THE ROAD TO 100%
ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES BY 2035
Electric Vehicle Readiness Dashboard
Leading automotive industry associations today published an Electric Vehicle Readiness Dashboard that identifies the consumer incentive and charging infrastructure gaps that need to be addressed if Canada is to achieve its zero-emission vehicle sales targets.
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ZEVs available in Canada
There are currently over 70 different ZEVs available to Canadians including battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles. View the full list here
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Automakers are providing Canadians with ZEVs to suit their diverse driving needs from compact cars to SUVs and pick up trucks and everything in between.
Definitions
Zero-Emission vehicles (ZEV)
A ZEV is a vehicle that has the potential to produce no tailpipe emissions. They can still have a conventional internal combustion engine, but must also be able to operate without using it. ZEVs include battery-electric, plug-in hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Battery electric vehicles (BEV)
Battery electric vehicles are vehicles powered solely by an electric motor/battery pack that can be recharged from an external source as well as from regenerative braking.
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BEVs produce zero tailpipe emissions. They typically have a range greater than 200 km.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV)
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are vehicles with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor/battery pack that can be recharged from an external source as well as from regenerative braking. They typically run on electric power until the battery is drained and then the internal combustion engine takes over for propulsion. PHEVs produce zero tailpipe emissions when running on electric power. Common battery electric range for these vehicles is 40-60 km or higher.
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV)
Fuel cell electric vehicles are also powered solely by an electric motor like a BEV but instead of recharging a battery from an external source they generate their own electricity. FCEVs store hydrogen gas in an onboard tank that the fuel cell combines with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. The electricity from the fuel cell then powers an electric motor, which powers the vehicle just like a BEV. And like BEVs, there is no GHG emissions. Unlike BEVs or PHEVs, however, there is no need to plug-in FCEVs, since their fuel cells are recharged by refilling the hydrogen.
Boosting ZEV adoption
For Canada to achieve the target for all new light-duty cars and passenger trucks sales to be zero-emission by 2035, more ambitious government action is required to enhance consumer incentives, invest in charging infrastructure, build consumer education and create an electric vehicle battery supply chain.
ZEV FAQs
ZEVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution
ZEV drivers can almost entirely eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions footprint depending on the type of vehicle and source of electricity. With most of Canada’s electricity coming from a clean energy grid - low-emitting hydro and nuclear sources and growing solar and wind generation - the greenhouse gas emissions reduction opportunity is huge.
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Fully electric cars are cheaper to operate
Fully battery electric cars are cheaper to fuel and operate, saving the average EV driver hundreds of dollars per year on gas and maintenance. Replacing gasoline with electricity can save the average driver as much as $1,500 per year on fuel alone.
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ZEVs have low life-cycle emissions
Battery electric cars generate half the emissions of the average comparable gasoline car, even when battery manufacturing is accounted for. This gap is expected to grow as more renewable electricity comes online in Canada.
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ZEV batteries can be repurposed and recycled
When an EV battery no longer has enough charge to power a vehicle over an expected range, it could be repurposed as an energy storage unit to support, for example, the electricity grid. If an EV battery is not repurposed, it can be recycled, with the raw materials removed and reused, reducing any environmental impact.
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ZEVs can drive long distances
Many battery electric vehicles available today travel 300+ kilometers on a single charge – not dissimilar to an internal combustion engine vehicle. There are also several plug-in hybrids available that will travel 40 to 80 kilometers on electric before switching to a gasoline engine/generator for additional range, helping to address range anxiety while charging infrastructure continues to be built.
There are ZEVs available to meet every driver’s needs
There are 68 different ZEVs available to Canadians right now with over 130 models expected in the coming years, including electrified versions of popular SUVs and pick up trucks.
