European electric vehicles: few affordable options offered in Canada

Currently. For example, there is a blockage because these vehicles cannot enter for security reasonsexplained Daniel Breton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Electric Mobility Canada.

He puts pressure for Ottawa to consider that electric vehicles deemed security by European regulation organizations do not need to be receded. Consequently, modified according to Canadian standards.

This expensive process records an obstacle to the introduction of more compact. However, more affordable electric vehicles on the Canadian market.

Currently. For example, Transport Canada says: ” Well, we have to change the bumpers, the headlights and all this for security reasons ”, which, in my opinion, is pure stupiditysaid Breton.

If the car is efficient enough to circulate on European roads. Consequently, where you can drive much faster than here, do not come and tell me that it is not safe enough european electric vehicles: few affordable to be driven in Canada.

This desire to facilitate the importation of European vehicles occurs while sales of electric vehicles have been disrupted by the end of the federal incentive program for the purchase of electric vehicles (new window) and by American customs duties.

More complicated than it seems

According to Mr. However, Breton. Meanwhile, facilitating the importation of European vehicles would be well in the will of Prime Minister Mark Carney to strengthen trade links with Europe. Meanwhile, Transport Canada says, however, that it is not so simple.

The certification requirements of other jurisdictions may not be sufficient to meet the safety needs of Canadian. Therefore, road users due to the particular road environment of Canada.

He added that country standards are better suited to road infrastructure and the speed limits of Canadian roads.

Certain European requirements for collision tests are not as strict as those of the Canadian diet due. to driving environmental differenceshe said.

Mr. Breton said that the idea that European tests would be deficient was ridiculous. but the question of demand for these vehicles also arises.

As Transports Canada pointed out, Canadians enjoy big cars and large trucks. So much so that a few years ago. the International Energy Agency found that Canadian vehicles were the biggest and second heavier in the world, which attributed to them the worst fuel consumption rating in the world.

Car manufacturers know this. could hesitate to market smaller cars, estimates Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global forecasts on vehicles at vehicles at vehicles european electric vehicles: few affordable at vehicles at vehicles at vehicles at vehicles at vehicles at vehicles at vehicles AutoForecast Solutions.

European electric vehicles are suitable for the European market. and these models do not adapt very well to the United States and Canada, he added. Small cars that Canadians appreciate are marginal; They are few.

Mr. Breton claims that there is still a request. ranging from urban drivers to households wishing to equip their second car with an electric vehicle.

Few models available

The Fiat 500E is the cheapest electric vehicle available in Canada. with a basic price of $ 42,290 (although the manufacturer currently offers more than $ 4,000 in discounts) for an announced autonomy of 227 kilometers. The Nissan Leaf is its nearest competitor, with a starting sale of $ 44,596 for a range of 240 kilometers.

But many other compact models are not available here.

Volkswagen sells its ID.4 in Canada, but not the ID.3, which can be sold about 20 % cheaper. Nissan does not sell its more affordable Micra model either. while other European brands offering compact electric vehicles, such as Citroën, Opel and Peugeot, do not sell in Canada at all.

Sales of the compact versions available are not high. Stellantis sold 1275 copies of his Fiat 500E last year. against more than 62,000 for his RAM brand and more than 40,000 for Jeep.

But the market also needs choice to develop and european electric vehicles: few affordable reduce barriers to entry, judges Mr. Breton.

The idea of importing more affordable electric vehicles in Europe seems to benefit from support. according to a survey published last month by Clean Energy Canada.

Collected from 2585 Canadians. the results showed that 70 % of them were favorable to the entry into Canada of electric vehicles approved in Europe. Only 10 % are against it, and the other undecided.

The survey also showed that a majority argued the other important lever available to the federal government to make electric vehicles cheaper. namely the reduction or abolition of customs duties on Chinese electric vehicles.

Almost 53 % of those questioned were favorable to the adoption of the European model. which imposed customs duties of up to 35 % on Chinese vehicles. This approach competes protection of national industries and improvement of financial accessibility.

Breton also stressed that he would like european electric vehicles: few affordable a more nuanced approach to China than 100 % customs duties imposed by Canada. in order to better find this balance and facilitate transition to zero emission vehicles.

We want to make sure that Canadians have access to affordable electric carshe argued.