The global shift to electric cars is well underway, bringing with it big changes for drivers, industries and governments around the world. But as our peers accelerate, Canada is coasting—on both policy and per-capita sales. In 2016, just 0.6 per cent of car sales in Canada were for electric vehicles, well behind the U.S., U.K., China and other world-leading nations (Norway’s market share is a whopping 28.8 per cent). And it’s not for lack of interest: Canadians must wait months to get their hands on new EVs when they hit the market. The good news is Ottawa’s forthcoming national Zero-Emissions Vehicle Strategy could help us catch up—but only with the right design. Stuck in Neutral examines the EV market at home and abroad, putting forward a series of policy recommendations that would help Canada accelerate to the front of the pack.
