TORONTO - Ontario Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli said the province plans to invest $60 million over the next three years in a charging infrastructure while providing motorists with incentives to drive electric vehicles, the Toronto Star reports.

The incentives will target the private sector and entice it into building charging stations at parking lots, gas stations and shopping malls, as well as encourage home charging stations.

"We have some (significant) funding to partner with them, so we are looking for joint venture proposals to put in charging stations. And we also starting to look internally out of that funding program to support home charging stations," Chiarelli said.

Details have yet to be finalized, though the Ontario government has already put out a request for information to gather intelligence on the level of public interest as well as associated costs for a full-scale program.

"Encouraging Ontarians to choose electric vehicles is part of our government??s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs," Chiarelli said. "As Minister of Transportation I believe it??s important for us to encourage motorists to embrace electric vehicles and other 'green?? forms of transportation like cycling and public transit because it protects our environment, supports vibrant communities and contributes to a high quality of life."

Ontario already provides consumers with an incentive ranging up to $8,500 toward the purchase or lease of a hybrid or electric car. To date, $2 million has been spent on vehicle incentives since 2010.