Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a practical option for more Canadians, but buying one is only part of the transition. Drivers also need reliable charging where they live and work. For many homes and buildings, that is where a hidden barrier appears: installing a Level 2 charger can require an expensive electrical panel or utility service upgrade.

To help address this barrier and scale access to EV charging, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, the Avatar Leadership Fund, Spring Impact Capital and The Atmospheric Fund invested in Variablegrid (read our news release). Variablegrid is a Canadian company enabling cost-effective, scalable EV charging in buildings with limited electrical capacity. Alberta Ecotrust invested $500,000 through its  Climate Innovation Fund, which invests in projects and companies that advance Calgary and Edmonton’s climate goals while building sustainable, market-ready solutions.

Variablegrid fits that mandate well. Its technology sits at the intersection of green transportation and building electrification. More importantly, it solves a practical and costly customer problem today, rather than depending on a future change in behaviour or major new infrastructure.

A practical barrier to EV adoption

Many existing homes were not designed to support an EV charger alongside electric heating, cooling and other major appliances. A typical Level 2 charger may require a 40- to 60-amp circuit, which can be difficult to accommodate on a 100-amp electrical panel once you account for other major household loads. The same challenge is even greater in apartment, condominium and commercial buildings, where many vehicles may need to charge at the same time.

The problem is often not the total amount of electricity a property uses over a day. It is the short period when several large electrical loads run at once, such as early evening when people arrive home, turn on appliances and plug in their vehicles. Without a way to manage that peak, an installer may recommend a panel or utility service upgrade before adding a charger. Those upgrades can be costly, disruptive and slow. In a multi-unit building, the cost and complexity can prevent a charging project from moving forward at all.

This matters because charging access can shape whether someone feels able to choose an EV. Reducing installation cost and complexity helps turn EV interest into a practical decision for more households and building owners.

A smarter way to use existing electrical capacity

Variablegrid makes better use of the electrical capacity that is already available. Its controller monitors how much electricity a home or building is using and directs the remaining capacity to EV charging.

The system works more like a dimmer than an on-off switch. When other equipment needs more power, it adjusts charging. When demand falls, it increases charging again. This allows the vehicle to charge as quickly as the property can safely support without overloading the electrical system. The same approach can work in a single-family home or across a larger property. In multi-unit residential and commercial buildings, Variablegrid can coordinate charging across installations of up to 200 chargers and is compatible with a wide range of charging equipment.

By responding to actual demand, Variablegrid can often make room for charging without the cost of building additional electrical capacity that may only be needed for a few peak hours. Variablegrid has also demonstrated utility demand-response applications through its work with BC Hydro, with potential for further applications such as solar integration. 

Who benefits

EV drivers and homeowners: Lower installation costs, fewer disruptive electrical upgrades and a clearer path to reliable Level 2 charging.

Residents and building owners: Condo boards, apartment owners, developers and commercial property managers can add charging to more parking stalls while making better use of existing infrastructure.

Installers, dealers and communities: Electrical contractors and auto dealers gain a simpler installation pathway, while utilities and communities benefit from more flexible electricity demand as transportation electrifies.

These benefits reinforce one another. A lower-cost installation helps a customer adopt an EV. More flexible charging makes it easier for buildings and the electricity system to accommodate that growth. Over time, that supports lower transportation emissions without requiring every property to be rebuilt around its highest possible electrical load.

Why we invested

Alberta Ecotrust’s investment approach starts with a simple question: can a climate solution deliver meaningful environmental benefits while solving a real customer problem? Variablegrid does both. It can reduce a barrier to EV adoption, help customers avoid unnecessary costs and support more efficient use of existing electrical infrastructure.

The company also has evidence that the solution is moving beyond the pilot stage. 

Founded in 2022, Variablegrid has installed more than 440 controllers across Canada, has paying customers and repeat orders, and has a national master distribution agreement with Kia Canada. Alberta is an important part of the story. CEO Dan Lafferty is based in Calgary, and Alberta is currently Variablegrid's strongest market per participating Kia dealer. Dealers in the province are placing nearly twice as many orders per location as those in Ontario.

Our investment will help Variablegrid scale its operations, strengthen its data-processing capabilities and expand its commercial footprint. We also see value in working alongside aligned climate investors. Combining capital, experience and networks can help promising Canadian solutions grow faster and increase their impact. Variablegrid is a strong fit for our Climate Innovation Fund because it combines the potential to reduce transportation emissions with a clear customer benefit and a credible path to commercial growth. It is the kind of practical Canadian innovation that can create value in Alberta and scale well beyond the province.

Looking ahead

EV sales and policy may move unevenly from year to year, but the long-term direction is clear: more vehicles and buildings will rely on electricity. Making that transition affordable will require solutions that work with the homes, buildings and electrical systems we already have. Variablegrid helps do exactly that, making EV charging more accessible today while preparing communities for the growth ahead.