Canada becomes latest country to ban new petrol and diesel cars from 2035

Canada has become the latest country to announce an end date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, releasing regulations which will all but remove traditional engines from showrooms by 2035.

As reported by news agency Reuters, Canada’s emissions regulations will slowly phase out petrol and diesel-powered passenger cars from showrooms across the next 11 years, starting with a requirement for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to account for 20 per cent of new car sales by 2026.

This will later increase to 60 per cent by 2030, followed by 100 per cent by 2035 – effectively outlawing traditional fossil-fuelled vehicles – however plug-in hybrids will be given a stay of execution, provided they can drive on pure electric power for at least 80km.

According to industry sources reported by Reuters, electric cars represented about 12 per cent of new car sales in Canada between July and September 2023.

Canada’s move to mandate only electric and hydrogen vehicles in showrooms from 2035 echoes regulations due to come into effect in Europe, the UK and China, while 17 US states – including California and New York – are also committed to the petrol and diesel ban by the middle of next decade.

Despite aligning itself with the targets of some of the world’s largest new-car markets, the President of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, Brian Kingston, questioned whether the 2035 deadline is viable.

“Achieving higher ZEV sales levels depends on favourable market conditions, stronger consumer purchase incentives ... widespread charging infrastructure (and) expanded grid capacity," Mr Kingston told Reuters.

Mr Kingston also argued Canada’s electric-car charging infrastructure is not capable of supporting the shift to battery-powered vehicles, as the country’s population is largely spread out across a large landmass.

As previously reported, the Australian Capital Territory is the only jurisdiction in Australia to outline an end date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, slating 2035 as its deadline.