As the global pressure to reduce emissions is increasing on governments, drastic measures are being taken to curtail the problem.
One such example is Canada’s quest to improve its air content through its latest €82 billion “2030 Emission Reduction Plan”.
This huge budget shows how concerned the country is about its future.
What Are Canadian Plans For Controlling Emissions?
Here are some of the targets of this latest plan:
For Light-Duty Vehicles
- Sales of 20% zero-emission by 2026;
- Increasing this to 60% by 2030;
- Reaching 100% by 2035.
For Medium & Heavy Duty Vehicles:
- 35% by 2030;
- 100% by 2040.
For now, no plans for the mid-2020s have been jotted down but they are expected to be presented anytime soon.
Canadian Definition Of Zero-Emission Vehicles Is Unique
However, the plan has a catch. The way it defines plug-in hybrids shows a hint that Canada might not just be looking to get rid of gas cars anytime soon.
According to Transport Canada, which is a national agency, vehicles with zero emissions can have a conventional ICE engine. However, they must have the ability to function without using it as well.
This points toward plug-in hybrid vehicles which operate on the principle that up to a specific speed, they don’t need their ICE engines to function. However, after this speed, the motor gets accompanied by the engine to produce the required power.
According to this definition, the following classify as zero-emission vehicles:
- All-electric;
- Plug-in hybrids;
- Hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Even when asked to comment on the matter, no Canadian government agency or department was able to answer.
How Does Canada Plan To Improve Its EV Charging Infrastructure?
Canada aims to spend around €365 million on enhancing the country’s EV charging infrastructure. This plan aims to add 50,000 new charging stations.
Besides this, another major influx of around €456 million by the Canada Infrastructure Bank is also likely to boost the infrastructure of EV charges.
Canada’s iZEV Program
Presently, the iZEV program offers refunds of up to €4,560 on the purchase of a zero-emissions vehicle.
An additional amount of €1.55 billion is likely to be added to this program to attract more buyers for shifting over to the electric platform.
Why Is Canada Interested In Shifting To The Electric Platform?
Automotive emissions are a big problem for Canada. This is mainly because this segment is the second-largest source of pollution in the country after oil and gas.
The country’s energy segment is quite clean on the contrary. Canada has a huge potential for the electric segment as around 60% of its total energy is produced using hydropower projects.
The dependence on coal and oil for energy production is very low and thus the country has abundant electricity. The best part is that this energy is available at a relatively lower cost due to the renewable sources.
The country’s dynamics make it ideally suited for quickly switching over to the EV platform.
Final Verdict
Apropos above, Canada is all set to adopt the EV revolution. However, I am sure that the country’s definition of zero-emission vehicles will soon need to be reconsidered.
Comments