All new passenger vehicles sold in Canada will be required to be zero emissions by 2035.

While that’s more than a decade away, automakers have been given mandates ahead of that date of what percentage of their vehicle sales must be zero emissions.

These are the required targets:

• 2026 – 20 per cent of all vehicle sales
• 2030 – 60 per cent of all vehicle sales
• 2035 – 100 per cent of all vehicle sales

The Government of Canada announced these requirements on Dec. 19.

“Many Canadians are increasingly eager to make the switch to cleaner transportation, since it’s a win-win-win in savings, their heath, and the environment,” said Steven Guilbeault, minister of environment and climate change, in a news release.

“Putting in place an Electric Vehicle Availability Standard fulfills a major climate commitment from our climate plan. Getting more electric vehicles on the road is another example of how we are taking climate action while helping make life more affordable. And our investments to position Canada as a significant player in the global electric vehicle manufacturing and battery supply chain shows how we are taking advantage of the economic opportunities provided by the emerging low-carbon economy.”

The Canadian government is projecting that 100 per cent new electric vehicle sales by 2035 will reduce 360 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Government rebate

The government also offers the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program, a point-of-sale $5,000 rebate for those who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle.

Passenger cars with a base manufacturer’s suggested retail price of less than $55,000, as well as those same vehicles with a higher priced trim up to a maximum MSRP of $65,000 are eligible for the rebate.

Furthermore, station wagons, pickup trucks (light truck), sport utility vehicles (SUV), minivans, vans, or special purpose vehicles with a base MSRP of less than $60,000 and and their higher priced trims with a maximum MSRP of $70,000 are eligible for the rebate.

Learn more on the rebates on the Government of Canada website.