Requiring automakers to meet the goal of 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 20235 could lead to a 20% reduction in the price of electric vehicles, according to a recent report released Thursday.
According to the report by Équiterre and Environmental Defence, the anticipation provided for in the Emissions Reduction Plan would force manufacturers to market affordable models.
The report, which is based on a study by Simon Fraser University, reveals that integrating sales targets into the legal framework would reduce carbon emissions by 135 million tonnes and prevent the combustion of 57.5 billion liters of gasoline.
“Canada will not achieve its sales targets for zero-emission vehicles if they are not rigorously regulated,” said Andréanne Brazeau, sustainable mobility policy analyst at Équiterre.
“Not only is such a policy already a success in Quebec and British Columbia, it is also consistent with the international climate commitment that Canada made at COP26,” said Ms. Brazeau.
With the current subsidy model, this would cost taxpayers more than $54 billion by 2035, of which 10 billion% would be pocketed by the automobile industry, which will thus have the opportunity to subsidize the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by reducing the price of $2300.
“The federal government must not let the greed of the auto industry stand between us and a sustainable future,” said Nate Wallace, director of the sustainable transportation program at Environmental Defense.