Electric Vehicle Strategy and EV Regulation

Enact legislation requiring the federal government to establish a Canadian EV strategy and a regularly updated EV action plan through 2035. Legislation should require the government to implement actions sufficient to achieve 100% passenger vehicle sales by 2030 and by 100% zero-emission bus and truck sales by 2040 at the latest.

Policy Details.

A national ZEV sales regulation will push automakers to introduce more EV makes and models, increasing consumer choice, reducing long wait times for EVs, and improving battery technology to help meet the ever-growing demand for EVs in Canada. It will also help supply EVs across Canada, where currently most EVs available for sale are distributed to the two provinces that already have ZEV Mandates in place: British Columbia and Quebec. Apply the national standard only where provincial standards are weak or do not exist.

Policy Details.

Canada must align its auto tailpipe emission standards with the toughest standards in North America, in addition to establishing a national ZEV mandate. Cleaner cars not only cut carbon emissions, they also improve air quality in our communities and save consumers money at the pump. The existing standards have too many “compliance flexibilities” (loopholes) which should be eliminated going forward. Canada must also strengthen emission standards for larger vehicles like buses and trucks, as these are big contributors to tailpipe pollution too.

Set a target to achieve 100% zero-emission bus and truck sales by 2040, at the latest, with interim milestones along the way. Increase ambition as technology and product offerings improve. Align Canada’s requirements with the most ambitious targets in North America.

Many rural, northern, and indigenous communities in Canada have not yet had equal opportunity to participate in the benefits of the EV transition due to a lack of charging options and vehicle availability, among other things. It is critical that these barriers be addressed to allow all Canadians a meaningful opportunity to drive electric.

Establish a program that gets fossil fuel powered vehicles off the road and replaces them with zero emission vehicles. Allow all polluting vehicles–from cars and trucks to buses to off-road vehicles–to be scrapped and recycled as part of the program. Government could also offer other clean transportation options such as public transit passes, vouchers for bicycles, vouchers for EV-only car/rideshare services etc., for those Canadians who are not looking to purchase a new vehicle.