01-18-2008, 04:33 AM
Ottawa proposing new car efficiency standards
Thu. Jan. 17 2008 11:52 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said Thursday the government is working towards a "made-in-Canada" solution to reduce the fuel consumption of new cars and light trucks by 2020.
As promised last year, Cannon said Ottawa will begin, in 2011, to regulate the fuel consumption of new vehicles.
"By 2020, the average new vehicle sold in Canada will have a fuel consumption better than some of today's hybrid cars, and produce fewer GHG emissions, than approximately 93 per cent of all vehicle entries listed in the 2008 Fuel Consumption Guide," said Cannon.
In 2006, the combined new vehicle fleet (car and light trucks) average fuel consumption was approximately 8.6 litres per 100 km in Canada.
"The U.S. Congress has recently set an ambitious target of 35 miles per gallon, or 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres, for the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in 2020," said Cannon.
"Now, we welcome the U.S. goal but are committed to developing a made-in-Canada standard that achieves, at minimum, that target benchmarked against a stringent dominant North American standard.''
The new U.S. regulation is called the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard but it has been challenged by more stringent proposals out of California.
"For Canada to adopt the CAFE standard, which President Bush supports, means taking the slow lane in addressing climate change," Pierre Sadik of the David Suzuki Foundation told The Globe and Mail. "The California standard means getting to a solution much faster."
Cannon, speaking at the Montreal International Auto Show, said the government will consult with the automotive industry and environmental experts about ways to improve new car efficiency standards.
"Our government recognizes that the transportation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions in Canada, accounting for 25 per cent of all Canada's GHG emissions," said Cannon.
"That's why we are taking action now to make sure that, into the future, we have the most environmentally responsible cars and trucks on Canadian roads."
Thu. Jan. 17 2008 11:52 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said Thursday the government is working towards a "made-in-Canada" solution to reduce the fuel consumption of new cars and light trucks by 2020.
As promised last year, Cannon said Ottawa will begin, in 2011, to regulate the fuel consumption of new vehicles.
"By 2020, the average new vehicle sold in Canada will have a fuel consumption better than some of today's hybrid cars, and produce fewer GHG emissions, than approximately 93 per cent of all vehicle entries listed in the 2008 Fuel Consumption Guide," said Cannon.
In 2006, the combined new vehicle fleet (car and light trucks) average fuel consumption was approximately 8.6 litres per 100 km in Canada.
"The U.S. Congress has recently set an ambitious target of 35 miles per gallon, or 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres, for the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in 2020," said Cannon.
"Now, we welcome the U.S. goal but are committed to developing a made-in-Canada standard that achieves, at minimum, that target benchmarked against a stringent dominant North American standard.''
The new U.S. regulation is called the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard but it has been challenged by more stringent proposals out of California.
"For Canada to adopt the CAFE standard, which President Bush supports, means taking the slow lane in addressing climate change," Pierre Sadik of the David Suzuki Foundation told The Globe and Mail. "The California standard means getting to a solution much faster."
Cannon, speaking at the Montreal International Auto Show, said the government will consult with the automotive industry and environmental experts about ways to improve new car efficiency standards.
"Our government recognizes that the transportation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions in Canada, accounting for 25 per cent of all Canada's GHG emissions," said Cannon.
"That's why we are taking action now to make sure that, into the future, we have the most environmentally responsible cars and trucks on Canadian roads."