Canada adds 390 DC fast-charging ports in Q2 2026 as utilization drops to 9.5 per cent
By Eve
Canada's public DC fast-charging network grew by 390 ports across 99 stations between April and June 2026, a 30 per cent increase year on year, according to Paren's Q2 2026 report. Quebec led deployment with 44 new stations, followed by Ontario with 21 and British Columbia with 18, while Tesla added 98 ports during the quarter. National utilization fell to 9.5 per cent from 11.3 per cent in Q1 as infrastructure expansion outpaced demand, driven by new port additions and weaker EV sales following 2025 incentive cuts, though reliability improved slightly to 91.2 per cent.
Why it matters: The widening gap between charging capacity and utilization signals potential revenue pressure for CPOs and may influence site selection and investment timing as the market absorbs new infrastructure. Sustained reliability above 90 per cent in key provinces offers a competitive benchmark for operators tendering on public contracts.