Why Transitioning to Electric Vehicles by 2035 Is Unrealistic

Published on June 14, 2024

Commentary The federal government has mandated that all new light-duty vehicles be electric by 2035. Achieving that goal would require vastly more electrical generation capacity and an enormous expansion of charging stations. A Fraser Institute study published in March found that handling the higher load would require either 13 large new gas plants or the equivalent of 10 new mega-dams the size of B.C.’s $16-billion hydro Site C. Just one problem: almost all viable hydro sites have already been dammed. Plus, it took 10 years to get environmental approval for Site C and another 10 to build it. That leaves the natural gas plants. But powering EVs with natural gas puts the kibosh on zero emissions....