NRCan’s Request for Information, which closes March 12, is seeking input on potential initiatives to help enable the deployment of sustainable transportation systems

Natural Resource Canada (NRCan) has put out a call for stakeholder information about opportunities to decarbonize Canada’s transportation sector.

The Request for Information (RFI) aims to better understand the existing research, development and demonstration (RD&D) opportunities to support the widespread deployment of infrastructure for sustainable transportation systems.

“Canada’s Action Plan for Clean On-Road Transportation discusses the need to improve electric vehicle infrastructure capabilities, but also recognizes that the transition to zero-emission vehicles needs to be considered as part of a broader energy system transition,” says the government in explaining the nature of its RFI.

“This transition must also include mode-switching to public transit, active transit, and micro-mobility, as well as innovations in urban planning and design.”

The Action Plan for Clean On-Road Transportation outlines the government’s comprehensive strategy for switching to zero-emission vehicles. The result will be reducing emissions from on-road transportation.

The strategy lists measures Canada has taken to achieve its zero-emission goals as well as those still in the works. These include consumer incentives and funding for charging infrastructure.

NRCan RFI topics of interest

The government’s RFI seeks feedback on the issues around transportation system efficiency and sustainability.

Questions have been organized around four topics:

• EV Infrastructure in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings;
• Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Infrastructure;
• Transportation System Efficiency and Sustainability; and
• Rural, Remote, and Northern Communities

Increasing access to and usage of alternative modes of transportation and meeting the demand for micro-mobility services is also of interest.

The government is asking stakeholders within the transportation sector to provide input on RD&D opportunities.

These include solutions to technical, market and/or regulatory barriers to EV adoption. Suggested topics range from charging infrastructure in multi-unit residential buildings to charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Lastly, the government wants to learn about the unique challenges rural, remote, and northern communities face when adopting zero-emission transportation technologies and the associated infrastructure.

NRCan encourages respondents to use empirical evidence or validated studies to support the written feedback and analysis they provide in their responses for the RFI.

Decarbonizing transportation

The government’s goal is to have all new light-duty cars and passenger truck sales be completely zero emission by 2035. And all medium and heavy-duty vehicle (MHDV) sales, where feasible, be 100 per cent zero-emission by 2040.

The feedback received through the RFI will inform the ongoing work NRCan is doing on decarbonizing the transportation sector. It will help shape future policy objectives, funding opportunities and programs to support sustainable transportation systems.

“Decarbonizing the transportation sector is crucial to meeting Canada’s plan to be net-zero by 2050, as transportation accounts for 25 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse emissions,” says the government.

The RFI will remain open until March 12, 2023. Interested respondents can submit their feedback here.