The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Feb. 11, edition that Ottawa aims to boost electric vehicle chargers nationwide as part of its new automotive strategy, but is still far from the recommended number needed for the shift to battery-powered cars. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that Energy Minister Tim Hodson said Ottawa plans to invest over $84-million to add 8,000 electric vehicle charging ports to Canada's existing 30,000 chargers. The announcement did not cite a timeline for getting the charging ports in place. In a 2021 analysis commissioned by Natural Resources Canada, consultancy Dunsky Energy and Climate estimated Canada would need 52,000 chargers by the end of 2025. Natural Resources Canada data show there are more than 38,000 public chargers now, in almost 14,500 different locations across Canada. The rollout of EV charging ports slowed last year, when only 6,170 ports were built -- down from more than 7,000 in both 2024 and 2023. Most of Canada's charging infrastructure is concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, which together account for 67 per cent of all charging ports across the country. British Columbia has another 20-per-cent share, while Alberta is home to 5 per cent of all charging ports.