Canadians are increasingly choosing a zero-emissions car

As a ban on light-gasoline vehicles approaches in 2035, more Canadians are choosing a zero-emissions vehicle, according to a survey by Statistics Canada on Tuesday.

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The share of registered zero-emission vehicles, which includes battery-powered vehicles and plug-in hybrids, fell from 3.5% in the first quarter of 2020 to 4.6% in the first quarter of 2021, according to the federal agency. This is an increase of 63.7% compared to the first three months of 2019.

Furthermore, since 2019, several programs have been put in place to encourage Canadians to turn their backs on petrol vehicles. For more than two years, Ottawa has implemented the Zero Vehicle Incentive (iVZE) ​​program, which offers Canadians a maximum rebate of $5,000 for the purchase of a new zero-emissions vehicle.

In Quebec and British Columbia, where nearly three-quarters (73.4%) of new zero-emission vehicles were registered in January, February and March 2021, Rollys Fair County and British Columbia Clean Energy Vehicles (CEV for British Columbia) are also present.

At the end of June, the federal government announced that it was moving forward with its goal of banning the sale of light gasoline vehicles from 2035, instead of 2040 as previously planned.