As part of its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the Canadian government has announced new regulations requiring all passenger cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks sold in Canada to be zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035. This follows the release of the plan earlier this year, which outlines Canada's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% to 45% by 2030.
In addition to the 2035 target, Canada has also set interim ZEV sales mandates, requiring ZEVs to make up 20% of new vehicle sales by 2026 and 60% by 2030. These targets are intended to increase the supply of ZEVs for consumers. The new mandate is estimated to result in cumulative greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 430 million tonnes between 2026 and 2050.
To further accelerate the transition to ZEVs, the Canadian government has also announced plans to invest in 50,000 additional EV charging stations, bringing the total number of federally funded chargers to 87,000 by 2027. In addition, the government is renewing a program that offers consumers and businesses up to $5,000 and $10,000, respectively, towards the cost of buying or leasing a ZEV.
Canada is joining a growing list of jurisdictions, including the EU, the UK, and the US, that have introduced ZEV requirements. Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, said that zero-emission vehicles are an attractive option for cost-conscious Canadians who want to help the environment and save money on high gasoline prices.