Hello! Thank you for checking out this week’s EV North Newsletter!

We hope everyone is having an awesome summer and enjoying time with friends and family. Summer in Canada is a busy time, we all try to pack a year’s worth of activities into two months. As a result, we have a slightly shorter edition for you this week…

Here’s what you’ll find below 👇️ 

• How can you advocate for EV adoption?

• Weekly chart: A pattern emerges

• BYD is building a new factory

• Ford brings a famous name back from the dead in EV form

• The White House has a new EV plan

Canada

The rollout of infrastructure for zero-emissions vehicles is starting to pick up speed - but what can I do to help accelerate the process?

As we discussed last week, the Canadian government is opening up RFPs under the Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program - great news for project developers, property owners, and contractors involved in building the new infrastructure.

It also boosts the economy, creating well-paid jobs in the construction sector and spurring further innovation in how we build new infrastructure.

But if you are not directly involved in the industry it can often seem daunting to bring about change and encourage improved infrastructure and adoption in your local area.

However, you can take concrete steps to become more aware of the state of play and to influence as these decisions are being made locally.

Where do you start?

Understanding your community's plans for zero-emissions vehicles is a great place to start. Is there a climate action plan in place? Who is responsible for implementing these plans in your municipality or town?

Get engaged

Once you have the background, get in touch! Send a letter to your mayor, town council, or local member of parliament to ask them what they are doing to improve local ZEV infrastructure. Drop in on a Council meeting or add the topic to the meeting agenda to ensure that your questions are answered.

Here is an example that we used at a recent Town Council session in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Your author sent a letter to the local town council and requested that the topic be part of the upcoming council meeting.

Build Community Support

Are there others in your community who are EV enthusiasts or who want to see the infrastructure improve before they make the jump? Reaching out to interested people can be a great first step to building support.

Often local climate action groups will help push for zero-emissions infrastructure and help people to make the electric switch.

Shout from the online rooftops!

Are there community groups online or forums you can use to connect with other enthusiasts? Can you help educate others or share useful information with those new to EVs? Sharing insights and getting people to join the discussion will help build your cause and influence on the issue locally.

Are you on Reddit? Check out our subreddit at https://reddit.com/r/evcanada 

Weekly Chart: A pattern emerges

There has been much fanfare made of the decline in global EV sales between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. However, data from the IEA shows that the trend is consistent with past years in both the EV and ICE vehicle markets.

In the chart above (see larger here) the past three years’ vehicle sales have consistently been lower in Q1 compared to the previous quarter. It seems then, that rather than falling off a permanent cliff, sales are just following a cyclical pattern - like the rest of the automotive market.

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EV Around the World 🌏

BYD Signs $1 Billion Factory Deal in Turkey

Amidst an escalating global trade war, BYD - the largest EV marker in the world - BYD has signed an agreement to build a factory in Turkey. The facility will produce 150,000 vehicles per year and be operational by 2026.

BYD is seeking to improve its global manufacturing base while major powers such as the EU and USA move to increase tariffs on EVs made in China.

Ford revives historic Capri nameplate for new EV model

Ford has released a new crossover SUV for the European market - one heavily based on a VW platform used in the ID.4 crossover.

With styling that appears to be aiming in the same direction as the Polestar 2, the Capri is reviving a classic Ford name that was first used in 1968 and sold almost 2 million units across its two-decade production.

The new Capri EV will come in single and dual motor configurations, with a 77 or 79 kWh battery pack respectively.

The White House announces a new $1.7 billion EV plan

US President Joe Biden is at the center of much turmoil this week, however, a significant announcement on EVs has been released aimed at closed or at-risk manufacturing facilities.

The plan will be offered via the Department of Energy and help plants in the automotive sector to re-tool to prepare for producing parts and components for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Aimed at maintaining jobs in the auto manufacturing sector and growing the US industrial base amid a trade war with China, the policy is estimated to create 2900 new jobs and save 15,000 that would otherwise have been lost.

Do you enjoy one or all of the following?

• Learning about EVs?

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• An email with character and humor?

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