CADA urges policy actions in ZEV report to government
February 7, 2022
The federal government aims to ensure 100 per cent of new vehicle registrations are zero-emission vehicles by 2035—but several policy changes will be required to meet this goal, according to CADA.
The association played a leading role with automotive sector associations in submitting key information to two major government consultations on the future policy of zero-emission vehicles. That key information was provided in a report that was recently submitted to the federal government in response to a stakeholder consultation on proposed federal approaches to achieving zero-emissions in the light-duty vehicle sector.
“The transition to 100 per cent ZEV sales will be a massive societal transition that will require government leadership and programs, as well as a shift in societal barriers,” said Tim Reuss, President and CEO of CADA. “It will also require federal and provincial cooperation to avoid competing and potentially counterproductive approaches.”
The report also notes that dealers will be essential in the selling and servicing of ZEVs, and that it will be important to leverage the existing Canadian dealer network—“which will be vital in helping to ensure the quick adoption of ZEVs by Canadians through the education that dealers can provide, and the servicing of these vehicles, among other things,” said Reuss.
The association listed a number of policy changes that will be required to ensure that 100 per cent of new vehicle registrations are ZEVs by 2035.
According to CADA Director of Public Affairs Huw Williams, the key public policy actions that are required range from enhancing ZEV consumer purchase incentives to building accessible public charging infrastructure, the creation of a public awareness campaign about the benefits of ZEVs, and the creation of a battery supply chain from mining to recycling.
“There are a number of things the government will need to consider and implement to reach its target, including the adoption of a federal vehicle scrappage program where the program’s incentives are given directly to those buying a vehicle,” said Williams.
He also said federal, provincial, and municipal fleets should buy more EVs, and that the government should avoid the danger of short-term, arbitrary deadlines to ensure its ultimate goal is reached. Locations, such as rural versus remote Canada, should also be taken into consideration.
“CADA is concerned that one of the biggest potential impediments to widespread EV deployment could be avoided if all publicly funded charging stations were made non-proprietary and EV-charging plugs were standardized so they could be recharged at any charging station,” said Williams. “We recommend that any mandate should take into account the unique rural challenge ZEV adoption faces.”
Building codes are another issue that the association raised in its report; building codes requiring charging stations exist in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec to some extent—but are more of a patchwork solution that, according to Williams, requires federal leadership for a national harmonized approach to accommodate interprovincial ZEV-ready building codes in all provinces.
“A ZEV sales mandate in a context where Canadians cannot charge their vehicle at home does not make any sense and will not work,” he said.
The pressure that will be placed on an aging electricity grid from the increasing adoption of ZEVs will also require further investment.
Each point was laid out in detail in CADA’s report to the federal government, which urges the consideration of more ambitious government action to enhance consumer incentives, invest in charging infrastructure, build consumer education, and create an electric vehicle battery supply chain.
“Canada is a vast northern country and our success economically and as a society depends on a working automotive transportation network,” said Williams.
Dealers can view the submission here.