Toronto, Ontario – In this week’s electric and autonomous vehicle report, EV incentives in PEI go live to high praise, General Motors launches new EV charging platform and 12 U.S. governors call for a ban on internal combustion engines by 2035.
EV Island
Drivers on PEI are officially eligible for what is being called the “most generous” EV incentive introduced in Canada, by provincial lawmakers.
Starting on Thursday and retroactive to April 1, the incentive provides PEI residents with $5,000 for purchasing an EV in the province.
“As the member from Summerside-South Drive brought to my attention, even a $5,000 car qualifies for a $5,000 rebate,” said Environment, Energy and Climate Action Minister Steven Myers.
Said Summerside-South Drive MLA Steve Howard echoed Myers’ support for the initiative, saying there was “nothing but good news in that announcement.”
360 Coverage
General Motors is taking big steps to better connect their customers to the company’s ever-growing EV charging network with the launch of the GM Ultium Charge 360 app, allowing drivers to find, monitor and pay for the charging of their GM vehicle.
“GM agrees with the customer need for a robust charging experience that makes the transition to an EV seamless and helps drive mass adoption,” said Travis Hester, chief EV officer at GM.
“As we launch 30 EVs globally by the end of 2025, Ultium Charge 360 simplifies and improves the at-home charging experience and the public charging experience – whether it’s community-based or road-trip charging.”
According to the press release from GM, “the Ultium Platform will power the Cadillac LYRIQ, GMC HUMMER EVs, BrightDrop EV600, the Chevrolet Silverado electric pickup truck and more.”
Putting Combustion on ICE
The doomsday clock for the internal combustion engine may have just ticked a little bit closer to midnight with the drive from 12 U.S. governors to ban the sale of traditional gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
According to a letter obtained by Reuters, the governors are calling for a “clear regulatory path to ensure that all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold are zero-emission no later than 2035 with significant milestones along the way to monitor progress.”
President Biden’s recently proposed infrastructure plan includes $174 billion earmarked toward electric car purchase incentives and the expansion of the U.S. charging network,
Prior to his election, however, his campaign said he did not support California’s all-out ban on new gas and diesel-powered vehicles.
The governors have also asked for heavy-duty truck sales to be all-electric by 2045.
