ecoTechnology for Vehicles - Steer in the direction of an environmentally friendly tomorrow

February 14, 2007

Canadians everywhere can do their part to help ensure a clean, healthy environment. It starts by making the right choices in our lives. And that includes choosing vehicles with improved fuel efficiency.

There are a lot of new, advanced technologies that are either available now in the consumer market - such as hybrid gas/electric cars - or coming in the near future, such as hydrogen-powered engines. But it can be daunting making the right choice for your family or your company fleet.

As part of its environmental agenda, the Government of Canada has launched the ecoTechnology for Vehicles Program to help Canadians make informed choices when purchasing a vehicle. Building on the successful fuel-efficiency programs that Canadians have relied on for many years, the new program will include in-depth testing and publishing of the safety and environmental performance of a range of emerging technologies for use in light-duty vehicles.

The program will showcase these new environmentally friendly technologies at auto shows across the country and help provide Canadians with the facts they need to make informed decisions. There is another important benefit offered by the ecoTechnology for Vehicles Program: it will foster important new partnerships with the automobile industry and others across the country to help remove barriers to the introduction of environmental technologies in Canada.

The ecoTechnology for Vehicles Program builds on the major infrastructure investments that the Government of Canada announced in the 2006 federal budget, and other measures announced in the fall, like regulating the emissions of the industrial and auto sectors. These measures are part of the Government of Canada's ambitious and realistic agenda to protect the health of Canadians and the environment in Canada and demonstrates that this Government understands the importance of addressing climate change.

Get the facts about eco-friendly vehicles and make the right choices for a clean, healthy environment. Together, we can build a sustainable environment for all.

Want to know more about the Government of Canada's environmental agenda and the ecoTechnology for Vehicles Program? Visit us online at www.tc.gc.ca.