Following the government of Canada’s announcement regarding new light and medium duty vehicle emissions reduction targets, the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association (CVMA) has announced its support for the new regulations, which align with those previously announced by the U.S. and affect vehicles from the 2017 through 2025 model years.
The proposed new regulations aim to see vehicles in the 2025 model year use 50 per cent less fuel than those from 2008.
“The proposed regulations set a very challenging objective for Canada’s vehicle manufacturers,” said Mark Nantais, President of the CVMA. Nantais also said that “by being part of a robust, aligned standard, new, more advanced technologies can come to market more quickly with a greater choice of products that are more affordable for consumers.” Nantais also said that this will enable manufacturers to “take advantage of the economies of scale derived from the larger integrated market inherent in the North American automobile industry.”
Canada also introduced new Tier 3 criteria air containment (smog causing) emission standards for new vehicles that will further reduce those emissions by 80 per cent from the existing Tier 2 emissions standards, which are currently the most stringent of their kind in the world. The environment benefit is expected to be further maximized as the regulation takes a total systems approach where new emission control technologies, necessary for meeting the requirements are supported by improved fuel quality.
“These new regulations will further help reduce the impact of vehicles on regional air quality. In this regard, the on-road light duty vehicle fleet is the only sector to demonstrate continuous year over year reduction in smog-causing emissions since 1985,” said Nantais.
Additionally, the government of Canada also announced its intention to further align to the more stringent U.S. greenhouse gas emissions regulations for heavy duty vehicles and engines for the 2018 model year and beyond, with the aim of reducing commercial vehicle emissions by up to 23 per cent.
