zero-emissions cars

One-fifth of all new vehicles sold in Canada in 2026 will be zero-emission vehicles, according to prosed regulations introduced Wednesday.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the regulations will apply to companies manufacturing and importing cars, vans and SUVs.

The draft regulations state the sale of new zero-emission vehicles will increase to 60 percent by 2030 and hit 100 percent by 2035.

“These targets will help increase the supply so that more Canadians who want to own a zero-emission vehicle can buy one,” a press release from Environment and Climate Change Canada states.

According to reporting from the Canadian Press, sellers who don’t meet sale targets could be subjected to penalties under Canada’s Environmental Protection Act.

The federal government has made previous investments in the zero-emission vehicle market, including funding thousands of new charging stations across the country. By 2027, the federal government will fund 85,000 charging stations.

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Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada Via: The Canadian Press

The federal government is expanding its Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles program to include more vehicles.

The program was introduced in 2019 and gives Canadians up to $5000 for purchasing or leasing an eligible zero-emission vehicle. While the incentive covered several different cars, the list was not exhaustive.

The government has announced it will expand the program to include minivans, light-duty pickup trucks, and SUVs to change this. The change is effective April 25th.

“Helping Canadians make the switch to a zero-emission vehicle is win-win-win: it keeps our air clean, helps people save money on fuel, all while positioning Canada as a leader on building and powering these cars,” Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, said.

“[This] announcement is about making sure Canadians have the options they need — whether you want to make your next family car, or your ride to work, a zero-emission vehicle.”

The Government of Canada will also introduce a sales mandate to fuel the push toward cleaner cars. The move will see 20 percent of vehicles sold by 2026 be zero-emission. The sales figure will increase to 60 percent by 2030. These steps are on the way to achieving 100 percent by 2035.

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Source: Transport Canada