TORONTO, ON, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On Canada Day, Xeal Energy, the technology-first electric vehicle (EV) charging company behind the patented Xeal Protocol™, officially launches in Canada to bring their self-reliant, zero-IT charging solution to Canadian property owners. The launch arrives as Canada sets its sights on a 75% EV adoption rate by 2035 and 90% by 2040, supported by launching a new C$2.3-billion five year fund, offering rebates of up to $5,000 on battery-electric vehicles, and up to $2,500 on plug-in-hybrids. The consumer demand is coming, but the charging infrastructure to meet it needs expansion.

As Canadians celebrate national pride and look toward the future, Xeal is arriving with technology designed specifically for the built environments Canadian properties present across multifamily and commercial deployments. 

“Xeal Energy is entering the Canadian market at exactly the right moment. As the energy transition accelerates, Canadians are looking for practical, affordable ways to make the shift to
electric vehicles. Xeal is helping solve one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption by making charging infrastructure accessible for multi-unit residential buildings and institutional properties—two markets that will be essential to Canada’s clean transportation future,” said Catherine McKenna, CEO of Climate and Nature Solutions and Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

A Reliability Problem, Finally Solved
Nearly 1 in 3 EV charger sites experiences regular downtime and 95% of that downtime is caused by centralized network dependency. Traditional chargers rely on cellular towers, cloud, and signal boosters to function, creating multiple points of failure that result in charger downtime and leaves drivers stranded when they need charging the most. 

Xeal has solved this at the architecture level. The company’s patented Xeal Protocol™ establishes a direct, encrypted communication channel between the driver’s smartphone and the charger itself with no cellular network, no Wi-Fi, and no dependence on an external server. The result is a 100% uptime guarantee and a seamless tap-to-charge experience that works every time, in every environment.

“As EVs become increasingly accessible to Canadian consumers through a growing range of available incentives, EV models and price points, adoption will continue to accelerate. With these new EV adoption targets set in Canada, developers need to act now to ensure buildings are equipped to handle the needs of today’s residents and tomorrow’s drivers. 

Roughly 35% of Canadians live in multi-family settings and with 80%+ charging happening at home, property owners need charging infrastructure that just works. Backed by strong government support for the market, Xeal is expanding into Canada to support the next wave of EV charging infrastructure adoption for real estate. By eliminating the primary challenge for charger uptime, our self-reliant Helix Computing™ protocol guarantees a 100% uptime to empower Canadian real estate leaders to scale charging seamlessly and meet this increased demand.”
— Nikhil S. Bharadwaj, CEO & Co-Founder, Xeal Energy

Built for Canadian Properties
Beyond reliability, Xeal’s dynamic power optimization technology allows properties to install up to three times more charging stations on the same electrical capacity, without costly infrastructure upgrades. Where a standard power supply might support five EV chargers, Xeal’s system can support up to fifteen, dramatically expanding charging access while reducing capital expenditure.

Proven Across 500+ US Cities, Now Coming to Canada
Xeal enters Canada with a proven track record: 300+ partners across commercial, multifamily, healthcare, retail, education, and enterprise properties in more than 500 US cities. Partners include UBS, AvalonBay Communities, Lincoln Property Company, Brookfield, Princeton University, the University of Texas at Austin, Pfizer, among others.

About Xeal Energy
Xeal is a technology-first EV charging company operating at the intersection of mobility, real estate, IoT, and energy. Powered by its patented Xeal Protocol, Xeal’s self-reliant charging solution delivers 100% uptime with no cellular, Wi-Fi, or ethernet required. This eliminates costly IT infrastructure while offering property owners metered payments, dynamic load management, revenue sharing, and a seamless tap-to-charge experience for drivers. Xeal operates in 500+ cities across the U.S. For more information, visit xealenergy.com

Source: Business Insider

During seven years of partnership with the Flashfood waste reduction app, Loblaw Companies has saved money by diverting food from landfills nationwide.

Loblaw Companies Limited — one of Canada’s largest retailers — has been utilizing the Flashfood app, which offers discounts of up to 50% on groceries nearing their sell-by date with the goal of diverting food waste from landfills, since 2019. 

During that time, Loblaw says it has saved more than $295 million and diverted more than 105 million pounds of food. In 2025, the food and pharmacy retailer says this partnership saw more than 21 million pounds of food diverted from landfill and saved customers more than $58 million on groceries. 

This supports Loblaw’s goal of sending zero food to landfills by 2030. The partnership also continued to expand its reach during 2025, growing by more than 92,000 new Flashfood shoppers nationwide.

“Reducing food waste takes practical solutions at scale – and it works best when it’s easy for our customers to take part in,” said Jonathan Carroll, senior VP, superstore operations and enterprise champion of food waste reduction initiatives at Loblaw. “Through our partnership with Flashfood, shoppers can purchase good food at a discounted price before it goes to waste, helping keep it out of landfill while getting great value on everyday groceries.”

[READ MORE: Flashfood upgrades app interface, shopping features]

First launched at Maxi grocery stores in 2019, Flashfood is now available in more than 900 Loblaw grocery stores and franchise locations across Canada, including select No Frills, Maxi, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Atlantic Superstore, Loblaws, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Zehrs, Your Independent Grocer, Provigo and Dominion stores in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Other retailers operating in the grocery space that have piloted and deployed Flashfood in the past few years include Kroger, Earth Fare, Save Mart, Giant Food, Meijer, Hy-Vee and SpartanNash.

“Loblaw has been an exceptional collaborator from the beginning of our partnership together,” said Jordan Schenck, CEO of Flashfood. “They have consistently demonstrated industry leadership by embracing innovation that improves the lives of their shoppers. Their commitment to our shared mission has brought Flashfood to every province across the country and helped thousands of Canadians put fresh, affordable food on the table.”

Source: Chain Store Age

Expansion to the Canadian market helps fleet owners meet aggressive Canadian EV mandates

GARDEN GROVE, Calif., Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Harbinger, a leading medium-duty electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturer, today announced that its medium-duty electric and hybrid-electric vehicles are now available for purchase across all provinces and territories in the Canadian market. The company is currently accepting orders through its Canadian dealer Safetek Specialty Vehicles, and is focused on expanding its Canadian dealer network.

Harbinger’s proprietary platform, also known as an electric vehicle chassis, is designed for walk-in vans, box trucks, recreational vehicles, delivery vans, emergency and disaster response vehicles and more. Electric step vans will be the first Harbinger trucks available in Canada, with more vehicle variants to follow. Trucks are the fastest-growing segment in Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) market. As of 2024, the market is valued at approximately $15.8 billion CAD, and it is projected to nearly triple to $40.8 billion CAD by 2030. The overall Canadian commercial vehicle market is valued at $23.7 billion.

“The industry reception to Harbinger vehicles to date demonstrates a strong appetite for durable, affordable and environmentally friendly alternatives to supplement gas and diesel fleets,” said John Harris, CEO, Harbinger. “The need for EV options is amplified in Canada, where federal EV mandates are more aggressive. Our vehicles not only help Canadian companies meet these mandates, but they are also best-in-class medium-duty vehicles.”

Canada’s federal EV policies include mandates for zero-emission vehicles to make up 35% of total new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales by 2030 and 100% by 2040. Quebec leads the Canadian market in EV adoption, with EVs comprising 36.7% of new vehicle registrations in 2022. In order to meet these mandates, Canada has instituted the federal iMHZEV incentive program, which offers $75,000 in incentives per Class 4 and 5 vehicle, and $100,000 for Class 6. The program also offers 50% funding for hybrid range extended vehicles. Additionally, British Columbia and Quebec provide substantial additional provincial funding programs.

“As a Canadian who has worked my entire career in the automotive and EV space, selling vehicles in Canada is a milestone for me,” said Phillip Weicker, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Harbinger. “When we founded Harbinger, our goal was to build the best medium-duty vehicles and they just happen to be electric.”

The Best Medium-Duty Vehicle on the Market

Harbinger’s vehicles are purpose-built from the ground up to be electric and to serve the rigorous needs of the medium-duty segment including last-mile delivery, municipal operations, commercial fleets, and more. Harbinger’s all-electric and hybrid vehicles are engineered for durability, modularity, and ease of service. To prepare for harsh winter climates, Harbinger vehicles underwent extensive cold-weather testing on snow and ice in New Zealand to ensure dependable performance in the most extreme conditions.

Harbinger’s electric chassis includes all major vehicle systems, which the company designs and manufactures in-house, including the powertrain, battery system, steering, brakes, and more. This vertically integrated approach keeps costs low and provides a higher-performing, safer and more durable solution than electric vehicles built upon existing diesel and gasoline platforms, which is common in the industry.

Once assembled, Harbinger’s chassis is delivered to dealers or customers who work with a third-party to upfit the chassis with a commercial or specialty body, as is standard in the medium-duty vehicle industry. Morgan Olson and Utilimaster will be the third-party upfitters for Harbinger step vans in Canada. Harbinger is the only electric truck maker that manufactures its own motors and battery packs, which is a more cost effective and tailored solution than integrating off-the-shelf systems. Additional key highlights of Harbinger’s electric vehicle includes:

• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):
  • Harbinger vehicles have a lower total cost of ownership compared to diesel equivalents thanks to reduced energy consumption, minimal maintenance requirements, and extended vehicle lifespan.
• Industry-leading 10-year warranty, including:
  • 5-year full vehicle warranty
  • 10-year coverage on battery, motor, and frame
• Modular architecture offering best-in-class flexibility in wheelbase and battery configuration:
  • Three available wheelbases: 158″, 178″, and 208″
  • Battery options to match duty cycles:
    • 140 kWh – up to 225 kilometers (140 miles)
    • 175 kWh – up to 281 kilometers (175 miles)
    • 210 kWh – up to 338 kilometers (210 miles)
• Responsive acceleration with up to 13,400 lb-ft of torque at the wheel
• Industry-best 12.8 meter turning diameter to better navigate tight streets, enabled by independent front suspension

Electrifying the Medium-Duty Segment

Harbinger estimates that fully electric vehicles make sense for approximately 80% of medium-duty applications today, especially ones that are focused on last-mile deliveries. These are the vehicles that are used for single shifts with repeatable routes, and can return to their facility to charge overnight with cost effective level 2 charging. For the remaining 20%, Harbinger offers a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with up to 804 kilometers (500 miles) of range for commercial medium-duty fleets.

Harbinger’s hybrid vehicles serve use cases with longer routes, unpredictable days, or limited charging access. Harbinger’s hybrid solution leverages its proven electric chassis, and pairs it with a gas-powered range extender that recharges the battery when needed. Customers get the same electric performance, such as instant torque and smooth handling, but with the added benefit of additional range. This enables Harbinger trucks to service a new array of use cases from delivery vehicles on multi-shift schedules, to cross-country trips, and middle-mile distribution.

About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American medium-duty commercial vehicle company that offers all-electric and hybrid powertrains. The company is on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs. Leveraging a foundation of proprietary, in-house developed vehicle technologies designed specifically for commercial and specialty vehicles, Harbinger has introduced a first-of-its-kind EV platform to market. Harbinger: Familiar Form. Revolutionary Foundation.

To learn more about Harbinger, please visit www.harbingermotors.com. You can find the company newsroom HERE.

Harbinger Media Contact
Kylee Keskerian
PR Manager
419-822-6417
kylee@futuristacommunications.com 

SOURCE Harbinger