We know that an all-electric future is the goal for the global automotive sector, but the question remains — how do we get there? How can industry leaders and automakers address the barriers to EV accessibility that may prevent consumers from making the switch? Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is seemingly leading the charge by investing $4.6 million in funding in support of ZEV awareness projects across Canada.
The new program will grant twenty-two organizations across the Canadian coast up to $300,000 in funding for projects “designed to accelerate zero-emission vehicle adoption and awareness.”
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In a press statement, Jonathon Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, noted the importance of equipping Canadians with the awareness and knowledge they need to confidently make the switch from a gas powered vehicle to an EV. “Ensuring easy access to ZEVs across Canada is a critical part of our plan to lower emissions and achieve our international climate goals,” said Wilkinson. “Through these and similar investments, we are putting more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future.”
It has since been announced that the first recipient of the government’s investments will be Eco-West Canada, a Winnipeg-based not-for-profit organization that has been promoting EV adoption since 2017. To continue their efforts, Eco-West Canada will receive $300,000 to launch a series of webinars and workshops to promote electric vehicles in municipalities across Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“We’ve seen so many times before, we need to work together in developing creative solutions that will work for us here in the prairies [and] allow our communities to identify the zero-emission vehicle technologies that best meet their needs, at the same time as allowing them to develop the business case and access the funding needed in order to facilitate this transition,” explained Dany Robidoux, executive director at Eco-West in the virtual announcement. “Whether it’d be about plug-in, electric or hydrogen fuel cells, these types of initiatives are many in Manitoba and in the prairies. The municipalities and their partners have a lot to consider when planning the transition to a carbon-neutral future when it comes to vehicles, and we look forward to helping them along this journey.”
