Commercial EV “Forgotten”: New Clean Energy Canada Reports Huge Missed Opportunities

Clean Energy Canada’s “The Payload” report says by failing to implement the commercial EV into many services, the country is missing out on reduced emissions & economic growth.

Canada Needs to Switch Big Vehicles to Commercial EV: New Report Shows

Electric cars are getting a lot of attention. But Canada is forgetting about bigger vehicles like buses and trucks. A new report from Clean Energy Canada, The Payload, says these vehicles cause a lot of pollution. It also shows that Canada could help its economy by making more electric buses and trucks.

Buses and Trucks Cause Lots of Pollution

In Canada, transportation creates 25% of the country’s emissions. Almost half of that comes from buses, trucks, and vans. But these vehicles are not talked about as much when it comes to switching to electric. The report says 15,300 people die early each year because of air pollution, and buses and trucks are a big reason why.

Switching these vehicles to electric would make a huge difference. Replacing one delivery truck with an electric one is like five families switching to electric cars. Buses and trucks pollute a lot, especially in cities. This is worse during weekdays when there’s more traffic.

The Commercial EV Presents a Big Opportunity for Canada

Switching to electric is not just good for the environment. It’s also good for Canada’s economy. The first electric vehicle made in Canada was a delivery van, GM’s Brightdrop Zevo 600. Right now, Canada has at least seven companies that make clean trucks and buses.

However, Canada is behind other countries. Only 2% of the new trucks and buses sold in Canada in 2023 were electric. Around the world, 9% of new trucks and buses were electric. If Canada doesn’t start using more of its own electric vehicles, it will fall behind in the global market.

Electric Vehicles Are Better for Health

Switching to electric trucks and buses will help Canadians stay healthy. Diesel-powered trucks and buses create a lot of pollution. In the Greater Toronto Area, diesel trucks cause nearly 10,000 years of lost life each year. This pollution causes serious health problems, especially for children and older people.

For example, in Vancouver, the air is much dirtier during the week because of the trucks on the roads. Switching these trucks to electric would make the air much cleaner.

What Canada Can Do to Help Implement the Commercial EV

Canada can do more to switch to electric trucks and buses. The report suggests several ways to speed up the process:

Incentives for Buying Electric Trucks: Governments can offer money to help businesses buy electric trucks. This would make them more affordable.
More Charging Stations: It’s important to have enough places for trucks and buses to charge. Canada needs to build more charging stations to make it easier for companies to switch to electric.
Rules for Manufacturers: The government can require manufacturers to sell more electric vehicles. California has already done this. Now, 17% of new trucks and buses sold there are electric. The European Union also has strong rules for reducing pollution from big vehicles.

By taking these steps, Canada can catch up with other countries and reduce its emissions.

Learning from Other Countries Usage of the Commercial EV

Canada can learn from places like California and the European Union. They have already set strong rules to lower pollution from trucks and buses. These places show Canada what is possible.