Transport Canada’s iMHZEV Program a step forward in Canada’s transportation electrification

MONTREAL – Electric Mobility Canada (EMC) congratulates The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, on today’s announcement of the Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (iMHZEV) Program.

“This is an historic day for the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (MHDV) industry in Canada, as it is the first time a Federal government incentive has been offered for zero-emission vehicles in these commercial categories,” stated Daniel Breton, President & CEO of EMC. With more than half a billion dollars in funding, Transport Canada’s just-launched iMHZEV Program will be a cornerstone of Canada’s efforts to reduce the outsized environmental harms of diesel trucks and other commercial vehicles. From utility and step vans to bucket and beverage trucks, from dump trailers and cement mixers to tractor-trailers and coach buses, the diversity and high utilization of commercial and vocational vehicles means there is a role for government to play in helping this segment of the transportation sector move toward cleaner technologies.

EMC welcomes this new federal initiative—which fulfills a commitment under Budget 2022—to introduce a tiered, timely, point-of-sale purchase incentive that will defray the additional up-front cost of zero-emission vehicles, and help Canadian companies make more climate-conscious decisions while also growing their businesses. It also aligns with policy recommendation 8 in EMC’s 2030 EV Action Plan – an industry-led project outlining how Canada can reach 100% electric passenger vehicle sales by 2030 in support of national economic, environmental and public health goals. For all other vehicles, the same should be achieved by 2040 at the latest.

“Our organization has been advocating for financial support to help Canada transition to medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles because, not only do MHDVs represent more than one third of Canada’s GHG emissions in transport, but they also represent a disproportionate part of air pollutant emissions,” said Breton. “This is an important part of helping Canada reach its climate targets while creating high-quality, sustainable jobs for Canadians.”