Canadian charging networks Electric Circuit and BC Hydro, along with electric vehicle roaming solutions company ChargeHub, announced the launch of an industry initiative known as Agora that seeks to accelerate the adoption of EVs through EV roaming.
Natural Resources Canada provided financial support for the initiative, which is still in its early stages. The key role of Agora is to create awareness for EV drivers and commercial fleet managers so that they understand the possibility for them to use a single account to connect on multiple charging networks. Agora also aims to provide educational resources about this.
“As (the) manager of the Agora project, ChargeHub seeks to federate the industry around greater charging network interoperability, which we believe is essential to accelerate the electrification of transportation,” said Simon Ouellette
CEO of ChargeHub, in a statement.
“With the growth of public charging networks, we as an industry must always aim to offer the best charging experience for end users. The Agora initiative ensures that the industry shares this vision and scales up EV roaming,” he added.
Agora offers several features, including a website meant to answer questions about EV roaming; a tool so EV drivers can find charging networks that are compatible with key mobility services in Canada and the United States; and stats on the state of interoperability (the ability for products or systems to connect and exchange information with one another) in Canada.
Natural Resources Canada provided a $184,369 investment to Mogile Technologies Inc (ChargeHub’s parent company) through its Zero Emissions Vehicle Awareness Initiative. The initiative is also supported by other industry partners — including Nissan, VinFast, Ivy Charging Network, Hypercharge, SWTCH, NB Power, Chargelab, Propulsion Québec, the Quebec Electric Vehicle Association, and more.
