Building the backbone of Canada’s EV network: the Higher Ground team in action
As Canada accelerates its transition toward cleaner transportation, the need for reliable, accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has never been greater. Meeting this demand requires more than charging stations alone; it calls for thoughtful planning, technical expertise, and seamless collaboration across sectors.
That’s where the Higher Ground Consulting (HGC) team is helping make a meaningful impact. A recent collaboration between the HGC team and a private client, highlights the role engineering excellence plays in supporting Canada’s EV transition.
A highly skilled team of experts
Joining the Englobe family in May 2025, Higher Ground Consulting, an Englobe company, is a well‑established engineering and environmental consulting firm with offices in Calgary, Alberta, and Fort St. John, British Columbia. The team brings strong complementary capabilities to Englobe’s existing geotechnical and water resources services, while adding specialized in‑house expertise in renewable energy solutions, particularly in EV charging infrastructure.
The HGC team delivers a comprehensive range of services, including civil engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, permitting, mobilization, commissioning, and operational support. The team’s experience spans a wide range of EV, hydrogen, and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects across Canada and the United States, positioning the firm at the forefront of the evolving clean energy landscape.
Advancing EV infrastructure
As part of the Federal Government’s Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) EV Charging Program, Level 3 (DC fast‑charging) EV stations are being implemented at select petroleum retail sites across the country. These fast‑charging stations are designed to significantly reduce charging times, making EV ownership more convenient and accessible for drivers nationwide.
To support this ambitious rollout, HGC was engaged as the primary consultant to lead engineering design across multiple sites. The project required a highly coordinated, multidisciplinary approach - one that is uniquely suited to HGC’s combined civil, electrical, and project leadership expertise.
A multidimensional engineering challenge
Retrofitting active petroleum retail locations to accommodate high‑powered EV charging infrastructure presents a unique set of technical and safety considerations. The HGC team’s role extended well beyond traditional design services, encompassing both detailed engineering and proactive stakeholder coordination.
The HGC team’s scope of work included:
- site layout planning and hazardous zone classification to ensure safety and regulatory compliance
- coordination with municipalities, utility providers, and site operators
- civil and structural design of foundations and equipment pads,
- cable routing
- switchgear design
- grounding studies
- emergency stop control integration, critical elements for safe and reliable fast‑charging operations
By acting as a central point of coordination, the HGC team helped streamline approvals, align stakeholders, and ensure that each site was designed with both performance and long‑term operability in mind.
Supporting Canada’s clean transportation future
Through this work, Higher Ground Consulting has played a key role in advancing the national EV charging network, by helping bring fast, dependable charging solutions to communities across Canada. These investments support reduced emissions, increased EV adoption, and greater confidence for drivers transitioning away from conventional fuel vehicles.
For Englobe, the project reflects more than technical success. It demonstrates the value of integrated, multidisciplinary expertise and the importance of partnerships in delivering practical, scalable solutions to complex infrastructure challenges. It also underscores how new capabilities brought through strategic growth, such as the addition of Higher Ground Consulting, strengthen Englobe’s ability to support clients at the leading edge of sustainability and energy transition.
As demand for EV infrastructure continues to grow, projects like this highlight how thoughtful engineering and collaboration are helping build the backbone of Canada’s clean transportation future, one charging station at a time.