Canada aims for zero-emissions vehicle strategy by 2018

The Canadian government is developing a national strategy to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVS) on Canadian roads by 2018 to further reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Canada’s Ministers of Transport and Innovation, Science, and Economic Development will decide how many electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles need to be on the roads in the country within the next 15 years. The government said transportation currently accounts for 24 per cent of Canada’s total carbon emissions.

The strategy will build on existing initiatives, including light-duty vehicle regulations, provincial ZEV programmes, and Canadian innovation superclusters to help meet the country’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. Under the previously adopted Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 70 per cent of the levels in 2005 by 2030.

Earlier this year the Canadian province of Ontario, which has the country’s largest population, made progress with its ZEV policy by lifting the price cap on vehicles that are eligible for the (USD) $14,000 EV rebate. Ontario previously provided a $3,000 rebate for EVs priced between $75,000 and $150,000. The rebate has been increased to at least $6,000 to boost sales of more expensive ZEVs.

Canada has also established a national advisory group of key stakeholders to address barriers impacting greater deployment of these technologies, including vehicle supply, cost and benefits of ownership, infrastructure readiness, public awareness, clean growth and clean jobs.