ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Canadians want EVs, & they might get them

It’s official: gas-guzzlers are out and electric cars are in—at least if Canadians get their way. Long gone are the days when EVs were loved only by wonky environmentalists (although those wonks might enjoy the upcoming EMC trade show). According to a new poll from Clean Energy Canada and Abacus Data, most Canadians (64%) want electric cars to become the majority of cars on the road, while almost three-quarters expect to see them become the norm.

And it’s about to get easier for Canadians to make that happen. The federal government's pre-election budget is expected to include EV purchase incentives, something Clean Energy Canada has been calling for. The new subsidies will make it even cheaper to go electric.

Now we just need automakers to deliver the goods (you can scroll down for the latest EV goods). As I told CBC: “This sends a clear signal that car companies need to accelerate some of the plans they have to introduce new models of electric cars and, in particular, getting into minivans, SUVs, and crossovers.”

‘Stop melting our future’ 

Whoever said “with age comes wisdom” clearly hadn’t met the new generation of climate protesters. Across the world, students walked out of the classroom last Friday and onto the streets, placards-raised, to fight for their future. Inspired by Greta-the-great Thunberg (who just got nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 16), the youth are demanding stronger climate action from the “dinosaur” decision-makers. Here in Canada, thousands of students joined marches in their home towns and cities, with one teen striker likening climate change inaction to “putting off homework.”

New Mexico, new energy

New Mexico is planning to source all of its energy from renewables by 2040. Yes, you read that right. One of the U.S.’s largest oil, gas, and coal producers has decided that renewables are actually better. Most of the energy is expected to come from wind and solar.

U.K. gives gas the boot 

The U.K. poked its head out briefly from under the Brexit blanket this week for some clean energy leadership. Gas heating in new homes will be banned after 2025, to be replaced with “heat pumps and with ‘world-leading’ insulation standards.” The gas ban was joined by a commitment to source 30% of the U.K.’s power from offshore wind.

Y, a new Tesla

The Tesla Model Y is here. And it can be yours for US$39,000. Like all the Teslas, it can go like stink (0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds) with a range between 370 km and 480 km (that’s slightly below the Model 3, given Model Y’s bigger size). But is Tesla losing its edge? In the Chinese market, for instance, the new Model Y will join 48 fellow electric SUVs, many of which are cheaper and easier to access.

New Lion joins the EV pride

Quebec-based manufacturer Lion Electric has come roaring onto the electric truck scene this week with the new Lion8 urban delivery truck. The new Lion already has its claws in the Quebec market, with plans to deliver the Lion8 to the government-run alcohol distributor SAQ. Beer tastes best when it’s delivered emission-free.  

All that ails the oil patch

Boosting the oil patch with pipelines alone may be a bit of a pipe dream, according to this article in the Financial Post. The oil patch’s problems are bigger and more global than that. Take the “financier’s carbon tax”: big investors, like pension funds, are steering clear of companies that pollute above a certain threshold, putting financial pressure on them to lower their emissions—sort of like a carbon tax.

It’s been a good week for Albertan cleantech

$100 million of government funding is on its way to Albertan clean transport, while another $415 million is earmarked for cleantech developments in natural resource extraction projects, including oilsands and mineral extraction.

It’s money well spent...

Especially, when you consider a study by UN Environment, which suggests half the world’s emissions come from natural resource extraction. Investing in the associated cleantech is more than just a smart idea—it’s essential.

Air pollution kills more people than smoking

Seven-million people every year: that’s the world’s striking death toll from air pollution. I’ll leave you with this from one of the study’s authors: “When we use clean, renewable energy, we are not just fulfilling the Paris Agreement to mitigate the effects of climate change, we could also reduce air pollution-related death.”

IMAGE & MEDIA CREDITS