DesRosiers Automotive Consultants’ latest update reveals gasoline consumption, a variable that helps indicate the scope of vehicle usage in Canada and demand for aftermarket parts and services, has pulled ahead following a slow first quarter.
While seasonal, DAC said gasoline consumption continues to see growth even after the pandemic. It is a variable that is influenced by both kilometres driven and the efficiency and product mix within the fleet. That is particularly the case when considering the prevalence of zero-emission vehicles.
“The ZEV share of the 24.6 million light vehicles on the road remained limited at 2.8 per cent for 2024,” said DAC in its update. “This share also sees significant regional variation, for example accounting for 0.7 per cent of the 3.2 million light vehicles in Alberta versus 5.2 per cent of the 5.6 million light vehicles in Quebec.”
According to Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC, there are also divergent structural changes impacting fuel consumption in Canada. “On one hand the total vehicle fleet is growing, and the share of the fleet accounted for by light trucks continues to increase,” he said in a statement.
King added that “counterbalancing that is the growing ZEV share of the fleet, and also the improved fuel economy of recent model year ICE vehicles.”
