Autonomous EV Charging Project by Kiwi Charge Backed by Ontario Government and GM Canada

On February 9, robotics and AI startup Kiwi Charge announced the launch of its Autonomous EV Charging Project with financial backing from the Ontario provincial government through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), along with support from General Motors Canada and Pfaff Automotive. The initiative marks a significant step toward addressing persistent EV charging infrastructure gaps, particularly in urban and multi-tenant environments where fixed charging deployment faces spatial, electrical capacity, and cost constraints.
The project represents a total investment of CAD 1.7 million aimed at advancing mobile EV charging solutions that integrate artificial intelligence, robotics, and electrification technologies into a deployable charging platform. By combining AI-powered EV charging intelligence with robotic mobility, Kiwi Charge is positioning its system as an adaptive infrastructure layer capable of dynamically serving electric vehicles in locations where permanent charger installations are impractical, grid upgrades are limited, or capital expenditure is prohibitive.

Autonomous EV Charging Project Targets Infrastructure Gaps

The Autonomous EV Charging Project is structured to close critical gaps in Canada’s evolving EV charging ecosystem, particularly in high-density residential and commercial zones. Kiwi Charge plans to utilize the funding to accelerate hardware prototyping, validate autonomous navigation and docking algorithms, conduct real-world operational testing of its flagship robotic EV charger, and initiate controlled pilot deployments with real estate partners and automotive dealerships. By leveraging Ontario’s expanding AI ecosystem, the company intends to enhance system intelligence through rapid iteration cycles, machine learning-based optimization, and data-driven performance analytics.

Addressing Multi-Tenant EV Charging Challenges

Approximately 30% of EV owners reside in multi-tenant rental buildings, where installing fixed EV chargers can be cost-prohibitive due to electrical retrofitting requirements, load management complexities, parking layout constraints, and ownership approval processes. Kiwi Charge’s compact autonomous unit combines:

• Robotic mobility for dynamic positioning

• AI-based fleet intelligence for smart energy allocation

• On-demand EV charging capability

This architecture enables centralized energy management with decentralized physical delivery, allowing property owners to electrify legacy buildings faster and with minimal structural modification. By reducing the need for dedicated charging bays and permanent wiring to every parking slot, the system directly addresses the multi tenant EV charging challenge while improving charger utilization rates and lowering total cost of ownership.

Mobile EV Charging Solutions for Dealerships

Beyond residential applications, Kiwi Charge is also developing a manual mobile EV charging unit specifically engineered for automotive dealership environments. Large dealer lots frequently require repositioning of vehicles for display, test drives, and logistics, making fixed charging stations less practical for maintaining optimal battery state-of-charge across inventory. The mobile EV charging solutions under development are intended to deliver flexible, point-of-need charging without disrupting operational workflows or requiring extensive rewiring of dealer premises.
This dual-market strategy—targeting both residential multi-tenant properties and commercial automotive sites—enhances asset utilization, diversifies revenue streams, and strengthens the project’s commercial scalability. By addressing both consumer charging access and dealership operational efficiency, the initiative supports broader EV adoption targets in Canada while aligning with provincial electrification objectives.

Showcase at Canadian International AutoShow

Kiwi Charge will present the latest iteration of its autonomous charging robot at the Canadian International AutoShow, scheduled from February 13 to 22. The robotic EV charger will be displayed alongside Project Arrow, Canada’s first zero-emissions concept vehicle developed by the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA), highlighting cross-sector collaboration within the national EV ecosystem.
The public unveiling reinforces the growing coordination between startups, established automakers, real estate stakeholders, and provincial innovation networks. With support from the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, General Motors Canada, and Pfaff Automotive, the Autonomous EV Charging Project demonstrates a structured effort to modernize Canada’s EV charging infrastructure through scalable, intelligent, and robotics-enabled electrification solutions designed for real-world deployment scenarios.