Update on Electric Vehicle Strategy Implementation

Since the climate emergency was declared, City Council's more recent adoption of TransformTO Net Zero Strategy increases the ambition for vehicle electrification, with an interim 2030 community-wide target that 30 per cent of registered vehicles in Toronto are electric. Because on-road transportation accounts for 35 percent of Toronto's greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles is critical for reaching a community-wide goal of net zero emissions by 2040. To date, the implementation of the Electric Vehicle Strategy is largely on track, with numerous City-led initiatives underway to support and encourage the transition to Electric Vehicles. This work is a cross-corporate endeavour, involving several City Divisions, Agencies, and Corporations, working individually and in collaboration with each other. The City's Electric Vehicle Working Group provides a focal point for coordination of Electric Vehicle-related activities. Access to charging is a necessary condition for Electric Vehicle adoption and a critical focus of the City's Electric Vehicle-related work, including: - Implementing requirements so that new buildings are future-proofed for Electric Vehicle charging; - Providing funding and developing other approaches to support and encourage the retrofit of existing buildings with Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure; - Providing publicly-accessible Electric Vehicle charging stations at on-street parking spaces, in Green P parking lots, and at City facilities; - Providing funding and undertaking planning and policy development to support additional deployment of public Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure. The City is also fostering the transition to electric vehicles through outreach and education on Electric Vehicles, leading by example through electrifying City Fleets, and supporting broader electric mobility. The City is prioritizing the continued implementation of the Electric Vehicle Strategy, alignment of the Electric Vehicle Strategy with the Net Zero Strategy, and implementation of Net Zero Strategy Short-Term Implementation Plan actions related to Electric Vehicles.