Ottawa announces $21M for clean transportation tech

The federal government is investing more than $21 million in nine clean technology projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Canada’s transportation sector.

Evan Solomon, minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, made the announcement on behalf of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. The funding comes through Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program On-road Transportation Decarbonization initiative.

The projects will support the development and demonstration of technologies that improve system efficiency, ease the transition to zero-emission vehicles and overcome technical and market barriers for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Solomon also announced $4.97 million in funding for the City of Toronto to convert 60 waste-collection vehicles to hybrid electric-compressed natural gas systems. The move is expected to cut emissions, fuel consumption and noise while maintaining performance.

This project is supported through the Green Freight Program’s fleet modernization stream, which helps fund low-carbon vehicle purchases, repowering initiatives and efficiency improvements in logistics.

“We are taking bold steps to make Canada an energy superpower. Through these projects, Canadian innovators are creating and commercializing the emerging technologies we need for clean, sustainable transportation for our future,” said Hodgson. “We’re investing in Canadian ideas to accelerate emissions reductions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which strengthens our supply chains and energy independence.”