The federal government will invest $1.5 million to establish a “zero-emission trucking testbed” in the Montreal area – one of three new initiatives under its Zero-Emission Trucking Program.
The Quebec-based project, launched with FPInnovations, represents the largest of the investments unveiled Thursday to support work in medium- and heavy-duty on-road applications. It will focus on collecting performance data in real-world conditions.
Another $1.3 million will support zero-emission projects in B.C. and Nova Scotia. In B.C. the funds will be used for commercial vehicle pilots, training, and knowledge-sharing activities, while the Nova Scotia funds will study technical needs such as refueling and recharging infrastructure, and develop guidelines to inform the adoption of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles, Transport Canada says.
(File photo: Lion Electric)
The funding adds to a previously announced call for proposal under the Zero-Emission Trucking Program that runs until Oct. 3, offering eligible zero-emission trucking projects up to $1 million.
“Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles contribute significantly to pollution in Canada, and our government remains committed to helping the trucking industry transition towards cleaner alternatives. Today’s announcement is great news for the sector in helping facilitate that transition,” Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said in a press release.
All new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles will need to be zero-emission models where feasible by 2040, while on-road transportation is to generate net-zero emissions by 2050.
