Statistics Canada has released their latest zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) data, and the number of new ZEVs registered across the country through the first quarter of 2022 has increased 50% year-over-year (YoY).
According to Statistics Canada a total of 26,018 new ZEVs were registered from January to March this year, up from 17,285 in the same period last year. The federal government includes both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in their definition of ZEVs.
Not only is that an increase YoY, it is also a 25% increase over the previous quarter when 20,779 new ZEVs were registered. It is also the highest number of ZEVs ever registered since the federal agency began tracking the numbers in 2017.
That rapid rate of growth has translated into ZEVs enjoying a 7.7% market share in the first quarter of 2022. That is an increase from 5.2% through all of 2021, and puts Canada closer to its interim target of 20% by 2026.
The Government of Canada is targeting to have 100% ZEV sales by 2035.
When the figures are filtered down to the provincial level, it is no surprise who the top three provinces are that are leading in ZEV adoption. The province with the highest rate continues to be Quebec (10,399), however Ontario (7,123) has overtaken British Columbia (6,705) for second place.
The next closest was Manitoba with just 201 ZEV registrations in the first quarter, followed by New Brunswick (156), Saskatchewan (130), and Prince Edward Island (44).
As mentioned, these figures are only through the first quarter of 2022. That is just before the federal government expanded the iZEV rebate program in April to include minivans, light-duty pick-up trucks and SUVs, so it will be interesting to see what effect those changes have on ZEV adoption in the second quarter.
