Canada Follows Quebec’s Lead in Ending New Gasoline Cars by 2035

News
Published on August 2, 2021

Announced in November 2020 by the Government of Quebec, the ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in 2035 will finally be extended across the country. A measure that is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it may not be as drastic for consumers as it looks.

Canada originally planned to ban new gasoline cars in 2040. The recent announcement will allow all provinces to adopt the timelines already established by Quebec, California and several other U.S. states. While it will change the habits of many motorists, there are still provisions and intentions in Ottawa that will allow for a gradual transition to a strictly electric approach.

Plug-in hybrids still allowed

As Quebec also stated before, the federal government has clearly stated its intention to classify plug-in hybrid models as zero-emission vehicles that can be sold by car dealers. This should reassure consumers, who may not be ready to adopt a 100% electric car in 14 years. Consider, for example, people who pull heavy RVs over long distances, or tenants and urban owners who may not necessarily be able to install a home charging station. Currently, a plug-in hybrid car typically travels 20 to 80 km in electric mode before its gas engine takes over.

A Lively Second-hand Market

The end of the selling gas only vehicles will affect only new models. So, it will still be possible to buy a used gas car, from both an individual and a merchant. Remember that a car can easily travel 300,000 km if it is well maintained, giving it a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. However, gasoline models require up to twice as much maintenance as all-electric models, and their energy consumption is often three or four times more expensive.

Winning Conditions for More Electric Vehicles

The majority of automakers are already accelerating the design and unveiling their electric vehicles (EVs). Many of them have even announced their withdrawal from fabricating combustion models within 10 to 20 years. This includes Audi, General Motors, Honda, and Volkswagen. A diverse range of EVs will be available in 2035, with greater independence, capacity and performance than today’s best models. Canada is also interested in partnering with private companies to assemble zero-emission vehicles in Canada. Ottawa is also committed to maintaining EV discounts as long as their prices are higher than equivalent gasoline models–which is expected to be the case for another 5 to 10 years. The combination of the Canadian and Quebec rebates for the purchase of a 100% electric model is $13,000. Even if this amount is applied after taxes are calculated, it seriously reduces the price differential between an EV and an equivalent gasoline-powered car.

In fact, you don’t have to wait 15 years to shop for an EV; Roulonselectrique.ca, under the umbrella of Équiterre, already has a catalogue that includes all the plug-in electric and hybrid models available in Quebec. Complete and convenient, the tool sorts them by engine type and ascending price order, including discounts. For more information on long-term operating costs, you can also consult the CAA calculator.

The Challenge of Home Terminals in the City

CAA-Québec continues to recommend that EV purchasers install a 240-volt terminal at home. This is the most flexible and cost-effective charging method, despite the initial cost of the terminal, which the Government of Quebec is subsidizing for up to $600. For private parking holders, this is usually not an issue. But for renters and condo owners, it is sometimes more complicated or even impossible to charge at home. The federal government is promising to fund home terminals, which is a step in the right direction. It is hoped, however, that these investments will include solutions for residents of multi-unit buildings. If not, large-scale EV adoption could hit a wall in densely populated areas.

Faster and More Accessible Public Charging

With an already good supply in Quebec, the public network will continue to grow by 2035. This applies first of all to the number of fast terminals, which will increase fivefold to 2500 units by 2030, only in the Electric Circuit. This circuit already has 100 kW stations that will double the charging speed of some vehicles. It also plans to add 4,500 terminals on downtown streets, precisely to make it easier for users who can’t install a terminal at home.

Other networks will also grow, such as Electrify Canada. Launched by Volkswagen in the wake of the diesel engine scandal, Volkswagen has just announced that it will install more than 500 stations in at least 100 locations across the country by 2025. Some of these chargers have a power capacity of 350 kW, which can recover 100 km in about 5 minutes on the few models equipped to channel this current. In addition, Tesla plans to open its global network of 25,000 stations to other brands by the end of the year.

Useful references

Interested in an electric vehicle now? Let CAA-Quebec help you shop:

  • Road tests -Our experts review electric cars, rechargeable hybrids, and standard hybrids.