Electric Vehicles

In recent years, demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has increased significantly, and the National Energy Board projects that EVs will comprise up to 64% of total vehicle sales in Canada by 2040. As EV adoption grows and we continue to work towards our TransformTO emissions reduction targets, it's critical that we make it convenient and accessible to own an EV in Toronto.

In 2020, City Council approved Toronto's first EV Strategy which aims to facilitate and accommodate the rising prevalence of EVs on our streets. The strategy focuses on increasing EV charger availability, addressing cost and convenience barriers, and promoting public awareness about EV technology, with the goal of 100% of light-duty vehicles being zero-emitting by 2050. The key components of the strategy include:

  • Mandatory requirements for installation of charging infrastructure in new developments;

  • Pilots for on-street charging station infrastructure; and

  • A Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) for homeowners interested in purchasing EV charging infrastructure.

We're already seeing important progress on the EV Strategy, including significant investments by the other levels of government. In June, City Council authorized the Toronto Atmospheric Fund to receive $2 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada for the implementation of approximately 300 EV charging stations throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). According to Statistics Canada, 1.86 million commuters drove into Toronto from the surrounding region in 2016. Switching even a fraction of these vehicles to EVs would result in massive reductions in our City's greenhouse gas emissions.

EnvironmentJaye RobinsonEnvironment, Electric Vehicles, Transportation