TORONTO, August 5, 2026 – ChargeLab, a Canadian provider of EV charging software and network management solutions, is pleased to announce its participation in a new Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) research and development project focused on improving the reliability and resilience of EV charging infrastructure. Supported by the Government of Ontario through the OVIN R&D Partnership Fund, the project will support the development of a local controller, a hardware and software device installed at EV charging sites designed to ensure reliable, intelligent charging operations even in the absence of a network connection.
The total project value is $1.2 million, including $400,000 from the Province of Ontario through OVIN and $800,000 in contributions from ChargeLab and industry partners.
ChargeLab’s local controller will be installed at commercial and fleet sites operating multiple EV chargers. The device enables offline redundancy, allowing chargers to continue operating and drivers to continue charging even when connectivity to the central network is interrupted. It also performs local load management to balance electrical demand across chargers in real time and runs AI at the edge to support intelligent session routing, predictive maintenance signals, and optimization without relying on cloud roundtrips. Together, these capabilities will help address some of the most persistent reliability challenges in deployed EV charging infrastructure and support more resilient charging operations across Ontario.
Quotes:
“This funding allows us to address one of the most persistent pain points in EV charging: what happens when a site loses its internet connectivity. With support from the OVIN R&D Partnership Fund, we’re able to build edge intelligence directly into our charging infrastructure, so site operators get the reliability they need and drivers can keep charging during connectivity outages. It’s a meaningful step forward for Ontario’s EV ecosystem and for the resilience of charging infrastructure across the province"
Sam (Farsam) Farzadpour, Ph.D., PeakR&D—Funding Advisor to ChargeLab
“Ontario’s automotive and mobility sector continues to demonstrate the innovation, talent and ambition needed to lead in a rapidly evolving global market. Through OVIN, we are helping Ontario companies accelerate the development of transformative technologies, strengthen strategic partnerships, and bring made-in-Ontario solutions closer to commercialization. Investments like these play an important role in reinforcing Ontario’s supply chain and ensuring the province remains competitive in the industries of the future.”
Raed Kadri, Head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network
“Ontario’s continued leadership in automotive and mobility innovation is built on the strength of collaboration. By bringing together innovative SMEs, industry partners, researchers, and government, OVIN is creating the conditions for made-in-Ontario technologies to move from concept to commercialization faster. These investments are helping build a more resilient, competitive automotive ecosystem—one that creates high-value jobs, attracts investment, and ensures Ontario remains a global leader in the future of mobility.”
Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation
About ChargeLab
ChargeLab is a Toronto-based EV charging software company providing a hardware-agnostic charging management system (CSMS) and network management platform for site hosts, property managers, fleets, and charging networks across North America. ChargeLab’s open, OCPP-compliant platform enables operators to deploy, manage, and monetize EV charging infrastructure at scale. For more information, visit www.chargelab.co.
About OVIN
The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is an initiative of the Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario’s position as a North American leader in advanced automotive technology and smart mobility solutions such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles and electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies. Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies. For more information: www.ovinhub.ca.
Contacts
press@chargelab.co
1 (800) 636-0986 ext. 210
