Bruce Power representatives joined Pollution Probe, the University of Waterloo, and Plug'n Drive to release a collaborative report on electric vehicles [EVs] in Ottawa.
The report says EV technology presents an enormous opportunity to help provinces and territories reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
Vehicles contribute the second largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
Vice President Corporate Affairs James Scongack says Canada already has a relatively low carbon electricity mix, so more EVs would make deep cuts into carbon emissions .
The report explores way to build the existing policy framework for plug- in EVs.
The report, titled Accelerating the Deployment of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in Canada and Ontario, also highlights opportunities to accelerate and optimize the decarbonization capability of EVs.
The report says each region needs their own approach considering electricity supply mix, distributions, grid stability, and charging infrastructure
The paper suggests Ottawa do a national study to evaluate EV experiences across Canada to identify opportunities and barriers.
The report recommends the provinces work along with Ottawa toward lower carbon energy production such as nuclear, natural gas and hydroelectric.
It suggests enhanced financial incentives to purchase the cars, and that automotive manufacturers, dealerships and governments collaborate to increase inventory of electric vehicles at car lots.
Pollution Probe’s Steve McCauley says we need to accelerate efforts to decarbonize the transportation system right now using clean electricity systems. Ontario phased out coal-fired electricity in 2014.
“The Government of Canada and many provinces such as Ontario are moving ahead aggressively in their climate strategies to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles,”
McCauley said. “We must create and implement policies that will build on these commendable actions by governments, and put more EVs in more driveways to support the transition to low-carbon transportation. The technology of emissions-free vehicles is improving every year, and infrastructure upgrades are happening continuously across the province and nationally. Driving an EV is no longer a novelty; it is a practical mode of transportation, with the benefit of generating no carbon emissions.”
The release of the reports comes at a time when both provincial and federal governments are developing and implementing policy to meet short-, medium- and long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets, said Cara Clairman, Plug’n Drive’s President and CEO.
“Electric vehicles are undoubtedly the future of a cleaner, less carbon-intensive transportation system in Ontario and across Canada,” Clairman said. “Through a collaborative mindset and a common focus of increasing EV usage, governments, businesses and non-profit organizations can work together to make EVs more economical and practical for both rural and urban residents by implementing many of the strategies outlined in this report.”