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

If you’re new here, The EV North is a weekly newsletter that brings together some of the biggest EV news stories and delivers it to your inbox. There is a focus on Canada & North America but you’ll also find EV news from around the world!

If you’re not new here, thank you for your continued support and be sure to reply to this newsletter with any feedback!

In this issue:

• Canada’s Emissions Report: The Path to 2030 Climate Goals.

• Just in time for summer tire swap, here are some EV tire options of leading global manufacturers.

• Tesla Ends Mobile Service in Newfoundland: What This Means for EV Owners.

• Biden Administration Increases Tariffs on Chinese EVs from 25% to 100%.

• + more!

Canada

Canada’s Emissions Report: The Path to 2030 Climate Goals.

Continuing with Canada’s path to 2030, earlier this month, Environment and Climate Change Canada released the 2024 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Looking at the data, it's both good and bad news. 

First, the good news: In 2022, Canada’s emissions were the lowest since 1997, excluding the pandemic years of 2020-2021 when they dipped down. The country is now officially 7% below the 2005 baseline used for the 2030 climate goals. Meanwhile, the economy has grown 82% in the same period, signaling a decoupling of emissions from economic growth. 

This progress has largely been driven by decreasing emissions from electricity generation as a result of phasing out coal. In just over a decade, Electricity emissions have been cut almost in half since 2012. In the last decade alone, it went from being the 3rd largest source of Canadian emissions to the 6th.

But here’s the bad news. To meet the climate goal of 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 Canada needs to make progress much faster. It needs to decarbonize entire sectors of the economy.

The Oil & Gas and Transport sectors still are the two largest contributors to Canada’s carbon emissions problem, remaining stubbornly high over the past three decades.

But taking a closer look at Transport emissions, we can see a significant (51%) proportion can be attributed to passenger vehicles. 

Despite the rapid advances in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and charging infrastructure around the country, EVs only account for around 2% of total vehicles registered in Canada. That’s roughly 600,000 EVs among more than 26 million vehicles registered.

Increasing the share of EVs means we can follow in the footsteps of the electricity sector and rapidly reduce transport emissions. But first, Canada needs electric vehicles that are cost-competitive with internal combustion vehicles and offer the same practicality for drivers. 

As consumers and citizens, we must urge automakers and the government to align on the requirements for EV adoption and collaborate on improving vehicle affordability and charging infrastructure, so EVs are accessible to all Canadians.

Just in time for a summer tire swap, here are some EV tire options of leading global manufacturers.

If you’re in the market for EV tires, Electric Autonomy has curated a list of the latest options available in Canada and a sneak peek at what's coming soon.

Goodyear
Goodyear has launched the ElectricDrive 2, now available in Canada. This tire, offered in 17 sizes, is tailored for popular EV models such as the Tesla Model Y, 3, and S; Ford Mustang Mach-E; Chevy Bolt; and Audi Q4 e-tron. The ElectricDrive 2 is engineered with sustainable materials, reduced rolling resistance, and a longer tread life, featuring Goodyear’s SoundComfort Technology to minimize interior noise and an asymmetric tread pattern for enhanced handling in diverse road conditions.

Kumho Tire
South Korean manufacturer Kumho Tire has expanded its EV lineup with two new models: the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 EV and the Crugen HP71 EV. Both tires incorporate K-Silent technology, which reduces cabin noise and enhances comfort with sound-absorbing foam materials and a unique tread pattern. The Majesty 9 Solus TA91 EV is perfect for EV coupes, sedans, and crossovers, while the Crugen HP71 EV is designed for CUVs and SUVs. These tires, available in sizes from 18-to-21 inches and 19-to-22 inches respectively, also feature reduced rolling resistance to extend driving range. Both come with an 80,000-kilometre warranty.

Bridgestone
In May 2023, Bridgestone introduced its first premium EV tire, the Turanza EV grand touring tire, which has now been expanded. The Turanza EV incorporates Bridgestone’s Enliten technology for optimized all-season performance, longer wear life, and the use of renewable and recycled materials. Initially available in five sizes for models like the Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, the line saw an addition of thirteen more sizes in early 2024.

Continental Tire
Continental Tire has unveiled its UltimateContact line, exclusively at Canadian Tire, including the UltimateContact and UltimateContactWinter tires. These EV-specific tires are designed to enhance tread life and performance, offering low rolling resistance and minimal noise. The UltimateContact EV tires are already available in Canada, with the UltimateContactWinter set to launch in September 2024.

Yokohama Tire
Yokohama Tire has introduced its first ultra-high performance all-season tire, the AdvanSport EV A/S, in North America. This tire, marked with Yokohama’s new “E+” designation for EVs, is available in nine sizes ranging from 18-to-20 inches. It features a new compound with increased silica and a proprietary mixing process to improve mileage and optimize grip.

Hankook
Hankook’s iON series is tailored specifically for EVs, focusing on better tread wear, noise reduction, and grip performance. In December 2022, Hankook launched the iON evo AS and iON evo AS SUV for all-season driving in Canada. In June 2023, the lineup expanded to include the iON evo and iON evo SUV for summer conditions, and the Ventus S1 evo3 ev for luxury EVs, although these are not yet available in Canada. Additionally, for winter driving, Hankook offers the iON icept and iON icept SUV in Canada.

Radar Tires
Omni United’s Radar Tires has introduced its EV tire range, including the all-season EV tire and EV-compatible fitments in the Dimax and RPX lines. The new all-season EV tire features an advanced tread compound for high mileage and safety, with structural components for balanced comfort, superior steering, and minimal noise. Tested under the heavier weight and higher torque of EVs, these tires come with a 64,000-km treadwear warranty. Radar offers sizes suitable for Tesla models, with rim diameters from 18-to-20 inches, and EV-compatible fitments in the Dimax R8+, Dimax R8, and RPX 800 lines.

For Canadian EV owners, this spring brings a wide array of new tire options designed to enhance the performance, comfort, and efficiency of your electric vehicle. Stay tuned to Electric Autonomy for the latest updates and reviews on EV tires.

2025 Kia EV6 facelift walkaround video:

Tesla Ends Mobile Service in Newfoundland: What This Means for EV Owners.

As reported by DriveTeslaCanada.ca, Tesla has officially ended its mobile service in Newfoundland, a decision that is poised to significantly impact local Tesla owners, especially those with vehicles out of warranty.

Previously, Tesla owners in Newfoundland could count on a mobile ranger visiting the island every two weeks. These rangers performed both in-warranty and out-of-warranty service work at convenient locations like driveways, workplaces, or elsewhere. However, Tesla has now altered its service policy for Newfoundland, meaning some owners may have to travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for car servicing.

According to reports from Tesla owners who contacted Drive Tesla, they received notifications this week that their upcoming service appointments were canceled. Tesla informed them that the "travelling service offering" in the province has changed. Instead of bi-weekly visits, Tesla will now send a mobile ranger to Newfoundland once every two months. Furthermore, the service will no longer be mobile but will be conducted at a third-party garage located at 685 Topsail Road in St. John's.

The new service setup only covers repairs under warranty. Tesla owners with vehicles out of warranty are now required to take their cars to Halifax, a daunting journey of up to 22 hours. This travel comes with out-of-pocket expenses that can quickly escalate, especially for service visits that may span multiple days. The costs could be even higher if the car is not drivable and needs to be towed to Halifax.

While Tesla has not officially commented on this policy change, it is speculated to be related to recent layoffs affecting service staff across the country. Reports suggest that many of the laid-off employees were among the most experienced, which could be influencing the reduced service capacity.

This change not only affects current Tesla owners but also potential buyers who may be deterred by the lack of regular service access. Compounding the issue, there are no Superchargers in Newfoundland, and none are planned for the foreseeable future following the disbandment of the Supercharger team. Additionally, Tesla has been excluded from the provincial rebate program, potentially impacting sales in the province this year.

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EV Around the World 🌏

Biden Administration Increases Tariffs on Chinese EVs from 25% to 100%.

The US government has announced a substantial increase in tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, solar panels, steel, and other goods. This move is part of a broader strategy to counteract what the White House describes as unfair trade practices by China and to protect American jobs.

The new tariffs will be phased in over the next three years, starting in 2024. The first wave of tariffs will affect a range of products, including EVs, solar cells, syringes, needles, steel, aluminum, and more.

The tariff rate on Chinese-made EVs under Section 301 will jump from 25% to 100% in 2024. This dramatic increase is aimed at shielding American manufacturers from China's aggressive trade practices, which have led to a 70% rise in Chinese EV exports from 2022 to 2023.

Tariffs on lithium-ion EV batteries will increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2024. The same rate hike will apply to lithium-ion non-EV batteries starting in 2026. Battery parts will also see a tariff increase from 7.5% to 25% in 2024.

Tariffs on natural graphite and permanent magnets will rise from zero to 25% in 2026. Certain other critical minerals will see their tariffs increase from zero to 25% starting in 2024.

Tariffs on solar cells, whether or not assembled into modules, will double from 25% to 50% in 2024.

The Biden administration justifies these measures as essential to protecting the burgeoning American EV industry from unfair competition. Extensive subsidies and non-market practices in China have led to overcapacity and threatened investments in the US. By imposing a 100% tariff on EVs, the administration aims to secure the future of the auto industry in America, fostering job growth and investment within the country.

These tariff increases align with President Biden's "Investing in America" agenda, which focuses on building a robust EV market through various incentives and standards:

Business Tax Credits: For manufacturing batteries and producing critical minerals.
Consumer Tax Credits: To encourage EV adoption.
Smart Standards: To ensure a sustainable and competitive market.
Federal Investments: In EV charging infrastructure.
Grants: To support EV and battery manufacturing.

By raising tariffs on Chinese imports, the administration seeks to protect these investments and secure American jobs from the impacts of unfairly priced Chinese goods.

In the coming weeks and months we will see how Chinese manufacturers, along with the Canadian government react to the tariff increases.

Let us know what you think by replying to this email with your thoughts on the increased tariffs on Chinese imports as they relate to EVs. Should Canada fall in line? Do you welcome Chinese-made EVs?

QuickEV

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