Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi, announced that Natural Resources Canada is launching the first request for proposals (RFP) for its Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. This will result in a targeted expansion of zero-emission vehicle charging (Level 2 and higher) and refuelling stations. This RFP will target public places and on-street locations, and will close on September 18, 2019.
The federal government’s most recent budget announced $130 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, to deploy new recharging and refuelling stations in the following streams: multi-unit residential buildings, workplaces, public spaces, and on street parking and for strategic projects for electric vehicle and/or hydrogen infrastructure in corporate fleets, delivery fleets, and mass transit.
The program expects to launch multiple requests for proposals each year focusing on one or several infrastructure streams.
To support the transition to a low-carbon transportation system, the Government of Canada has set targets for sales of zero-emission vehicles in Canada, which are as follows: 10 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2025, 30 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040.
Budget 2019 proposes $300 million, starting in 2019–20, to introduce a new federal purchase incentive program to encourage more Canadians to buy zero-emission vehicles. The new Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles program provides incentives for battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
