Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Electric vehicle sales grow, but not fast enough

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Apr, 2022 05:09 PM
  • Electric vehicle sales grow, but not fast enough

OTTAWA - Electric vehicle sales grew almost 60 per cent last year but they need to pick up the pace even more to hit the new federal sales mandates expected by the end of this year.

Statistics Canada released the latest quarterly data on new vehicle registrations Thursday, showing in the fourth quarter of 2021, plug-in cars and SUVs made up more than six per cent of new vehicle registrations for the first time.

Across the whole year, 86,000 battery-electric and plug-in hybrids were sold, accounting for 5.2 per cent of new registrations. That compares with 54,000 in 2020, making up 3.5 per cent of total vehicle registrations.

Five years ago, electric vehicles made up fewer than one in 100 new cars sold. In 2021, they made up one in 20.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault intends to mandate that by 2026 electric vehicles make up one in five new passenger vehicles sold. By 2030, it must be at least half, and by 2035, all new vehicles sold must run on batteries.

He is currently developing a national sales quota system that will impose penalties on dealerships or car companies that don't sell enough electric vehicles.

"Switching to an electric vehicle is one of the most impactful things Canadians can do to help fight climate change," Guilbeault said in a statement to The Canadian Press.

Passenger cars and trucks made up more than half the greenhouse gas emissions from road transportation in 2020, and more than one-tenth of Canada's total emissions that year.

Quebec and British Columbia already have provincial sales mandates and have had purchase-price rebates for years. They also lead the pack in overall sales, with 71 per cent of all new electric vehicles in Canada registered in those two provinces in 2021.

In the last five years, three in every four electric vehicles were registered in Quebec or B.C.

Within Quebec, electric vehicles made up nine per cent of new registrations in 2021, and in B.C. it was 11.6 per cent. Ontario, which is the next highest, is at three per cent.

Every province saw growth in electric vehicle registrations in 2021.

While growth in electric vehicle sales is happening, it isn't on pace to meet Guilbeault's new targets. At the current rate of growth, electric vehicles will make up approximately 15 to 16 per cent of new registrations by the end of 2026.

The national sales mandate is expected to help, but Guilbeault said Thursday the government is investing heavily to help the Canadian auto industry transform to pump out electric vehicles, as well as funding more charging stations and expanding the federal rebate program for electric vehicles.

On Friday, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra will announce how the government intends to expand that rebate program so more expensive SUVs and pickup trucks coming onto the electric vehicle market can qualify.

Since the rebates began flowing in May 2019, more than 141,000 vehicles have qualified for up to $5,000 off the purchase price. As of March 31, $611 million went to the rebates.

The recent budget is adding another $1.7 billion to keep them flowing for another few years and raise the maximum purchase price.

MORE National ARTICLES

Mass timber funding for B.C. university projects

Mass timber funding for B.C. university projects
Ravi Kahlon, minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, says the university is among those to get $1.2 million in funding that will be used to help build a 783-bed housing and dining facility set to open in September.

Mass timber funding for B.C. university projects

B.C. moves to weekly COVID-19 reporting

B.C. moves to weekly COVID-19 reporting
A Health Ministry bulletin says the weekly reports will focus on identifying meaningful changes in key COVID-19 measurements and trends over time. It also says that reporting on deaths is changing to count all deaths that occurred within 30 days of the person's positive lab result, regardless of whether the underlying cause of death was found to be linked to COVID-19.

B.C. moves to weekly COVID-19 reporting

Darpan 10 with Kevin Falcon, Leader of the BC Liberals

Darpan 10 with Kevin Falcon, Leader of the BC Liberals
Kevin Falcon, the leader of the BC Liberals is back into the political arena after a decade long hiatus. Find out more on his perspective regarding affordability, housing, vision for his party and much more. 

Darpan 10 with Kevin Falcon, Leader of the BC Liberals

Woman assaulted and held against her will in a moving vehicle

Woman assaulted and held against her will in a moving vehicle
The passenger in the vehicle, who was the victim of this alleged assault, was actively trying to exit the vehicle, and get the attention of other motorists by using hand signals and calling out for help. The victim is described as having short dark hair and wearing a red sweatshirt, black jacket, and blue jeans at the time of the assault.

Woman assaulted and held against her will in a moving vehicle

New rules for convicted elected officials in B.C.

New rules for convicted elected officials in B.C.
A statement from the ministry says the legislative changes will give municipalities and regional districts two separate but related options when a politician is either charged with or found guilty of a criminal offence.

New rules for convicted elected officials in B.C.

Drug users roll up sleeves for COVID vaccines

Drug users roll up sleeves for COVID vaccines
Karen Ward said a study that showed high vaccine uptake in the neighbourhood also suggests a co-ordinated strategy can work with a marginalized group that sometimes faces discrimination in the health-care system.

Drug users roll up sleeves for COVID vaccines