Chad MacLean helped open an electric vehicle repair shop in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, two years ago because he saw an opportunity.

While working as a technician at a dealership, he noticed that more and more people were moving away from gasoline-powered vehicles.

Today, half of its customers drive electric vehicles. But he says those customers tell him the same thing.

“Outside of this garage here, outside of repairs, outside of everything, I would say the biggest challenge for people in Nova Scotia is the charging infrastructure,” said MacLean, co-owner and operator Garage EV .

“I mean, it holds a lot (of people) back.”

The number of electric vehicles registered in Nova Scotia is accelerating. But industry experts say charging infrastructure hasn’t kept pace.

The number of battery electric vehicles in the province has increased from just 53 in 2017 to 2,366 by the end of 2023, according to Statistics Canada. The number of hybrid electric vehicles increased from 3,397 to 9,914 during this period. Rechargeable electrical devices increased from 183 to 1,411.

More chargers promised

Nova Scotia Power said there were more than 200 public electric vehicle charging stations in the province as of January 2023. That number is now closer to 300, according to apps like ChargeHub and PlugShare.

The federal government announced this summer he spent more than $3 million to install 660 electric charging stations across the province.

Installation projects This spring, 56 charging stations in the Halifax Regional Municipality were delayed. The municipality did not respond to a request for an update on the project.

“We’re going electric at a rapid pace, but we need to catch up, especially considering our electric vehicle charging infrastructure,” said Kurt Sampson, co-founder of the Atlantic Canadian Electric Vehicle Association and zero emissions advocate with the Atlantic Division of the Canadian Automobile Association.

Sampson said Nova Scotia is behind provinces like Quebec and Ontario in the number of electric vehicles and chargers available.

Continued government investment in chargers is key to improving infrastructure, but businesses like hotels and restaurants can also play a role, according to Sampson.

He said a strong network of charging infrastructure supports drivers who have already left the gas pumps behind and also provides assurance to those considering an electric vehicle.

Nova Scotia can improve its network by focusing on rural areas when installing new chargers, so residents and visitors aren’t stranded on long trips, Sampson said.

“This is one of the stepping stones we need to take, but we’re not there yet,” he said.