Framework for Municipal Zero Emission Vehicle Deployment

Transportation is the largest source of emissions in most Canadian municipalities, where its impacts on human and environmental health are felt most acutely. Consequently, cities are looking to become more engaged on actions to limit transportation-related emissions, and many are seeking support in the development of plans and strategies to reduce transportation sector impacts through zero emission vehicle (ZEV) deployment.

The Framework for Municipal ZEV Deployment report presents a comprehensive suite of actions that any municipality can customize to meet its needs in reducing emissions from all modes of motorized transport through the increased deployment of ZEVs. The report was produced in partnership with The Delphi Group, with the generous support of Natural Resources Canada, Bruce Power, and Ontario Power Generation.

The actions in the report are divided into two distinct matrices (one for privately-owned passenger vehicles, and the other for fleets and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles) and fall under several prominent categories, each of which necessitates the expertise of unique stakeholder groups that operate within different subsets of the transportation system. Within the two matrices, each action is assigned to certain stakeholder groups, as determined through consultations with leading Canadian experts.

Neither the stakeholder groups identified nor the actions themselves are intended to be exhaustive. Rather, they are intended to provide municipal transportation stakeholders with a starting point for engaging in actions to advance ZEV deployment.

The report walks readers through the basic steps to follow when scoping and planning a municipal ZEV deployment strategy. Best practices from leading municipalities are drawn upon throughout the report to provide readers with concrete examples of actions that have achieved meaningful impacts. The appendices lay out over 150 potential actions in the two detailed matrices, along with key challenges and potential solutions associated with each action category. The report provides Canadian municipalities with an extensive foundation on which to build ZEV strategies best suited to local goals, demands and available resources.