Government of Canada to develop a national Zero-Emissions Vehicle strategy by 2018
26 May 2017
The Government of Canada is moving forward with provincial and territorial partners, industry and stakeholders, to develop a national strategy to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVS)—battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles—on Canadian roads by 2018.
Transportation accounts for about 24% of Canada’s emissions, mostly from cars and trucks. In 2015, light-duty vehicle emissions accounted for approximately 50% of Canada’s transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, and 12% of the country’s total emissions. ZEVs offer the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly from the light-duty vehicle sector.
Under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, federal, provincial and territorial governments committed to work with industry and stakeholders to develop a Canada-wide ZEV strategy by 2018. This strategy will build on existing initiatives, such as light-duty vehicle regulations, provincial ZEV programs, and Canadian innovation superclusters, to help meet the country’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
To advance the strategy, a national Advisory Group has been established to contribute to developing options for addressing the key barriers for greater deployment of these technologies in five areas:
- Vehicle supply;
- Cost and benefits of ownership;
- Infrastructure readiness;
- Public awareness; and
- Clean growth and clean jobs.
The Advisory Group includes representatives from governments, industry, consumer and non-government organizations and academia.
The Government of Canada has made an important start in supporting further deployment of ZEVs by providing $62.5 million through Budget 2016 and an additional $120 million through Budget 2017 for Natural Resources Canada to deploy infrastructure for electric vehicle charging and refueling stations for alternative fuel such as natural gas and hydrogen, as well as to support technology demonstration projects.
I hope they do a better job than CARB and don't waste much time on the hydrogen boondoggle.
Posted by: DaveD | 26 May 2017 at 10:44 AM
Electrification in whatever shade would seem like the best thing to me.
They have a lot of hydro, so going to a pure BEV approach would work well, as would any type of hybridisation. In the rural areas, the distances might be too large for pure EV, so hybrids might be a better bet.
Posted by: mahonj | 26 May 2017 at 11:37 AM
To establish a common policy will take years. To approve a common policy will take many more years.
Meanwhile, more support for PHEVs with improved cleaner running ICEs or PEMFCs range extender could be a good interim solution.
Posted by: HarveyD | 26 May 2017 at 01:02 PM
They are aiming for 2018.
Posted by: Paroway | 26 May 2017 at 04:54 PM
it is just a climate change tax scheme to give money toward junk products and services and batteries do not work properly in cold winter.
Posted by: gorr | 26 May 2017 at 05:25 PM
The more obsolete ICEVs you get off the roads, the better, Canada is late to the party suffering from the same problem we have in the U.S...bought off politicians. Trump and the fossil fuel Republicans are showing us how stupid it can get when decisions about innovation are made by corrupt politicians who disregard scientific analysis from the knowledgeable. What is sad is you read the parroting of their lies in the comments of good publications like this one, it's crazy!
Posted by: Lad | 26 May 2017 at 08:01 PM
I would also make it easy to own an EV as well as an ICE, so you don't get slammed with tax or insurance by having two cars. You could use the ICE when the weather is bad, and the EV in warmer times or cities.
You could make it easier to ride share, and get paid for it, without upsetting taxi owners.
You would be allowed specify your commute route as a ride share route (but no others). Thus, you could pick up people on drives you would do anyway, but wouldn't be tempted to go and look for work like a taxi.
[ Both of these are administrative, rather than technical solutions, so should be easy enough to implement. ]
Posted by: mahonj | 27 May 2017 at 01:05 AM
We've not been sitting on our hands you know. As you can see; http://www.caa.ca/evstations/ we've already got quite the network of charging stations but I'd like to see more Level 3 chargers on intercity routes, and E-highways for the trucks. At the very least the railways should be electrified like they are in Europe.
Posted by: ai_vin | 27 May 2017 at 07:47 AM
USA is in the process of shutting down the existing Nuclear power plants (starting with 3-mile island and many others) in favor of NG, Solar and Wind turbines and so called blue-clean coal units.
E-energy ongoing increases and the sale of more heavier vehicles will quickly have a devastating effect on national/global pollution and climate.
Posted by: HarveyD | 31 May 2017 at 08:20 AM