Introducing our newest column: a rant on how the motive industry impacts the environment. But with new and promising innovations, the future is looking just a little bit greener and cleaner.
By Carter Hammett
The interaction between vehicles and the environment remains a rude reality throughout the Atlantic region and the rest of Canada. This is an area with ongoing and rapid changing challenges balanced with some innovative solutions shaping our automotive future. The ongoing demand for progressive mobility must be balanced against issues like emissions, health impacts, and sustainability, making this a critical time for industry and communities alike.
Concerns in Atlantic Canada
One of the key issues gobbling media real estate in Atlantic Canada is air pollution generated by combustion-powered vehicles. According to driveelectricatlantic.ca, the region’s 3,900 school buses, mostly diesel-powered, serve 225,000 children daily, exposing them to levels of CO2 and particulate matter that surpass Health Canada recommendations and impacts physical and mental health concerns for both children and bus drivers. Health Canada estimates that air pollution causes an estimated $120 billion in health expenditures with traffic-related air pollution contributing to hundreds of premature deaths and millions of sick days each year.
Additionally, city environments experience a phenomenon called traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) which is a volatile cocktail composed of road dust, tire wear, engine emissions and other variables that can trigger respiratory issues in the general population.
Another undeniable hot topic of conversation these days is of course, climate change. The federal government estimates that the transportation industry is responsible for 24% of Canada’s Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, making it the second largest polluter across the country.
While Canada moves at a glacial pace to warm up to electric vehicle adoption, Atlantic Canada not only remains a small market but has collectively demonstrated a reluctance to commit to transitioning drivers to EVs. Part of this hesitancy no doubt can be attributed to concerns about driving distances, a low charging infrastructure and the huge upfront costs for zero-emission vehicles. In September, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the feds won’t be implementing a mandate requiring that 20 per cent of all new Canadian vehicles by next year be electric. He announced a two-month review of the country’s EV program.
Finally, last issue we turned a sharp eye to the havoc wreaked by microplastics from tire particulates that end up in waterways, poisoning fish and winding up in human systems as well. Trust us when we say we’ll be returning to this topic.
Solutions
But it’s not all doom and gloom folks. Some promising solutions reside in Atlantic Canada and throughout the country. Provinces like New Brunswick and P.E.I. have jumped aboard the EV movement and school bus fleets–fires aside–promise to virtually banish harmful particles being exposed to kids.
And while the shift to EVs is slower than hoped, there are booming developments in other parts of the country as regions jump aboard the ZEV bandwagon. Complementing this is a call for country-wide standards which guarantee that smaller provinces will gain equitable access to EVs.
Furthermore, the ongoing debates and measures around tariffs and counter tariffs have helped push Canada towards a new vision of supply chain models and this happens to coincide with advances in battery technology.Shifts in the legal landscape have motivated auto manufacturers to introduce higher efficiency engines as well as advanced emission control systems and low-sulpher fuels.
Looking ahead
What does the future hold for Canada’s environmental march forward? It’s fairly clear that we as a nation are standing at the intersection of several trends impacting both facets of the vehicle industry and our precious and fragile environment. Expect greater electrification of fleets and newer policies pushing both charging infrastructure and equitable access to ZEVs forward.
Another highly anticipated trend is a greater awareness driven by microplastics and how this knowledge will impact product development. New tire technologies and greater emphasis on recycling among other facets will have a positive impact on the environment.
Indeed, Canada is poised to drive home policy shifts and promising innovations that imply a cleaner, greener vehicular future. And one thing’s for sure: we’ll be watching.