California, Canada to Partner on EVs, Clean Fuel

The governments of Canada and California have agreed to swap environmental technical data, share methods of promoting low-carbon fuels and coordinate efforts to push the sale of zero-emission vehicles.

Like the U.S., Canada is reviewing its future vehicle emission rules, Reuters reports. The country aims to ban all non-zero-emission light-duty vehicles by 2040. But it also prefers to harmonize its standards with those in the U.S.

The Trump administration intends to freeze on U.S. carbon dioxide and fuel economy limits at 2020 levels. California has vowed to enforce the current standards, which tighten significantly through 2026.

Canada also is developing a “clean fuel standard” similar to one California adopted in 2011. California says its standard has replaced 3.3 billion gallons of conventional oil-based fuels with renewable diesel, natural gas and electricity.

Canada figures its fuel standard will cut carbon dioxide emissions from cars by 30 million tons by 2030. Such a reduction would be the equivalent to removing 7 million conventionally fueled cars off the road, according to government regulators.

Trade groups representing carmakers who do business in Canada support the quest for lower carbon emissions. But they also want to avoid a North American market that is divided into multiple zones with differing emission and fuel standards.