The Pulse
July 8, 2026

An Edmonton-born electric-vehicle charging company is now focusing on maintaining excellence while pursuing measured growth after landing a whale of a client.

Swift Charge has secured a contract with InnVest Hotels to set up at least 300 EV chargers at more than 70 hotels across Canada. InnVest is the largest owner-operator of hotels in the country, with a portfolio that includes brands under the Marriott, Delta, and Hilton umbrellas, as well as a few fair Fairmonts. The first InnVest property to install Swift Charge tech was the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.

Swift Charge seeks to be one of the reasons that an EV-driving traveller will choose a place to stay.

"We don't want people to think of Swift Charge when they get to the hotel; we want to be that white-label solution that sits behind the scenes that offers these amenities," said Sheldon Zhang, the co-founder and CEO of Swift Charge. "It's an edge to help the hotel operate better, and in our business model, that's just as important as the technology aspect … The hotel doesn't get profit from the charger itself — the hotel gets profit from having this amenity to attract EV drivers to the property, who are going to pay them $200 a night."

Swift Charge was spun out of the University of Alberta in 2020. By 2022, it was named one of the most investable cleantech companies by Foresight Canada, and it made the finals of a Startup TNT investment summit. The company also participated in Alberta Accelerator by 500 and the Plug and Play Alberta accelerator, and received about $1.6 million in non-dilutive funding from Alberta Innovates, Edmonton Edge Fund, and other government agencies.

Today, the company has around 160 charging stations, mostly at hotels. A staff member from Swift Charge's team of six oversees every installation, but after that, it's pretty hands-off. Most troubleshooting can be done digitally, and contractors can handle physical repairs. Zhang told Taproot that the company's success means it will have to gradually diversify its customer base.

"We're already starting to see the ceiling as a hotel-focused operation," Zhang said, noting that the portfolios of Swift Charge's clients account for at least 10% of all hotels in Canada. "We're significantly winning in the hospitality segment in Canada already, so we have to expand beyond hotels."

There is market potential in areas such as multi-unit residential and post-secondary institutions, he said; Swift Charge already serves both in the region, including at the University of Alberta and NAIT.

Zhang spoke from China, where he was visiting manufacturers in Shenzhen for quality assurance and to give input on gradual improvement. He is interested in bringing manufacturing to Canada one day, perhaps even for direct current (or Level 3) chargers. Swift Charge predominantly offers Level 2 chargers, which take four to 10 hours to fill a battery; a Level 3 charger can do that in just 25 to 30 minutes, making it ideal for use at rest stops for travellers on the go.

• Edmonton city council approved a rezoning proposal for a mid-rise and high-rise mixed-use development near Pacific Mall in Chinatown. Submitted by consultant Situate for Yorkton Equity Group Inc., the plan aims to address high housing demand by allowing buildings up to 18 storeys and would include up to 160 affordable housing units. "We feel that the area has very high potential, is right adjacent to downtown, which is the financial core," Yorkton CEO Ben Lui said, but noted the area has challenges like social disorder and crime. Jordon Hon of Chinatown Re:VITA said he supports the project, adding it could revitalize the area and boost local business interest.
• Edmonton city council has decided to maintain some street parking while implementing new bike lanes on 50th Street, from 102nd Avenue to 109A Avenue. The original plan, with a budget of $2.4 million, would have removed street parking to accommodate the bike lanes. Coun. Ashley Salvador instead proposed an alternative $4.9-million plan that preserves about half of the parking by reallocating the centre median. While some councillors opposed the cost, Mayor Andrew Knack called it a "win-win." The project is part of Edmonton's $100 million active transportation initiative.
• The Capital Line LRT in Edmonton will be disrupted between Churchill and Clareview stations from July 10-13. The tracks between the two stations will be fully closed on July 11 and 12, with LRT replacement bus services available, while trains will run on a single track on July 10 beginning at 8pm and for the entirety of service on July 13. The disruption is to accommodate the construction of a new track crossing north of 115 Avenue.
• An Edmonton Police Service officer fatally shot a man in a Cavanagh neighbourhood home on June 27, according to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT). Police were responding to reports involving a Black Jeep that collided with multiple vehicles, including an Edmonton Fire Rescue Services truck. Officers entered the home with a warrant and encountered the man, who was allegedly advancing toward them while carrying weapons, prompting the shooting, ASIRT said. Anyone who was in the area of Christie Vista SW in the early hours of June 27 is asked to contact investigators.
• Alberta authorities are warning residents about a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming to offer updates on Alberta Health Cards. The messages falsely claim that physical cards are becoming obsolete and that people need to switch to an electronic card. Anyone who receives one of the scam messages is told to report it as spam and delete it.
• The Alberta government unveiled a new logo to promote the province's whisky industry, emphasizing the regional quality and international potential of locally produced spirits. Premier Danielle Smith and Minister Dale Nally introduced the logo, which is meant to boost the province's spirits industry by highlighting Alberta-grown ingredients. The Alberta Whisky Act, passed in May, defines whisky standards requiring local water and grain.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Community Coffee starting at 9am at Edmonton Unlimited
• Ukrainian Museum Historical Tour starting at 10am at St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
• Art Buffet starting at 12pm at Mitchell Art Gallery
• ASTech Awards Information/Office Hours Sessions starting at 1:30pm online
• Discover & Validate: Learn the Foundations of Customer Discovery starting at 6pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Buffet Infinity Screening and Q&A starting at 6:45pm at Garneau Theatre
• Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Nanaimo NightOwls starting at 7pm at Re/Max Field
• Clown Showcase with Katie Yoner starting at 7pm at Grindstone Theatre
• Something Rotten starting at 7:30pm at Hawrelak Park

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 20: Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• July 22: Family Nature Nights: Urban Birds at Whitemud Park and Ravine
• July 25-26: Sherwood Park Highland Gathering at Broadmoor Lake Park

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Know someone who would love the Mini? Encourage them to subscribe to The Pulse.