Benefits of driving a zero-emission vehicle

Why choose a zero-emission vehicle?

1. Save on fuel and maintenance costs
2. Get you where you need to go
3. Better for the environment and your health
4. Support sustainable jobs in Canada

Save on fuel and maintenance costs

It can cost five-to-ten times less to charge a battery-electric vehicle compared to fuelling up an equivalent-sized gas vehicle to travel the same distance.

Every time you apply the brakes or lift off the accelerator in a ZEV, energy is converted to recharge the battery. It’s called regenerative braking, and it’s one of the many energy-efficient, money-saving features of a ZEV. With fewer mechanical parts, fully battery-electric vehicles are also cheaper and easier to maintain.

While there are many contributing factors to consider, a 2021 Consumer Reports study found that owners of battery-electric vehicles will spend about half of what it costs to maintain an equivalent-sized conventional gas vehicle with the same driver habits.

Compare annual fuel costs between ZEVs and gas vehicles

Learn more about incentives for the purchase or lease of a zero-emission vehicle

Zero-emission vehicles will get you where you need to go

Depending on the model you choose, a zero-emission vehicle can travel 300 km to 600 km on a fully charged battery. Most Canadians drive a lot less than 300 km each week—so a ZEV has plenty of range to get you where you need to go between charges, whether in an average week, or on a road trip!

Many ZEV drivers charge their vehicles at home most of the time and rarely need to find a public charger. When drivers need a charger away from home, the Canadian charging station network is growing rapidly through private and government investment. Conveniently located charging stations can be found across the country.

See our station locator map.

The Government of Canada is continuing to invest $900M in public charging infrastructure. Together with past investments, we will be supporting 84,500 chargers by 2027, so you can find a charger whenever you need one .

Learn more about electric vehicle charging

Zero-emission vehicles are better for the environment and your health

On-road transportation accounts for about 20 percent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing transportation emissions is critical to achieving the Government’s more ambitious climate change commitments and is consistent with the global shift towards ZEVs.

Switching to a zero-emission vehicle is one of the highest impact actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. ZEVs dramatically reduce noise and harmful air pollutants from driving, thus offering improved air quality compared to gas vehicles.

According to Health Canada, 10 million people in Canada live within 500 metres of highways or 100 metres of major urban roads and have high exposure to traffic-related air pollution.

Even accounting for the upfront energy and emissions required to produce the batteries for ZEVs, they still produce less emissions over their lifetime than gas vehicles. With advances in technology over time, production is also becoming more efficient.

Creating sustainable jobs

Making sure the switch to zero-emission vehicles is done in a fair way involves preparing workforces to fully participate in the low-carbon economy, while minimizing the impacts of labour market transitions. This means identifying and supporting inclusive economic opportunities for impacted workers and putting them and their communities front and centre in discussions that affect their livelihoods.

Maintaining and securing future vehicle production through investments is in line with the government’s commitment to achieve a just transition through the creation of sustainable jobs.

Learn more about Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Plan