When we talk about electric vehicles in Canada, we’re often focused on the passenger cars we drive every day. But what about the buses, trucks, and delivery vans that make up 37 per cent of transport emissions in Canada? A recent report by Clean Energy Canada says these vehicles, ranging from city buses to garbage trucks, have been largely ignored in the conversation on decarbonizing transportation.
Canada currently lags far behind other nations in adopting zero-emission commercial vehicles, the report says, representing a missed opportunity for both reducing emissions and boosting Canadian manufacturing.
The report notes that in 2023, only two per cent of new trucks and buses sold in Canada were zero-emission vehicles, compared to a global average of nine per cent. For a country with seven clean bus and truck manufacturers and a history of automotive innovation, this is a problem. The report adds that the first fully electric vehicle manufactured in Canada, GM’s Brightdrop Zevo 600, was a delivery van, not a passenger car.
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The benefits of electrifying these vehicles extend beyond just cutting emissions. The report points out that cleaner trucks and buses mean cleaner air, especially in urban centers where air pollution is linked to 15,300 premature deaths annually in Canada. The report adds that electrifying just 10 last-mile delivery trucks produces the same air quality benefit as getting 56 households to switch to electric cars.
So, what’s the solution? Clean Energy Canada lays out a comprehensive policy package to jumpstart the shift. This includes extending federal incentives for purchasing zero-emission trucks and buses until at least 2030 and introducing regulations that mandate a certain percentage of zero-emission commercial vehicle sales. The report also focuses on expanding charging infrastructure and educating fleet operators on the benefits and logistics of going electric.
The report argues there is a lot at stake, for both the environment and Canada’s economy. By supporting the adoption of zero-emission commercial vehicles, Canada can help local manufacturers scale up and compete globally. The report emphasizes that it’s time to stop overlooking our biggest vehicles and start leveraging this opportunity for a cleaner, more competitive future.
It says:
Canada’s current patchwork of policies won’t be sufficient to meet the country’s own targets — let alone keep up with global momentum and set its clean bus and truck industry up for success. Federal and provincial governments must collaborate to roll out a clean commercial vehicle policy package for Canada, working closely with municipalities, utilities, and the private sector.
“Why Buses and Trucks are Canada’s Forgotten Emissions and Manufacturing Opportunity,” by Clean Energy Canada, The Payload, Sept. 5, 2024, p. 14.
Download the full report originally published by Clean Energy Canada on September 5, 2024.
