About 400 EV fast-charging ports coming to 100 Tim Hortons locations across Canada
Flo Ultra chargers deliver up to 120 km of range in 10 minutes
Expansion supports Canada’s ZEV mandate as automakers raise concerns over infrastructure gaps
Tim Hortons is positioning itself as more than a coffee stop, as it’s about to become one of Canada’s largest EV charging destinations. By the end of 2028, the chain plans to equip 100 of its restaurants with Flo Ultra fast-charging stations, offering customers a national coast-to-coast network. Each site will host around four ports, totalling roughly 400 across the country.
The rollout has already begun: Regina became the first city to see chargers go live, with as many as 13 more sites expected to open by the end of 2025 and 50 restaurants equipped by 2026. The new Flo Ultra units can restore up to 120 km of range in just 10 minutes, giving EV drivers a quick top-up while grabbing a double-double, that is, if their EV can handle it.
Flo CEO Louis Tremblay highlighted how this partnership integrates EV charging into Canadians’ daily routines, much like a daily trip to Timmies. The expansion is being supported by a $235 million commitment from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, part of a larger national initiative to add more than 1,900 public fast chargers across the country.
This growth in charging access is critical, given the federal government’s still-upheld strict zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales mandate. Starting in 2026, one in five new light-duty vehicles sold in Canada must be electric, a percentage that will climb annually until reaching 100% in 2035. Currently, fewer than 10% of new vehicles sold are ZEVs, raising concerns about the feasibility of the targets.
Industry groups argue that the charging network is not keeping pace. A 2021 Natural Resources Canada study estimated that 100,520 public chargers would be needed to meet policy goals, but fewer than 35,000 have been installed so far. Brian Kingston, head of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, warns that about 40,000 chargers will need to be added every year to close the gap.
Automakers have repeatedly urged Ottawa to revisit its ZEV rules, pointing out that without sufficient charging infrastructure, adequate purchase incentives, and supply flexibility, the targets risk creating major challenges for both consumers and manufacturers.
