SHIFT HAPPENS
BY OREST TKACZUK
Ontario’s premier opened the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario symposium in Mississauga on September 17. EV Day featured a keynote by James Carter of Vision Mobility, who cited COVID-era investment bubbles and overly optimistic EV adoption forecasts as reasons adoption has slowed. Panels addressed technician preparedness, charging infrastructure, training, and industry forecasts, featuring speakers from Swtch Energy, Plug’n Drive, Auto Aide and NAPA. The day concluded with Premier Doug Ford urging reduced government spending and tax relief to boost vehicle purchases, highlighting the auto sector’s role in trade and economic recovery.
“The auto sector has been on the front line of trade and trade disruptions… We have to lower income tax. We have to get more money back in people’s pockets,” Doug Ford said, arguing that Ontarians would be more likely to buy vehicles if they had more disposable income.”
Flicker Album: www.flickr.com/photos/40043123@N05/ albums/72177720329100252
GOING AND GOING
Chevrolet’s Silverado EV has set a world record for distance travelled on a single charge, covering more than 1,700 km under the guidance of General Motors engineers. Driving a 2024 Silverado EV RST, the team surpassed the vehicle’s estimated 724 km range on public roads near Detroit, using no hardware or software modifications. Engineers maintained speeds between 32 and 40 km/h, removed the spare tire, added a tonneau cover, turned off climate control and increased tire pressure. The seven-day drive involved 23 engineers rotating in one-hour shifts. General Motors says the exercise aimed to explore battery limits, not daily driving expectations. Data from the record run will help inform battery efficiency and software calibration in future EV development.
The Silverado EV used in the drive was equipped with a 200 kilowatt-hour battery. While its official maximum range remains 724 km under standard conditions, the record-breaking run demonstrates what is possible under carefully controlled circumstances.
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CHARGING AHEAD
The federal government is investing $25 million to build more than 850 new electric vehicle chargers across Canada. Announced August 15, the funding supports 33 projects under three separate programs aimed at expanding charging infrastructure, advancing clean technology and cutting emissions from heavy-duty fleets. Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program will provide $9.7 million for 23 projects to install chargers in public spaces, workplaces, multi-unit residential buildings, commercial fleets and along highways. Most of the new installations will be in Quebec. Another $8 million will be delivered through the Energy Innovation Program to fund six projects that support breakthroughs in the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sector and help fleets transition to electric power.
A further $7.9 million from the Green Freight Program will assist commercial, construction and municipal operators in adopting cleaner technology, lowering fuel costs and reducing emissions. Claude Guay (pictured), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said the investment is a step toward making EVs more practical for Canadians and for industry. “We are accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles with the installation of more than 850 additional EV chargers across Canada, many of which will be in Quebec,” he said. “Clean transportation is not just for consumers, but also for commercial, industrial and municipal fleets.” The announcement is part of Canada’s wider EV infrastructure plan, which aims to make charging accessible at home, at work and on the road, while supporting the federal goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program will provide $9.7 million for 23 projects to install chargers in public spaces, workplaces, multi-unit residential buildings, commercial fleets and along highways. Most of the new installations will be in Quebec.
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AUTONOMOUS ARRIVAL
The Canadian Automated Vehicle Initiative proposes sending a driverless big rig across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver in 2028 to showcase AI logistics and connected vehicle technology. The demonstration also aims to address the truck driver shortage, currently more than 25,000 positions, while boosting domestic innovation and tech jobs. A chaperone driver would be on board, and the route would follow southern regions in summer. CAVI stresses the need for a unified national regulatory framework rather than patchwork provincial rules. Officials say federal support, stakeholder consultation and detailed planning are required before the project can proceed.
By completing the project, CAVI aims to provide regulators with the opportunity to reduce red tape before the widespread arrival of autonomous vehicles.
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COATING COLLABORATION
AkzoNobel and Chinese EV maker NIO won the 2025 Altair enlighten award for sustainable product for their Interpon A1000 coating, which extends battery protection system lifespan from five to 15 years while cutting coating thickness by 70 percent. The coating also reduces vehicle weight by 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs) and supports NIO’s battery swap system, which increases wear on battery plates. Mass production began in November 2024 at AkzoNobel’s Changzhou facility, with roughly 80,000 NIO EVs already using the technology. Officials say the coating eliminates PVC, cuts electricity consumption by over 2 GWh, and achieves zero VOC emissions with a 95 percent powder recycling rate. The award highlights leadership in sustainable EV materials.
FAILURE TO REPORT
Tesla is facing a U.S. safety investigation over claims it delayed crash reports involving its self-driving vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration alleges Tesla submitted accident reports weeks or months late, rather than within the five-day requirement. Tesla says the delays stemmed from a resolved data collection issue. The audit covers the Model 3, S, X and Y, amid scrutiny of Full Self-Driving, Autopilot features, and recent robo-taxi operations in Austin, Texas. Safety advocates have criticized Tesla for withholding crash information, raising ongoing questions about its self-driving technology and reporting practices.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened the probe on Aug. 20, alleging that Tesla submitted accident reports weeks or months after crashes occurred, instead of within the required five-day window.
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TESLA TROUBLES
A Florida jury has ordered Tesla to pay US$242 million after finding the company partially liable for a 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system. The accident in Key Largo killed Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injured her boyfriend after a Tesla Model S collided with a parked Chevrolet Tahoe. Lawyers argued the system was defective and misused outside controlled highways. Tesla was found 33 percent responsible for $129 million in compensatory damages and another $200 million in punitive damages. The automaker plans to appeal, warning the verdict could hinder the development of life-saving technology.
Tesla must pay US$242 million after a Florida jury found the company partially liable for a 2019 crash using its Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system.
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FUTURE SHOCK
Ultium Cells LLC, the GM-LG joint venture, plans to retrofit its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant to produce lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, adding to its existing nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum output. Full-scale commercial production is expected by late 2027. GM says the upgrade will scale lower-cost LFP cell production, complementing high-nickel and future lithium-manganese-rich solutions. LFP cells offer affordability and long cycle life for entry-level EVs, while higher-range models retain NCMA batteries. The move strengthens domestic EV battery supply and aligns with GM’s strategy to diversify chemistries for different market segments.
Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution founded in 2019, is preparing to upgrade its Spring Hill, Tennessee battery plant producing inexpensive lithium-iron-phosphate, also known as LFP cells.
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EV READY
Independent repair shops can prepare for EVs by investing in training, says Yves Racette, director of NAPA High Voltage. NAPA’s training hub offers role-specific programs for service advisors, techs, collision specialists and parts professionals. The hub includes videos, webinars, safety sheets and technical support tools. Racette notes that training on EVs also teaches transferrable skills for internal combustion or diesel vehicles. “Training is especially important given all the technologies arriving in repair bays -- and all the new technology that will be coming in with each model year,” he said.
By investing in electric vehicle repair training programs, independent shop owners can position their businesses to thrive in the coming years, says Yves Racette, director of NAPA High Voltage at NAPA/UAP.
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SURVEY SHOCK
A new survey from Clean Energy Canada shows two-thirds of Canadians (66 percent) support keeping the paused federal electric vehicle availability standard, though many want to see changes made to it.
Just 27 percent say there should be no federal requirement for more electric vehicles, while 16 percent want the policy to be more ambitious, 24 percent want it to stay more or less the same, and 26 percent want it to be less rigid or easier to achieve.
Younger Canadians are notably stronger supporters of the mandate, with 58 percent of those aged 18 to 29 wanting the policy to maintain or increase its ambition and 55 percent of those aged 30 to 44 feeling the same way. With Ottawa weighing whether to allow more Chinese and European electric cars into the market, the survey also asked about perceptions of Canadian EV prices. A majority, 52 percent, believe Canadians are paying more than people in other countries, while 21 percent say Canadians pay about the same and only 6 percent believe cars are cheaper here. As part of its 60-day review of the mandate, the government has floated the idea of rewarding automakers who sell EVs under $40,000 or offer zero-interest financing. When presented with this affordability centred version of the mandate, 46 percent of respondents supported the approach, 18 percent wanted the policy to stay as is, and just 24 percent opposed it outright, down from 27 percent who initially opposed the mandate. Support for this version is highest in British Columbia, where 50 percent backed the affordability option, 16 percent preferred the policy unchanged, and 20 percent wanted it repealed.
The survey also captured reactions to Ottawa’s pause of its $5,000 federal EV rebate at the start of 2025. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he intends to reintroduce a rebate program, but the uncertainty has left potential buyers waiting. Among respondents open to buying an EV, 41 percent said they would delay a purchase until an update on incentives, 14 percent would buy without one, 36 percent said they would not buy an EV regardless, and 9 percent were unsure.
Trevor Melanson, director of communications at Clean Energy Canada, said: “A very strong majority of Canadians ultimately support keeping in place a version of Canada’s Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, and so the right question for Mark Carney is how the policy should adapt, not whether it should exist.”
Carney earlier this month delayed the 2026 EV sales quota, which would have required 20 percent of all passenger vehicles sold to be zeroemission, citing pressure on automakers from U.S. tariffs and economic strain in the auto sector. The reversal marked a departure from one of Ottawa’s flagship climate policies, raising concern from environmental groups who say Canada risks falling behind on its emissions targets. “As Canadians rightly realize they’re paying more for EVs than people in other countries, an approach centred on lowering upfront costs would be well received by many Canadians, especially younger ones keen on making the switch,” Melanson added.
“Transportation is the second biggest expense for households after housing, and lower-priced EVs would unlock considerable savings for drivers both on day one and for years to come thanks to considerable gas savings.” The shift also follows a broader climate-policy recalibration under Carney, who in March repealed the consumer carbon tax that had been a centerpiece of Trudeau-era policy. His government argues the tax had become politically divisive during a period of high inflation and cost-of-living strain. Industrial carbon pricing remains in place, with Ottawa promising tighter compliance rules, but without the household-level levy Canada’s path to meeting its climate targets will rely more heavily on regulations and subsidies such as the EV mandate and rebate program.
The survey was conducted with 2,230 Canadians from September 12 to 17, 2025. Respondents were recruited through partner panels on the Lucid exchange platform, which blends double opt-in survey samples to reduce bias. Results were weighted by age, gender, and region to reflect census data. A comparable probability sample of the same size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.08 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding.
