DURHAM -- Canada’s auto manufacturers are asking for federal support of green fuel technology.
Mark Nantais, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association, was in Ottawa on Wednesday to urge the federal government to encourage infrastructure that will make green bio-fuels available to the wider public.
“Canada continues to lag far behind other countries in making greener fuels like E85 and biodiesel available for drivers,” Mr. Nantais said.
He says the expanded use of green bio-fuels is an important way to accelerate greenhouse gas reductions from on-road vehicles in Canada.
“Canada’s automakers have made over 70 new green vehicle technologies available to consumers in just two years,” he said. “The combination of new vehicle technology and green fuels creates maximum environmental benefit.”
Representatives from Chrysler, Ford and General Motors were on hand in Ottawa to demonstrate several of their vehicles that would generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions if greener bio-fuels were made more widely available in Canada.
The vehicles included a B20 bio-diesel Dodge Ram that can run on diesel containing up to 20 per cent bio-fuel, along with a Ford F150 and Chevrolet Impala, both E85 Flexible Fuel vehicles which can run on fuel containing up to 85 per cent ethanol or regular gasoline.
Mr. Nantais also called on the government to maintain the federal fuel excise tax exemption on the sale of greener bio-fuels like E85 ethanol, which are slated for elimination in 2008.
Federal finance minister Jim Flaherty, who drives an Oshawa-built Chevrolet Impala, said the government is committed to providing support for bio-fuels.
“We’ve already made huge investments in alternative fuels, including ethanol-based fuels in Canada,” he said. “Plants are going to be built all across Canada -- that money was in the last budget, budget 2007, in excess of $2 billion.”
He says the government is cognizant of the fact that there needs to be greater availability, but it will take time.
“I agree with the idea that we need to have more availability over time and I’m sure that something we can work together on,” he said.
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