The transportation sector is Canada’s second-largest source of pollution. Supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles is a major part of Canada’s C$9.1bn Emissions Reduction Plan to meet its Paris Agreement target for 2030 and get on track for net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Government of Canada is taking action to accelerate the integration of zero-emission technologies in the trucking industry, addressing climate change while simultaneously building an economy that works for everyone.
To this end, Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez has announced an investment of nearly C$3m (US$2.2m) under the Zero-Emission Trucking Program in support of three projects in Québec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.
Of this investment, C$1.5m (US$1.1m) will be used to establish a Zero-Emission Trucking Testbed in the Montréal area. The testbed, launched in collaboration with FPInnovations, will collect real-world performance data in Canadian conditions to speed up the reduction of pollution from medium- and heavy-duty on-road transportation.
Two additional investments, totaling just over C$1.3m (US$960,000) in Government of Canada support, will enable projects in British Columbia and Nova Scotia to gain information on zero-emission truck performance, the development of training materials, and required provincial planning to support the safe deployment of zero-emission trucking technologies.
The British Columbia project will support commercial vehicle pilots, training and knowledge-sharing activities, to communicate its findings to a wide audience of stakeholders. The Nova Scotia project will study the province’s technical needs, including the types and number of vehicles and refueling/recharging stations required, and will develop guidelines to inform the adoption of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
A new call for proposals under the Zero-Emission Trucking Program is currently open until October 3, 2023. Eligible projects can receive up to C$1m(US$740,000) to advance efforts.
The Government of Canada has set an ambitious target for all new medium-and heavy-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2040 where feasible. Through these projects, the government is taking direct action to support industry, provinces and territories to deploy and gain firsthand experience with medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
“Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles contribute significantly to pollution in Canada, and our government remains committed to helping the trucking industry transition toward cleaner alternatives,” commented Rodriquez. “This announcement is great news for the sector in helping facilitate that transition.”