EV charging network set to double in Muskoka

An electric vehicle charging. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge)

Lakeland EV Charging, the operator of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Muskoka, Parry Sound, and central Ontario, announced on Saturday that they will be doubling their EV charging network by the end of next year.

In a news release, Lakeland EV Charging confirmed that 17 new charging stations will be added across central Ontario, bringing their total to 33 by the fall of 2026.

The operator reports that the expansion will add 50 new chargers, including 26 dual-port DC fast chargers (DCFC) at 180 kilowatts, translating to 100 kilometres worth of charge in ten minutes on average.

The initiative is being supported by local, federal and provincial partners, notably, Bracebridge Generation Ltd., Ontario’s EV ChargeON program, and Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan).

“The Government of Canada is ensuring that Canadians have reliable and readily available charging options, wherever they go,” said Tim Hodgson, federal minister of energy and natural resources, in the news release. ”We are pleased to invest in building EV charging stations for drivers in Ontario and across Canada as they explore our great country,”

“Increasing access to EV chargers outside large urban centres fills gaps in local charging infrastructure and reduces range anxiety,” added Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s transport minister. “Through the EV ChargeON Community Sites Stream Program, our government has approved 270 projects to date, including this one by Lakeland EV Charging, demonstrating our commitment to protect Ontario by transforming the province into a global clean energy superpower.”

The expansion also includes a partnership with ChargeHub, an app operator that connects EV drivers to charging stations.

“Now people can thoroughly enjoy exploring this beautiful part of Ontario we call home in the perfect way, with their EV’s,” said Peter Ewald, director of Lakeland EV Charging. “Now EV drivers can confidently make their summer travel plans to the Muskoka/Parry Sound area, and next year, more broadly throughout central Ontario, knowing they can count on fast, reliable, and easy-to-locate charging.”

The Lakeland EV Charging app can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play.