TORONTO — Ekta Bibra, senior coverage advisor at Clear Vitality Canada, made the next assertion in response to the U.S.’s proposed new mild obligation automobile requirements:
“With EV gross sales shattering information around the globe, it’s clear we’re en path to a brand new electrical age. The brand new proposed laws from the U.S. present that our closest neighbour, and the world’s second-largest auto market, goes all in on this electrical future.
“Certainly, whereas Canada has had stronger EV insurance policies than the U.S. up to now, the proposed U.S. laws are, in some methods, much more bold than Canada’s. And since our laws are at the moment tied to the U.S., the brand new guidelines would mechanically apply right here too.
“The brand new American requirements undertaking that 60% of automobiles bought by the tip of the last decade could be pure battery-electric, whereas Canada’s just lately proposed regulated gross sales targets for zero-emission automobiles embody plug-in hybrids within the equal 60% gross sales goal. The U.S. guidelines additionally introduce stricter tailpipe emissions requirements on medium-duty industrial automobiles (like vans and pickups)—one thing that Canada has but to implement.
“Whereas it’s encouraging to see a extra unified North American method to electrical transportation, it’s important that Canada continues to implement—and strengthen—its personal laws. Ought to a future U.S. authorities roll again these tailpipe air pollution limits (as occurred through the Trump administration), Canada would lose its EV coverage seatbelt. Canada is its personal nation, and it shouldn’t be beholden to voters in one other jurisdiction for its coverage selections, particularly when it might impression Canadians’ entry to cost-saving EVs.
“Canada’s personal proposed guidelines, which concentrate on EV gross sales slightly than tailpipe emissions, additionally present extra coverage certainty whereas nonetheless providing automakers a spread of pathways to ultimately reaching 100% EV gross sales in 2035. Analysis has proven that this coverage method helps drive down EV sticker costs whereas encouraging carmakers to make a broader vary of EV fashions in the stores. Canada should now concentrate on implementing these laws rapidly.
“Rigorous zero-emission automobile insurance policies each north and south of the border are a key part in guaranteeing the marketplace for Canadian-made EVs. Canada’s EV battery provide chain might assist as much as 250,000 jobs by 2030 and add $48 billion to the Canadian economic system yearly.
“Whereas the brand new U.S. guidelines are undoubtedly nice information for potential EV drivers throughout North America, Canada should nonetheless maintain a hand on the wheel to safeguard our cleaner, cost-saving electrical future.”
KEY FACTS
- The proposed U.S. guidelines comprise a fleet emissions common normal which requires that automakers’ fleets adhere to more and more strict common tailpipe emissions. Yearly, as the principles develop into extra stringent, automakers can be compelled to promote a larger share of zero-emission automobiles inside their fleet as that may be probably the most affordable approach to meet that yr’s fleet emissions common.
- The Environmental Safety Company tasks that this is able to be equal to 36% battery-electric gross sales (not together with gross sales of plug-in hybrids) in 2027, 60% in 2030 and 67% in 2032 (when the laws finish). For medium-duty automobiles it’s projected to be 34% by 2030 and 46% by 2032.
- Canada’s proposed regulated gross sales targets for zero-emission automobiles would require zero-emission automobiles (together with plug-in hybrids), to make up 60% of car gross sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
- Transportation makes up 1 / 4 of Canada’s carbon air pollution.
- Quebec, B.C., and California all use regulated zero-emission automobile gross sales targets to implement EV gross sales necessities, all en path to 100% ZEV gross sales by 2035. Since California enacted its regulated zero-emission automobile gross sales targets, 15 different states have adopted swimsuit.
- A current Clear Vitality Canada ballot indicated that almost all (58%) of Canadians are inclined to purchase an EV for his or her subsequent automotive.
- A examine commissioned by Transport Canada discovered that 82% of dealerships didn’t have any ZEVs in inventory in March 2022—and people with inventory have been concentrated in B.C. and Quebec, the 2 provinces with zero-emission automobile mandates.
- A current evaluation by Environmental Defence discovered that laws to part out fuel vehicles by 2035 would reduce EV costs by 20% as automakers are compelled to promote extra reasonably priced fashions, as a substitute of simply luxurious EVs, as a way to meet their targets.
- Final yr, Clear Vitality Canada analyzed a lot of well-liked electrical automotive fashions, evaluating their complete possession prices with that of fuel equivalents. With only one exception, the electrical model of each automotive analyzed was cheaper, often considerably so.
- There are set to be 60 instances extra Canadians employed in EV-related jobs in a net-zero 2050 than in 2025, in response to a new Clear Vitality Canada report.
RESOURCES
White Paper | How Canada Can Design a Really Efficient Zero-Emission Automobile Mandate
Report | Canada’s new Financial Engine
Report | A Pivotal Second
Submission | Submission on Canada’s proposed amendments to emissions laws on passenger automobiles and light-weight vehicles