vaughan, Ontario, revealing that today’s EVs use roughly the energy equivalent of two litres of gasoline per 100 kilometres—about 40‑60 % less than the average Canadian passenger vehicle.

Conducted on September 16, 2026, the circuit found that energy consumption among the participating EVs ranged from 11.43 kWh/100 km (Toyota bZ4X) to 28.91 kWh/100 km (Lucid Gravity). On average, vehicles used only 40 % of their battery charge over the route, with the shortest‑range model still completing the trip without charging.

Charging adds 58‑178 km in 15 minutes

A standardized 15‑minute charging stop at the end of the route showed wide variation: the Lucid Gravity gained 178 km of displayed range, while the Lucid Air added only 58 km. Two‑thirds of vehicles added at least 100 km, demonstrating that a brief top‑up can meaningfully extend a journey.

Charging performance was affected by vehicle, charger, battery temperature and state of charge. Compared with the CAA’s 2025 EV Winter Test, the 2026 fleet added approximately 15 % more range during the charging session, underscoring the impact of warmer temperatures on EV efficiency.

What the numbers mean for drivers

Lower operating cost: At 2 L/100 km gasoline equivalent, electricity costs are roughly one‑quarter of fuel costs for a comparable gasoline vehicle.

Range confidence: All 22 vehicles completed the 230 km circuit without charging, eliminating range‑anxiety concerns for daily commutes and regional trips.

Charging planning: Drivers should consider where and how often they charge, as the kilometres added per stop vary significantly by model and conditions.

The full data set, including make‑model breakdowns for energy use and charging gain, is available in the CAA’s Complete Vehicle Findings (PDF).

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Tesla Opens Two New Northern B.C. Superchargers in 48 Hours

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Tesla has opened two new Supercharger stations in northern British Columbia in less than 48 hours, extending its Highway 16 corridor between Prince George and the coast. Vanderhoof went live on Monday, September 21, followed by Terrace on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

Vanderhoof — four V4 stalls at Four Rivers Co-op

The Vanderhoof station sits at Four Rivers Co-op Food Store, 188 East Stewart Street East. Construction began in February 2026 and the site now shows four V4 stalls capable of up to 325 kW. Tesla owners pay $0.24/kWh and non-Tesla drivers pay $0.32/kWh.

Vanderhoof lies about 100 km west of Prince George and is the first major community on Highway 16 toward the coast, making it a critical stop for drivers heading to Alaska, Prince Rupert or the north coast.

Terrace — eight V4 stalls at Skeena Mall

Terrace opened at Skeena Mall, 4741 Lakelse Avenue, with eight V4 stalls. Construction began in February 2026. Pricing mirrors Vanderhoof: $0.24/kWh for Tesla, $0.32/kWh for others, with a peak rate of up to 325 kW per stall.

The station fills a nearly 500 km gap that previously required reliance on Level 2 charging or slower DC fast chargers. Drive Tesla Canada notes the combined openings leave Prince Rupert as the next logical activation, where Tesla has another site waiting to be energized.

Corridor status

Prince George → Vanderhoof: ~100 km, now covered

Vanderhoof → Terrace: ~185 km, now covered

Terrace → Prince Rupert: ~300 km, station under preparation

Completing the Prince George–Prince Rupert link will create a roughly 720 km chain through remote communities with V4 service every 100–185 km. Full build-out will reduce winter range anxiety and enable reliable electric travel on BC’s northern highway.

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Tesla Semi Selected for Historic 2,500-Truck Order — Implications for Canada

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:30:00 GMT
Tesla has secured its largest fleet order to date, with the electric Semi selected as the primary vehicle for a 2,500-truck purchase coordinated through ZET SCALE, a freight electrification initiative backed by major North American shippers. The deal represents the largest battery-electric Class 8 truck order in U.S. history and could nearly double the current national fleet of electric semi-trucks. According to Catalyst Mobility and Smart Freight Centre, which announced the deal, Tesla was chosen following an independent competitive bidding process that evaluated manufacturers on pricing, range, charging capabilities, and production capacity. Kenworth, RIDE, and Volvo were also selected as secondary manufacturers, though Tesla is expected to supply the majority of the 2,500 vehicles. "The Tesla Semi is designed for lower cost per mile operations than diesel," said Dan Priestley, Director of the Tesla Semi Program. "ZET SCALE’s goals are exciting because they take the operational cost advantage and predictability that electricity provides and amplifies it at scale. We are proud to have been the primary selection in this RFP and look forward to giving shippers and carriers a new competitive edge." While the order is focused on U.S. freight hubs initially — including Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and the New York City area — the scale of the purchase has significant implications for Canada. Tesla’s Semi production ramp-up at its Nevada factory (designed for 50,000 annual capacity) will increase overall availability, potentially accelerating adoption on Canadian freight corridors like the Vancouver-Calgary route where companies such as R.R. Plett Trucking are already investing in Tesla Megawatt Charging System (MCS) infrastructure. The announcement comes as Tesla prepares for the official inauguration of its Semi factory in Nevada later this week. Canadian fleet operators watching this development should note that while Tesla Semi trucks are not currently eligible for federal or provincial rebates in Canada due to pricing thresholds, their lower total cost of ownership — particularly for high-utilization operations — is driving private-sector investment in charging infrastructure. For Canadian buyers, the deal validates the business case for heavy-duty electrification at scale and underscores the growing availability of made-for-purpose electric trucks that can displace diesel in regional and long-haul applications.
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Honeywell Aerospace Sues Rivian and Lucid Over Patent Infringement — What It Means for Canadian EV Makers

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:00:00 GMT
Honeywell Aerospace has filed two new patent infringement lawsuits against electric vehicle manufacturers Rivian and Lucid, accusing the companies of using seven patented technologies originally developed for aviation without permission. The legal actions highlight growing intellectual property tensions in the EV industry as traditional aerospace and defense companies seek to monetize their IP portfolios in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. According to a Bloomberg Law report cited by Honeywell, the patents in question cover safety monitoring, autonomous navigation, traffic display systems, sensor fusion, laser-based navigation, hazard detection, and software licensing management. While these technologies were initially developed for aviation applications, Honeywell argues that its intellectual property rights extend to ground vehicle applications. Honeywell is seeking financial compensation, an injunction, attorneys' fees, and enhanced damages for what it alleges was willful infringement. The company has also requested jury trials in both cases — one filed in Arizona against Rivian and another in the Eastern District of Texas against Lucid. The lawsuits arrive at a critical moment for the EV industry, where vertical integration and technological differentiation are key competitive factors. For Canadian EV makers and suppliers, the cases serve as a reminder of the importance of conducting thorough freedom-to-operate analyses and securing appropriate licenses when adapting technologies from adjacent industries like aerospace, defense, or consumer electronics. While neither Rivian nor Lucid currently has significant direct operations in Canada, both companies supply vehicles to Canadian consumers through cross-border sales and leasing arrangements. Moreover, Canadian technology firms that develop similar sensor systems, navigation software, or safety monitoring tools could face increased scrutiny as patent holders like Honeywell aggressively protect their IP portfolios. The legal actions also underscore the growing convergence between aerospace and automotive technologies, particularly in areas like autonomous driving, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication — domains where Canadian companies such as MDA, Bombardier, and various Tier 1 suppliers have deep expertise. For the broader Canadian EV ecosystem, the Honeywell lawsuits represent both a cautionary tale about IP due diligence and a signal of the maturing EV market, where established technology players are increasingly willing to enforce their patent rights against newer entrants.
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Tesla Model S Hits 1 Million Kilometres in Kelowna, Canada

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:07:32 GMT

A 2016 Tesla Model S in Kelowna, British Columbia, is about to cross one million kilometres. Tesla Kelowna hosted a public event on Saturday, September 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 3425 Circuit Road, inviting owners and EV fans to watch the odometer roll over while enjoying games, pizza and ice cream. Demo drives were offered for attendees who wanted to experience Tesla’s current lineup.

Attendance was free, though Tesla asked visitors to RSVP through its Canadian events website. The milestone is equivalent to roughly 100,000 km annually, 8,333 km per month or 274 km every day. The million-kilometre journey equals about 25 trips around the Earth, roughly 1.3 round trips to the Moon, or 13 trips between Sydney and London.

Original motors and suspension

What makes the accomplishment notable is that Tesla says the Model S remains on its original motors and suspension. The car was first covered by Drive Tesla Canada on September 15, 2026, with the article noting the vehicle’s use and service history in western Canada.

While one million kilometres puts this Model S among the world’s highest-mileage Teslas, it is not the overall record holder. German owner Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg’s Model S P85 has likely crossed 3 million km, though that car has used four battery packs and at least 13 drive units. The Kelowna car has completed its first million kilometres with its original motors and suspension.

Canadian context

The milestone highlights real-world durability for Canadian EV owners who drive long distances year-round. British Columbia’s climate and highway mileage provide a useful test for battery and drivetrain longevity. Tesla’s own service data from the Kelowna location supports the story of a daily-driven first-generation Model S remaining on the road after a decade.

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Tesla Reopens Roadster Reservations in Canada Ahead of October 1 Reveal

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:07:32 GMT

Tesla has reopened reservations for the next-generation Roadster in Canada and the United States ahead of the planned reveal on October 1, 2026. The reservation process returned with a two-step payment structure. Buyers in Canada must first submit a $6,000 credit card payment, which Tesla lists as fully refundable, followed by a $58,000 wire transfer due within 10 days. In the U.S., the amounts are $5,000 initially and then $45,000 within 10 days. Reservations are not final until the wire transfer payment is received.

The reopening comes just under two weeks before the company is scheduled to unveil the Roadster almost ten years after its first debut. Tesla has not provided additional details on delivery dates or final pricing, only saying the purchase price will not be set until the company figures out what the Roadster will come with in terms of options and hardware specifications.

What is known about the reveal

Tesla has set a concrete debut date of October 1, 2026. The company posted a graphic to its official account on September 14 showing the date \"10.01\" alongside a link to the Roadster’s Canadian webpage, which now displays a live countdown. The event is expected to show a development prototype rather than a production-ready car, with reports in August 2026 suggesting a demonstration involving cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX.

Reservation history

Previously, Tesla required US$250,000 to reserve a Founder Series Roadster before removing pricing from the website in 2021. The original 2017 Roadster concept promised 0–100 km/h in under two seconds and more than 965 kilometres of range. Many Canadian reservations were cancelled as timelines slipped repeatedly.

Until firm production timelines and Canadian pricing are published, the reservation window should be treated cautiously. The Roadster has missed multiple \"coming soon\" milestones, and the October 1 date itself carries risk of another slip.

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Tesla Cybertruck Mirror Caps Switched to Textured Plastic for Durability

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:07:32 GMT

Tesla has replaced the painted side mirror caps on the Cybertruck with a textured plastic finish that better matches the rest of the truck’s exterior. Lead engineer Wes Morrill shared the change on September 19, 2026, explaining the original painted caps looked good when new but were susceptible to scratches, particularly when driving through brush or vegetation. With the Cybertruck’s stainless steel body eliminating traditional body paint concerns, the mirror caps became one of the more vulnerable exterior components.

Tesla used the same textured plastic finish already found on the Cybertruck’s fenders. Morrill said the change improves durability while reducing manufacturing cost, noting it is rare to make a product better and cheaper at the same time.

Part of a broader update cycle

Over the past weeks, Morrill has shared several production improvements made since launch, including redesigned side repeater camera housings using passive airflow to keep water away from the lens, replacement of aluminum underbody panels with a new composite material, and improvements to in-house 4680 battery cells and charging firmware that have cut 10% to 80% charging time while enabling peak Supercharging speeds of 500 kW.

The Cybertruck has also seen adjustments like revised rear window switch placement by 50 millimeters after fleet data showed unintended window openings from elbow contact.

Canadian relevance

While the mirror cap change is a manufacturing update, it matters for Canadian owners who drive through brush, snow and gravel roads where painted plastic is prone to chips. A textured finish reduces visible damage and aligns with the Cybertruck’s overall stainless-steel durability positioning in the Canadian market.

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Telemiq Rewrites Its Rewards Math: Five Annual Tiers Take Over October 1 — and Home Charging Could Pay Up to 21.75 pts/kWh

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Update, September 20, 2026: Starting October 1, 2026, Telemiq Rewards is switching from its flat pay-per-kilowatt-hour model to a five-tier annual volume system that lifts the rate for every verified home kilowatt-hour as a driver's calendar-year total climbs. At the top of the new schedule — a high-mileage driver charging more than 18,000 kWh a year with a full referral network behind them — the effective rate reaches 21.75 points per kWh, or roughly $0.22 per kWh at the program's 100 points = $1.00 (C$) conversion.

Telemiq pays Canadian EV drivers for verified home charging, funded by Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations carbon-credit aggregation. Until now, every member has earned a flat 5 points per kWh. Here is exactly how the new schedule works, with the numbers — Telemiq's own launch card below, followed by our full breakdown.

What's changing

From October 1, the flat rate is replaced by a marginal bracket system — structured much like income tax brackets — that applies progressively higher rates as annual volume grows:

Tier Calendar-year volume Base rate

🌱 T1 · Starter 0 – 3,000 kWh 5.0 pts/kWh

🚗 T2 · Commuter 3,000 – 6,000 kWh 7.0 pts/kWh

⚡ T3 · Voyageur 6,000 – 12,000 kWh 9.5 pts/kWh

🚚 T4 · Fleet 12,000 – 18,000 kWh 12.0 pts/kWh

🏆 T5 · Mega Fleet 18,000+ kWh 14.5 pts/kWh

There is no hard cap on annual earnings. The 21.75 pts/kWh figure is the natural ceiling — the Mega Fleet base rate multiplied by the program's maximum referral multiplier (more on that below).

How the brackets actually work

The most common misreading of a tier system is assuming the rate jumps for all of your charging once you cross a threshold. Telemiq's engine doesn't work that way. Each bracket's rate applies only to the kilowatt-hours inside that bracket, and the brackets stack:

Take a driver who charges 8,000 kWh in the 2026 calendar year:

First 3,000 kWh at 5.0 pts → 15,000 pts

Next 3,000 kWh at 7.0 pts → 21,000 pts

Final 2,000 kWh at 9.5 pts → 19,000 pts

Total: 55,000 points — $550 at the base multiplier

That blended outcome works out to an effective rate of about 6.9 pts/kWh — well above today's flat 5, without needing to reach the top tier to benefit.

$10 per qualified referral — plus a multiplier that stacks on everything

The second half of the announcement is an upgraded referral program with two separate payouts that work together.

First, the cash: $10 (1,000 points) per qualified referral, each side. Every time a driver joins with your link and qualifies — meaning they reach 200 kWh of cumulative verified home charging on Telemiq — you receive $10 and they receive $10. Five qualified referrals is $50 in bonuses; fifteen is $150. A signup alone doesn't pay out: the referred driver has to actually charge, which keeps the program paying for real EV drivers, not abandoned signups.

Second, the multiplier: every qualified referral within the calendar year also moves the member up a multiplier band that applies to their entire tier rate — not just the newest kilowatts:

Band Qualified referrals Multiplier

⭐ Member 0 ×1.00

🗣️ Advocate 1–2 ×1.05

🥉 Bronze 3–5 ×1.15

🥈 Silver 6–9 ×1.25

🥇 Gold 10–14 ×1.35

👑 Platinum VIP 15+ ×1.50

Read across any row of that matrix: the same annual volume pays more as the referral network grows. A Voyageur-tier driver (6,000–12,000 kWh) at Platinum VIP earns an effective 14.25 pts/kWh — a 50% raise on the identical driving, earned purely by bringing other drivers onto the platform.

What a year of charging pays

Combining the two systems produces the schedule Telemiq members will actually experience. The curves below show calendar-year cash value at four referral levels, against today's flat rate:

Some reference points from the schedule (charging value only — referral cash bonuses are on top):

A typical commuter (about 2,500 kWh/yr — roughly 15,000 km) stays in the Starter tier and earns near today's rate. The system is deliberately gentle at the bottom.

A heavy home-charging driver at 20,000 kWh/yr with no referrals earns $1,940 for the year — nearly double the $1,000 the same charging pays today.

That same 20,000 kWh driver at Platinum VIP earns $2,910 in charging rewards — plus the $150 in referral bonuses it took to reach the 15-referral VIP band ($10 × 15, each side credited). Charging plus bonuses: $3,060, versus $1,000 under the old flat rate — a 3× improvement, or an effective 14.55 pts/kWh on the year.

The cash value is real: points convert at 100 points = $1.00 (C$) and are paid out by Interac e-Transfer following the program's annual carbon-credit audit in Q1.

Nobody starts from zero

Two transition rules soften the October 1 switch:

Every kilowatt-hour charged before October 1 still counts. Pre-launch charging earns the current flat 5 pts/kWh, but the volume counts toward the member's calendar-year tier — a driver who has already logged 4,000 kWh this year enters October already inside the Commuter bracket.

The calendar resets itself. Tiers and referral tallies are measured on the calendar year (January 1 – December 31), and counters are derived from that window automatically — no manual reset, and every member starts each new year with their earned history intact while tier volume begins fresh.

Who qualifies

Rewards are currently exclusive to Tesla vehicles: sessions are verified automatically through Tesla's official Fleet API with geofenced home-location confirmation. No dongles, no receipts, no manual claims — charging is detected and credited as sessions complete. Telemiq's multi-brand expansion (Ford, Hyundai, BMW, Rivian, GM, VW) applies to its Fleet API — the developer telemetry platform — not the rewards program; there is no timeline yet for rewards on other manufacturers.

The fine print, in plain terms

Points, not promises: points accrue per completed, verified session; the award engine is idempotent, so a session can't be paid twice.

Multipliers need qualified referrals: a signup alone doesn't move the band — the referred driver has to charge before the referral qualifies and the multiplier rises.

$10 per qualified referral, both sides: the inviter gets $10 and the invitee gets $10 — explicitly both, not split — credited when the referred driver hits 200 kWh of cumulative verified home charging. And each qualified referral keeps working after the bonus: it lifts the multiplier band for the rest of the calendar year.

Payout follows the audit: earnings accrue all year; cash-out follows the Q1 carbon-credit audit cycle.

Should you change how you charge?

For most members, no — the strategy is the opposite of rationing. Because higher brackets pay more per kilowatt, the economics now favor consolidating charging at home rather than spreading it across public networks. The members who benefit most are the ones who were already charging heavily at home: two-car households, high-mileage commuters, and drivers in the 12,000+ kWh range.

And for members with a Tesla-driving group chat, the math argues for organizing it: five qualified referrals pay $50 each side in bonuses, immediately — and turn into a ×1.15 multiplier on every kilowatt for the rest of the year, a raise that recurs every calendar year the network stays active.

The program goes live October 1, 2026. Drivers can preview their projected tier, multiplier band, and annual earnings with the calculator now live at telemiq.io.

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U.S. Used EV Sales Jump in August — What Canadian Dealers Are Watching

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:45:00 GMT

Canadian dealers keeping tabs on the U.S. electric vehicle market will have found signs of rebalancing in August. Used EV sales across the United States jumped 14.7% compared with August 2025, according to Cox Automotive data, with 44,350 used EVs changing hands for the month — a 25.9% increase over July 2026 alone.

The surge is being driven by growing off-lease returns that are finally expanding the pool of available used EVs. Electric vehicles accounted for 2.8% of all used-vehicle sales in August, and nearly 30% of the used EVs sold were Teslas.

Which brands are moving

The August data shows broad-based strength across most EV lineups. Month-over-month increases included:

Nissan: +45.1%

Cadillac: +37.7%

Kia: +32.1%

Tesla remained the dominant force in the new EV market, selling 40,816 units in the U.S. in August for a 51.7% market share. Toyota posted a 34.9% month-over-month jump to 4,964 units, and overall new EV sales reached 78,895 units — up 2.5% from July but still down 46.9% compared with August 2025.

Days' supply hits parity with gas vehicles

The most telling metric is days' supply. Used EV inventory on dealer lots fell 15.4% from July to 42 days' supply in August, putting it in parity with internal-combustion vehicles for the first time in 2026. That signals demand is finally catching up to the oversupply that had depressed used EV prices for much of the year.

Supply is still 20.2% higher than it was a year earlier, so there is no shortage of used EVs available — but the pace of movement has clearly accelerated. Average transaction prices for new EVs fell 1.3% from July to US$54,754, carrying a 9.7% premium over the average ICE-powered vehicle.

Why Canadian buyers should watch this

Canada's used EV market tends to follow U.S. trends with a lag of four to eight weeks. When used EV days' supply tightens south of the border, Canadian wholesale prices usually follow. Shoppers who are flexible on model year and trim should see improving availability through the fall, especially as off-lease Teslas, Nissans and Kias re-enter inventory pools.

If you are shopping for an EV rather than a used model, our charging cost calculator compares annual fuel and electricity savings across all ten provinces.

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Chevy Bolt and Equinox EV Top Canada's EVAP Rebate Claims in August 2026

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:30:00 GMT

Chevrolet swept the top two spots in Canada's Electric Vehicle Affordability Program in August 2026. The Chevy Bolt claimed 1,911 EVAP rebates and the Chevy Equinox EV claimed 1,212, according to data compiled by GM Authority. Together they accounted for more than a third of all EVAP-funded transactions in the month and put the Bowtie brand well ahead of every rival.

The August results flip the script from earlier in the year. Toyota had led the EVAP table through June on the strength of the bZ compact crossover, but Chevrolet's two most-affordable EVs — both priced under or near the $50,000 transaction cap — moved in volume that no Toyota model could match. The Ford Mustang Mach-E recorded 938 claims, the Toyota bZ 846 and the Tesla Model Y just 754.

Why the Equinox EV qualifies despite its sticker price

The Equinox EV starts at C$46,898 in front-wheel-drive form and C$50,398 with all-wheel drive. That sounds like it breaches the EVAP rule requiring a final transaction price below C$50,000, but dealerships are applying their own discounts to push AWD examples under the threshold. GM Authority notes that a handful of Chevy Blazer EV units also qualified, meaning buyers likely received substantial dealer discounts on that model as well.

Both the Bolt and Equinox EV are built in countries that hold free-trade agreements with Canada — the Bolt at GM's Fairfax plant in Kansas and the Equinox EV at the Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico — so they clear the origin requirement. China-built vehicles remain excluded entirely.

Cumulative EVAP numbers since launch

Since EVAP launched on February 16, 2026, the program has funded:

5,669 Chevy Bolt units

6,351 Chevy Equinox EV units

250 Chevy Blazer EV units (from C$56,398)

24 Cadillac Optiq units (from C$58,098)

3 Cadillac Lyriq units (from C$71,098)

The program runs until March 31, 2031, or earlier if funding runs out. EVAP was allocated C$2.275 billion, and as of September 1 roughly C$2 billion remained. At current burn rates there is no immediate risk of the 2025-style exhaustion that froze EV rebates for months.

What it means for Canadian buyers

The August data reinforces a clear trend: the rebate program is steering buyers toward affordable, North American-built EVs. Chevrolet's dominance is less about brand loyalty than about product-market fit — the Bolt and Equinox EV land inside the price cap, qualify for the full incentive and are available at most GM dealerships across the country.

For shoppers comparing ownership costs, our province-by-province charging cost calculator lets you model annual savings against a gas-powered equivalent.

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Ford Cancels Pure-Electric F-150 Lightning, Will Build EREV Successor in Michigan

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Ford is killing the all-electric F-150 Lightning as a standalone model and replacing it with an extended-range EV, or EREV, that pairs an electric motor with a gasoline engine — a move the company calls a customer-driven shift away from pure battery power for its most important truck.

CEO Jim Farley said the decision reflects a changed operating reality: "This is a customer-driven shift to create a stronger, more resilient and more profitable Ford. The operating reality has changed, and we are redeploying capital into higher-return growth opportunities."

What changes for the Lightning nameplate

The next-generation F-150 Lightning was scheduled to be built at a new plant in Tennessee around 2028. That plant will instead host an "affordable, gas-powered" truck by 2029 — a model Ford spokesperson told Automotive News the company does not currently offer.

The EREV successor to the Lightning will be built in Michigan. In an EREV, the wheels are always powered by an electric motor, but a gasoline engine tops off the battery when needed. Ford argues that configuration suits more customers than a pure EV, especially in rural and commercial use cases where charging infrastructure is sparse.

Why Canadian buyers should care

The F-150 is Canada's best-selling vehicle by a wide margin, and the Lightning was the electric version that gave fleet operators, farmers and tradespeople a zero-emission option without changing pickup habits. An EREV variant keeps the electric-drive experience while eliminating range anxiety — but it also means the vehicle still burns gasoline.

For buyers counting on a fully electric F-150, the cancellation tightens the timeline for an affordable, zero-emission full-size pickup in Canada. The Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ram 1500 REV are the closest pure-electric rivals, though both are priced well above the base Lightning's starting point.

Lightning EV cancelled as a standalone battery-electric model.

EREV successor confirmed for Michigan production.

New gas truck coming to Tennessee plant by 2029.

15th-gen F-150 expected for the 2028 model year.

The pivot is the clearest signal yet that Ford does not believe the Canadian and American pickup markets are ready for mass-market fully electric trucks. Extended range may bridge the gap, but it is not the zero-emission future some buyers were promised.

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Charge News Canada — independent EV news, published daily.

Nissan Canada Considers Chinese-Built EV Imports, But Quota Uncertainty Looms

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Nissan Canada is openly considering importing electric vehicles built in China for the first time, but regulatory uncertainty around Ottawa's tariff-break quota is keeping the company on the sidelines — for now.

The automaker confirmed it is evaluating whether vehicles from its Dongfeng Nissan joint venture could qualify for Canada's reduced-tariff EV quota, which allows 49,000 China-built electric vehicles to enter at 6.1 per cent instead of the standard 106.1 per cent. But Nissan's leadership is waiting for clearer rules before committing capital.

Why the hesitation?

Unlike Tesla, which already ships Shanghai-built Model 3 and Model Y to Canada under the same quota, Nissan would need to modify and certify Dongfeng Nissan products to meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. That process is expensive and time-consuming, and the payoff depends on whether Nissan can secure a guaranteed share of the quota.

Derek Boshouwers of Auto123 reported that Nissan is lobbying the Canadian government for a clearer attribution system that tells importers in advance how much of the quota they can rely on. Without that assurance, the financial risk of homologating a Chinese-built vehicle for Canada is hard to justify.

What's already in Canada

Tesla began importing Shanghai-built EVs in May 2026 and has become the single largest beneficiary of the China quota. Polestar and Lincoln are also bringing Chinese-made vehicles across the Pacific. Nissan, by contrast, has not yet announced a specific model or timeline for Chinese-built imports.

EVs account for roughly nine per cent of Nissan's sales in Canada, and the company is trying to grow that share. A new entry-level LEAF S is expected to help broaden the lineup. But the mass-market strategy still relies on internal-combustion models like the Rogue and Qashqai for volume.

49,000 total China-made EV import slots under the current agreement.

~9% of Nissan's Canadian sales are currently electric.

Uncertain quota allocation is the main barrier to Dongfeng Nissan imports.

If Ottawa provides Nissan — and other potential Chinese-built importers — with quota assurances, Canadian showrooms could see all-new Nissan-badged EVs sourced from China within the next two years. Until then, the door is open but the path is unclear.

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91% of EV Drivers Will Go Out of Their Way for a Recommended Charger, Study Finds

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:10:00 GMT

When EV drivers pick a charging station, they are asking each other before they ask their GPS. New research from Driivz finds that 91 percent of EV drivers are willing to go out of their way for a charger another driver recommended, and 76 percent would avoid an entire charging network based on a single warning from friends or family.

The survey of more than 3,000 drivers across North America and Europe reveals a social layer influencing charging decisions that operators have traditionally ignored. Specialist charging apps and peer recommendations now rank ahead of satellite navigation as trusted sources for unfamiliar charging locations.

What the numbers mean for Canadian drivers

Word of mouth beats turn-by-turn: More than half of respondents said they would travel more than five minutes out of their way for a recommended location. In rural Canada, where chargers are sparse, that trust is a decisive advantage.

One bad session can poison a network: Seventy-six percent of drivers would skip an entire brand after a poor experience, and 79 percent would warn friends or family afterward. Operators that cannot maintain uptime risk losing customers permanently, not just temporarily.

Drivers are active reporters: Seventy-six percent would report issues through a charging app, and 65 percent would leave an online review. The feedback loop is fast and public.

Reliability drives profitability: Driivz's own 2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report found 59 percent of operators now identify charger utilization as their primary driver of profitability — not energy margins or subscription fees.

Why this matters for Canada's charging build-out

Canada is spending heavily on public charging infrastructure through federal and provincial programs, but the Driivz data suggests hardware alone is not enough. A charger that is physically present but unreliable — offline when needed, slow to authenticate, or expensive relative to advertised rates — can damage the reputation of the entire network that hosts it.

For drivers, the takeaway is practical: check recent user reviews in your charging app before committing to an unfamiliar station, especially on long trips. For operators, the message is that 24/7 availability and seamless authentication are now table stakes, not differentiators. The networks that win will be the ones drivers trust enough to recommend.

What to watch next

As Canada's EV fleet grows, charging behavior will shift from a niche activity to a routine utility expectation. Providers that invest in reliability and customer service now will build the brand loyalty that the Driivz data shows drivers reward with repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.

Compare your home charging costs against public rates in our province-by-province charging cost calculator.

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Canada's New Vehicle Sales Rose 5.4% in August, But the Year-to-Date Picture Is Mixed

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:05:00 GMT

Canada's new light vehicle market notched its third consecutive month of year-over-year gains in August, but the broader recovery is far from uniform across the country.

DesRosiers Automotive Services reported 168,000 new light vehicles sold nationwide last month, a 5.4-percent increase over August 2025. Nine of ten provinces recorded higher volumes than a year earlier, led by Ontario at +7.1 percent and Quebec at +4.1 percent. Manitoba posted the largest jump at 18.9 percent, while Alberta was the only province to retreat, falling 5.6 percent. Prince Edward Island dropped 11.9 percent.

What the provincial split tells us

Ontario and Quebec remain the engine room: Together they account for the majority of national volume, so their gains set the tone for the overall recovery.

Manitoba's surge is notable but from a small base: A single strong month does not rewrite a weak trend, but it does suggest pent-up demand in central Canada.

Alberta and PEI are laggards: Alberta's decline continues a pattern tied to energy-sector uncertainty and softer consumer confidence in the west.

Only two provinces are positive year-to-date: Nova Scotia and Quebec are the only markets in the black for the full 2026 period so far.

Why this matters for EV buyers

The overall new vehicle market matters for EV adoption because dealership profitability, inventory levels, and manufacturer allocation all flow from total volume. When the broader market is soft, EVs — still a modest share of sales — face the most pressure from incentive cuts and showroom closures.

For buyers, the August data has two practical signals. First, stronger overall volume usually means wider model availability and less need to order sight-unseen. Second, the persistent year-to-date decline of 1.2 percent — with the national total sitting at 1.29 million units through August — means manufacturers and dealers will likely keep promotional pressure on through the fall to hit annual targets.

Buyers comparing total cost of ownership can model their own numbers in our province-by-province charging cost calculator.

What to watch next

DesRosiers publishes monthly figures, so the September report will show whether the August momentum holds through the seasonal transition. Buyers should also track Transport Canada's monthly registration data for ZEV share, which continues to trend above 10% in most provinces.

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Gas, Hybrid, or EV: Which Vehicle Costs Less in Canada Over 5 Years?

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:40:00 GMT

Gasoline vehicles remain the cheapest option upfront in three of four Canadian vehicle segments, according to a new Rates.ca ownership-cost analysis. But the same report finds that electric vehicles narrow the gap significantly over a five-year ownership window, flipping from cost disadvantage to advantage in at least one luxury segment and nearly matching gas in compact sedans.

The study compared total cost of ownership — including purchase price, taxes, rebates, insurance, licensing, maintenance, and fuel or charging costs — across compact sedans, luxury sedans, midsize SUVs, and passenger trucks. The analysis assumed 20,000 kilometres of annual driving and used Ontario electricity rates to calculate EV charging costs, which came in at 14 to 18 percent of comparable gasoline fuel costs in every segment.

The five-year verdict by segment

Compact sedan: Gas wins years one through four; hybrid Honda Civic Sport HEV wins year five at $63,158 versus $64,193 for the Kia EV4 Light.

Luxury sedan: Gas BMW 530i xDrive wins year one; BMW i5 xDrive40 EV wins by year four at $122,632 versus $124,312 for the gas model, and is $133,875 versus $129,630 for the PHEV 550e.

Midsize SUV: Gas Kia Sorento AWD LX wins across all five years, staying ahead of the EV9 AWD and Sorento hybrid.

Passenger truck: Ford F-150 Lightning 4WD is the only EV that is cheapest from year one, widening its lead to 23 percent over gas and 30 percent over hybrid by year five.

Why fuel savings alone do not guarantee a cheaper EV

Low electricity rates make EV fuel costs a fraction of gasoline, but higher purchase prices, insurance premiums, and maintenance assumptions mean the savings take years to compound. In the SUV segment, the Kia EV9's much higher upfront cost keeps it behind the gas-powered Sorento for the full five-year window despite far lower charging bills. Even with government rebates, only two of the twelve vehicles analysed qualified for incentive programs: the Kia EV4 ($5,000) and the Kia Sorento Hybrid ($2,500). The Ford F-150 Lightning did not qualify because its price exceeds the federal EVAP cap.

What this means for Canadian buyers

Rates.ca notes that fuel prices alone rarely change purchasing behaviour until household fuel spend reaches roughly 2.5 to 3 percent of income and elevated prices persist for six to twelve months. For most shoppers walking onto a dealer lot today, the sticker-price difference still dominates the conversation. The report suggests that EVs become more competitive the longer a buyer plans to keep the vehicle — so anyone trading out of a five-year lease may never see the full payback, while a long-term owner can let lower charging costs do the work.

If you are shopping in the truck segment, the data is clear: the Ford F-150 Lightning is the only EV in the study that posts the lowest all-in cost from day one. For sedan and SUV buyers, the math still tilts toward gasoline or hybrid unless you are committed to keeping the vehicle long enough for the charging savings to outrun the premium.

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Charge News Canada — independent EV news, published daily.

Mini Countryman Elementary Edition Squeezes Under Canada's EVAP $50,000 Limit

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:35:00 GMT

Mini Canada has added a new entry-level trim to its 2027 Countryman Electric line-up that qualifies for the federal Electric Vehicle Affordability Program rebate — by barely. The Countryman Electric SE ALL4 Elementary Edition starts at $49,990, which is $10 below the EVAP transaction-price threshold of $50,000. That makes the vehicle eligible for the full $5,000 federal rebate, plus any provincial incentives that apply.

The regular Countryman Electric Premier and Premier+ trims start at $59,990 and can climb past $65,000 with options, which puts them above the EVAP cap and outside the rebate window. Mini's solution is to strip out enough content to hit the price target while keeping the core mechanical hardware — the motor, battery, and all-wheel-drive system — unchanged.

What you still get for $49,990

Power: 308 hp and 364 lb-ft of torque

Battery: 65.3 kWh usable capacity

Range: 348 kilometres (Canadian guide)

Drivetrain: All-wheel drive standard

Standard equipment: Panoptic glass roof, adaptive LED headlights, collision-avoidance tech, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic parking assist, heated seats, heated steering wheel

Exterior options: Four colours — British Racing Green, Midnight Black, Nanuq White, and Melting Silver

What the Elementary Edition cuts

To hit the $49,990 target, Mini removed several comfort and convenience features. Power-adjusted front seats become manual-only, and the wireless charging pad is gone entirely. Hands-free door unlocking, the Harman Kardon audio system, and the head-up display are all unavailable. The sport seats and several option packages found on the Premier trims do not transfer to the Elementary Edition.

Mini also excluded the charging cable from the base price. Buyers who want the cable and adapters must pay an extra $500 — a detail the company was able to include because EVAP excludes charging-equipment costs from the $50,000 transaction-price calculation. That means the effective out-the-door price for most buyers will be slightly higher than the advertised $49,990 once freight, delivery, and taxes are added.

Is it worth it?

For buyers who want a Mini Countryman Electric and plan to claim the rebate, the Elementary Edition is the only path into the program. The $10,000 to $15,000 price reduction versus the Premier trims is substantial, and the omitted features are mostly convenience items rather than core hardware. With the federal rebate dropping to $4,000 for 2027 models, the Elementary Edition will likely remain the volume seller — and it may account for nearly all Countryman Electric registrations in Canada next year.

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R.R. Plett Trucking Installs Canada's First Tesla MCS Chargers in B.C.

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:30:00 GMT

British Columbia trucking fleet R.R. Plett is building what it says will be Canada's first public-facing Tesla Megawatt Charging System (MCS) chargers, with installations planned for Langley and Kamloops. The 1.2 MW stations are designed to recharge a Tesla Semi in about 30 minutes — roughly one-sixth of the time a typical Level 2 or standard DC fast-charge session would require for a Class 8 battery.

The project is part of a broader plan to electrify the Vancouver-to-Calgary freight corridor. R.R. Plett has ordered 12 Tesla Semi trucks and expects them to arrive by mid-2027. The company did not disclose the total capital cost of the charging build-out, but it noted that BC Hydro is heavily involved in upgrading the local electrical capacity to support megawatt-scale loads.

Why MCS matters for Canadian fleets

Most Canadian public charging today tops out at 350 kW — fast enough for passenger EVs, but slow for a Class 8 truck with a 1,000-plus kWh battery. Tesla's MCS standard raises that ceiling to 1.2 MW and beyond, which means a driver on a tight HOS schedule can charge during a mandated break instead of staying plugged in for hours. For long-haul operations, that time saving is the difference between electrification being viable or not.

The Langley and Kamloops sites were chosen because they sit on the Trans-Canada Highway corridor, where charging gaps currently force diesel backup. R.R. Plett said it will open the chargers to other fleets once its own Semi fleet is running, which could accelerate adoption beyond its own trucks.

What the numbers look like

Charger output: 1.2 MW per MCS post

Installation sites: Langley and Kamloops, B.C.

Target fleet: 12 Tesla Semi trucks

Expected in-service date: June 2027

Corridor goal: Vancouver to Calgary electric freight route

The longer route ahead

Canada currently has no publicly available MCS stations, and the charging standard is still awaiting Transport Canada regulatory alignment. R.R. Plett's project is the clearest sign yet that fleet operators are willing to front the infrastructure cost — provided the electrical and permitting pieces cooperate. BC Hydro's involvement suggests the utility sees heavy-duty electrification as a load-growth opportunity, not just a policy obligation.

If the Langley and Kamloops chargers come online on schedule, they will become reference sites for other fleets watching from Ontario and Quebec. The question is whether Tesla will accelerate MCS expansion in Canada to match the demand, or whether individual operators will continue to build the network one corridor at a time.

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Tesla raises Wall Connector prices again in Canada, Universal model nears $1,000

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 18:40:00 GMT
Tesla has raised the price of its home charging equipment in Canada once more, extending a string of increases that have made the Wall Connector significantly more expensive over the past three months. The standard Wall Connector is now listed at $815, while the Universal Wall Connector — which includes an integrated J1772 adapter — sits at $945, just $55 short of the $1,000 mark. ## How fast prices have climbed The July price increase put the standard Wall Connector at $760, up from $630 in early June. The September update adds another $55 to the standard model and raises the Universal Wall Connector from $875 to $945. In just over three months, the standard connector has gone from $630 to $815, an increase of more than 29 per cent. Compared with the lowest price Tesla has charged in Canada — $465 — Canadians are now paying roughly $350 more, or about 75 per cent more, for the same hardware. ## Standard vs Universal The standard Wall Connector charges NACS-equipped vehicles. The Universal model adds a built-in J1772 adapter, so it can charge any EV on a North American driveway without a separate dongle. The $130 gap between the two models is wider than it was in July, when the Universal was only $25 more expensive than the standard. In the U.S., the standard Wall Connector rose from $535 to $585 and the Universal from $600 to $660. Tesla has not provided an explanation for the increases. ## What it means for Canadian EV owners Even at $815, the Wall Connector remains one of the most reliable home chargers available in Canada. Its build quality, Wi-Fi connectivity, and over-the-air update support still justify the premium for many buyers. But the pace of increases is forcing shoppers to compare it against alternatives such as the Grizzl-E and Emporia units, which have stayed closer to their original price points. For Canadians who waited through the summer expecting a price drop, the latest adjustment confirms that home charging hardware is getting more expensive, not less. The $945 Universal model is now firmly in the territory of a high-end appliance rather than an impulse buy.
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Tier	Calendar-year volume	Base rate
🌱 T1 · Starter	0 – 3,000 kWh	5.0 pts/kWh
🚗 T2 · Commuter	3,000 – 6,000 kWh	7.0 pts/kWh
⚡ T3 · Voyageur	6,000 – 12,000 kWh	9.5 pts/kWh
🚚 T4 · Fleet	12,000 – 18,000 kWh	12.0 pts/kWh
🏆 T5 · Mega Fleet	18,000+ kWh	14.5 pts/kWh

Band	Qualified referrals	Multiplier
⭐ Member	0	×1.00
🗣️ Advocate	1–2	×1.05
🥉 Bronze	3–5	×1.15
🥈 Silver	6–9	×1.25
🥇 Gold	10–14	×1.35
👑 Platinum VIP	15+	×1.50

Charge News Canada

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The bigger Quebec picture

Volkswagen's PowerCo Delays St. Thomas Battery Plant to 2029 Amid Weak EV Demand

Geely Unveils 2.25 MW Smart Charge System Challenging BYD's Flash Charging Dominance

Technical specifications and performance

Infrastructure rollout and consumer incentives

Context: Charging the EV infrastructure arms race

OBE Power Secures North Sky Capital Investment to Expand EV Charging Network Across Canada and U.S.

Fully owned and operated model

Capital structure for infrastructure scaling

North Sky Capital's infrastructure focus

Target property types and Canadian relevance

Rivian Issues OTA Recall for Rearview Camera Obstruction

What happens

Vehicles and fix

Tesla Optimus Gen 3 Design Appears in Android App

What’s changed

Timeline

Tesla Opens Prince Rupert Supercharger, Completing Northern BC Highway 16 Corridor

Prince Rupert details

What remains

Carney's '3% Chinese EV' Claim Masks 28% of Canada's EV Market

The quota math

International context

Security and industrial risks

Industrial math

P.E.I. Solar Farm Battery Fire Burns for Two Weeks — Experts Warn Canada Isn't Ready

What happened at Summerside

Why battery fires are different

Canada's preparedness gap

The scale of the challenge

CAA EV Circuit 2026 Shows EVs Use 40% Less Energy Than Gas Vehicles

Charging adds 58‑178 km in 15 minutes

What the numbers mean for drivers

Tesla Opens Two New Northern B.C. Superchargers in 48 Hours

Vanderhoof — four V4 stalls at Four Rivers Co-op

Terrace — eight V4 stalls at Skeena Mall

Corridor status

Charging adds 58‑178 km in 15 minutes