Across North America, momentum around EV infrastructure funding is building again.

In the U.S., National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) funding is already flowing in some states and expected to unlock in others as state plans evolve. In Canada, recent federal signals point toward a renewed and expanded push on EV affordability and infrastructure — with strong expectations that charging funding will follow in a bigger, more coordinated way.

For property owners, municipalities, and portfolio managers, this creates a familiar risk in waiting for funding announcements before doing the work that makes a site viable.

At Asset Market, we see the most successful projects start before programs are fully announced — not after.

Start With the Market, Not the Money

Funding can accelerate a good site.
It can’t fix a bad one.

Before thinking about grants, rebates, or incentives, the first question should always be:

What type and size of charging does this property need?

That means grounding decisions in data:

  • Local and visiting EV demand
  • Existing charging supply and utilization
  • Hardware mix (L2 vs DC fast suitability)
  • Forecasted growth over time

Tools like Asset Market Insights are designed for this exact moment — helping property owners and developers right-size deployments based on real demand, not best-case funding assumptions.

Too often we see sites overbuilt because “funding might cover it,” or underbuilt because near-term costs feel uncertain. Both lead to poor utilization and missed revenue.

Be Shovel-Ready Before Funding Drops

When funding programs open, timelines are tight. The projects that move forward fastest are the ones that already answered the hard questions.

That means pressure-testing site feasibility early:

Power availability

  • What capacity exists today?
  • What upgrades are realistic on program timelines?
  • How does phasing affect long-term expansion?

Layout & stall planning

  • Charger placement
  • Traffic flow
  • Accessibility and future flexibility

Permitting & approvals

  • Zoning constraints
  • Electrical and building permits
  • Jurisdictions Having Authority (JHA) will each have their own requirements, know them and be prepared to meet their requirements

Funding programs consistently favour projects that are ready to build, not just ready to apply. Doing this work early keeps optionality high.

Ownership vs. Third-Party Operators: Decide with Eyes Open

Once a site is validated and shovel-ready, the next decision is strategic:

Owning and Operating the Chargers

Pros

  • Full control over pricing and customer experience
  • Higher long-term upside if utilization is strong
  • Asset ownership can increase property value

Cons

  • Higher upfront capital and operational responsibility
  • Exposure to utilization risk
  • Hardware, software, maintenance, and uptime are on you

Hosting a Third-Party Charging Operator

Pros

  • Lower capital risk
  • Operator brings hardware, software, and operational expertise
  • Faster deployment in many cases

Cons

  • Less control over pricing and branding
  • Revenue share caps upside
  • Contract structure matters a lot

Funding can tilt the math either way, but it shouldn’t decide the strategy on its own. The right model depends on site performance, risk tolerance, and long-term goals.

The Big Takeaway

Funding programs create opportunity — but preparation creates outcomes.

The strongest EV charging projects we see:

  1. Start with data to understand real market need
  2. Validate site feasibility early
  3. Stay flexible on ownership and delivery models
  4. Use funding as an accelerator, not a crutch

With more EV infrastructure funding expected on both sides of the border, now is the moment to do the work that puts your site at the front of the line — not scrambling once announcements are made.

If you’re evaluating sites today, Asset Market can help you understand what to build, where, and why — so when funding arrives, you’re ready to move.

Ready to Make Funding Work for Your Site?

Whether you’re preparing for upcoming EV infrastructure funding or evaluating sites already in your portfolio, the right data makes all the difference.

Asset Market’s analytics help you:

  • Identify which properties are truly ready for EV charging
  • Right-size charger type and capacity based on real demand
  • Understand feasibility constraints before they become delays
  • Compare ownership vs. third-party operator models with confidence

If you want to be shovel-ready before funding programs open (not scrambling after) we’d love to help.

Book a call with Asset Market to see how our analytics can support smarter EV charging decisions across your portfolio. Book a call