Did you know that the transportation sector accounts for 25% of Canada’s carbon pollution?
To help significantly reduce our nation’s carbon emissions, Canada recently announced a target to sell 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2040. With global automotive players heavily investing in the design and production of electric cars, SUVs, and trucks, Canadians will soon have many more options to choose from, for a cleaner drive. 29 global automakers are already investing at least US $300 billion in electric vehicles, according to an analysis by Reuters.
But what about the barriers created by low-cost competitiveness and limited charging infrastructure? In order to arrive at our 2040 target destination, government policies are needed to set the path and make the journey for encouraging electric vehicle (EV) adoption less challenging.
Here’s how our current federal and provincial government policies, as well as private investment, are making EV’s more accessible for Canadians:
1) Charging Infrastructure Accessibility
- Federal:
To expand the network of zero-emission vehicle charging and refueling stations, Budget 2019 proposes to build on previous investments by providing Natural Resources Canada with $130 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, to deploy new recharging and refueling stations in workplaces, public parking spots, commercial and multi-unit residential buildings, and remote locations. - Alberta:
$1.2 million from the Climate Leadership Plan has been committed towards the development of the Peaks to Prairies electric vehicle network which will consist of 20 fast-charging stations that will be installed across southern Alberta. The charging stations will be running on 100% renewable energy and are expected to be installed by the end of 2019.
- Private Investment:
– Sun Country Highway developed the longest greenest highway (10,125 km) in 2012 which is the longest network of free EV charging stations in the world. The SCH Trans Canada Highway network consists of over 80 free public access charging stations that are located at restaurants, hotels, tourist destinations, municipalities, and various other sustainability-focused businesses across Canada.
– The Accelerate Kootenays electric vehicle (EV) charging network has completed the installation of 13 direct current fast chargers (DCFC) across the Kootenays with the electrification of the stations in Glacier National Park at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre and Yoho National Park at the Visitors Centre in Field. These locations will enhance the safety of EV travel along the Trans-Canada Highway, especially during winter months. accelerate Kootenays is Canada’s first community-driven, collaborative strategy to build a clean transportation network. It is a 2-year, $1.5 million initiative of the Regional Districts of East Kootenay, Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary with support from Columbia Basin Trust, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Province of BC, FortisBC, BC Hydro, and Powertech Labs.
2) Affordability
- Federal:
To encourage more Canadians to buy zero-emission vehicles, Budget 2019 proposes to provide $300 million over three years, starting in 2019–20, to Transport Canada to introduce a new federal purchase incentive of up to $5,000 for electric battery or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of less than $45,000. Program details to follow. - BC:
CEVforBC™ Vehicle Incentive Program provides point-of-sale incentives on eligible vehicles of up to:
– $6,000 for the purchase or lease of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
– $5,000 for the purchase or lease of a new battery-electric vehicle
– $2,500 – $5,000 for the purchase or lease of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle - Global Developments:
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, electric cars will achieve price parity with gasoline vehicles by 2024 and become cheaper by 2025. Costs will decline as the average cost of an electric car battery fell by another 17% last year, representing an 85% decline since 2010.
Considering the global shift towards zero-emission vehicles and these beneficial government policies that are in place, are you considering switching to an EV? If you are, don’t forget to charge it with solar power to ensure you have a cleaner and more cost-effective drive! Contact us here for your solar and EV charging needs.