Drivers of SUVs and diesel cars should be taxed to finance the purchase of green cars, says a electric car trade group..Blacklock’s Reporter said environmentalists have also petitioned the Commons finance committee to impose a $4,000 SUV tax..Electric Mobility Canada in a committee submission said Parliament should introduce what it called a “fee-bate system” on drivers..A total of 85% of road vehicles in Canada burn gas or diesel, by industry estimate..Electrics only account for 3% of vehicle sales annually..“Make polluting passenger vehicles pay for zero-emission vehicle rebates so the rebate program can finance itself,” wrote lobbyists for the electric car industry..“For vehicle categories that do not yet have a zero-emission vehicle option, fee-bate exemptions should be considered until zero-emission models come to market.”.Parliament currently pays rebates up to $5,000 on the sale of electric cars and collects a $1,000 Green Levy introduced in 2007 on the largest, costliest luxury vehicles..“Cost is by far the main barrier to consumers purchasing a plug-in electric car or truck,” the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association wrote the finance committee..Toyota Canada data cited by the Commons environment committee estimated zero-emission vehicles cost an average $56,000 before rebates compared to $28,000 for a conventional vehicle..“Higher battery costs were the main cause of the higher price,” MPs wrote in an April 13 report..Cabinet last June 29 proposed a mandatory target that 100% of new vehicles sold in Canada by 2035 be zero-emission models..Data from auto dealers suggested even if the target is met, gas and diesel vehicles will remain on the road for decades..The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association estimated it takes 15 years for half of road vehicles to be sold for parts.
