While most trips will be made using active transportation by 2050, many trips will still require powered vehicles. This includes public transit vehicles, and personal and commercial vehicles. This is especially the case for rural parts of Waterloo Region where active transportation is constrained by long distances, and there is limited access to public transit. All remaining vehicles in 2050 must be zero emission vehicles.
Electric vehicles (EV’s) are zero emissions, and are already available to consumers. Most major auto manufacturers are already producing electric models, and many automobile manufacturers such as Toyota and General Motors have announced dates by which they will phase out gasoline powered vehicles. While some types of industrial and commercial vehicles may need to use other zero emissions technologies like green hydrogen, with strong investments in charging infrastructure, the future of most vehicles is electric.