Cars traverse westbound on Highway 401 in Kingston, Ontario, captured on January 11, 2019. Photo credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg.
In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, Canada is poised to declare this week that all newly manufactured cars must be zero-emission vehicles by 2035, according to a reliable source within the government. This development reflects the global trend of countries advocating for the electrification of vehicles.
The forthcoming regulations, named the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, aim to ensure a consistent supply of zero-emission vehicles in the Canadian market, consequently reducing the waiting times for consumers seeking electric vehicles. The source, confirming earlier reports from various media outlets, shared that the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec in Canada have already adopted similar regulated sales targets.
Under the proposed rules, known sources of zero-emission vehicles encompass battery electric, plug-in, and hydrogen models. These vehicles are anticipated to constitute 20% of all new car sales by 2026, a figure that is set to escalate to 60% by 2030 and reach 100% by the target year of 2035. The insider disclosed this information on the condition of anonymity, while officials from Canada's environment ministry declined to comment on the matter.
Globally, electric vehicle (EV) sales currently make up approximately 13% of total vehicle sales. The International Energy Agency (IEA), based in Paris, projects a notable increase in this figure, estimating that EVs will capture between 40-45% of the market share by the end of the decade.
In contrast, the United States has recently witnessed a different stance on electric vehicles. The Republican-led House of Representatives voted to block the Biden administration from advancing stringent vehicle emissions regulations that aimed for 67% of new vehicles to be electric by 2032. This move drew a veto threat from the White House.
While the political landscape in the U.S. grapples with the direction of electric vehicle policies, market leader Tesla continues to make strides in the industry. The first half of 2023 saw Tesla selling an impressive 325,291 vehicles in the United States. In comparison, General Motors' Chevrolet brand held a distant second position with 34,943 sales, followed by Ford, Hyundai, and Rivian.
As Canada takes a significant step towards a sustainable automotive future, aligning with the global push for electric vehicles, the impact of such regulations is poised to reshape the automobile industry in the coming years. This commitment reflects a broader movement towards cleaner energy and a reduced carbon footprint in the pursuit of a greener planet.
