by Keith Hebert

Contact Keith by e-mail.

The presence of the smart car in Canada was brought about in part by the efforts of a Transport Canada initiative, known as the Advanced Technology Vehicles Program.

The Advanced Technology Vehicles Program (ATVP) has been in operation since June 2001. The goal of the ATVP is to support Transport Canada’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources and achieve a transportation system for Canada that is sustainable. The program is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from on-road vehicles by:

* evaluating the fuel efficiency, emissions and safety performance of advanced technology vehicles;
* identifying opportunities and market potential for the introduction and use of advanced technology vehicles;
* identifying barriers to the introduction and use of advanced technology vehicles and recommending remedies;
* raising public awareness of advanced technology vehicles; and
* supporting Transport Canada’s environmental programs.

ATVP staff like Brian Bond and John Neufeld have put out tremendous efforts to bring attention to alternative vehicles. ATVP engineers were testing the smart car as early as 2000, bringing in two models, a gasoline cabrio, and a diesel coupe.

Continued enthusiasm for the smart product led to the ATVP acquiring additional smart models, including the roadster and the forfour, although both have been dropped from production by smart™ gmbh. Pictured below are the additional models acquired by the ATVP, along side my own smart fortwo coupe when it was wrapped in graphics for the One-Tonne Challenge. I had a chance to visit the ATVP program and drive these vehicles back in September 2005 during my own cross-Canada journey.

For more information regarding the fuel efficiency of passeneger vehicles in Canada, please visit Transport Canada’s Personal Vehicles Initiative website.

Other links regarding vehicles and the environment:

smart Canada: ecology. Did you know that smart, for the first time in the automotive industry, used powder-coating for the entire vehicle bodywork? Powder-coating uses 40% less energy than conventional painting methods, with zero solvent emissions and no water consumption.

Green Car Congress. Many excellent articles on advanced vehicle technology, including the smart EV and biodiesel.

David Suzuki: Climate Change. Learn about the imminent threat to mankind and our planet.

Consider this.

Did you know that passenger vehicles account for 50% of individual Canadians contribution to global warming?

The average vehicle on Canadian roads creates 6 tonnes of GHG per year. The smart cdi creates just 2.3 tonnes.

For more information regarding the fuel efficiency of passeneger vehicles in Canada, please visit Transport Canada’s Personal Vehicles Initiative website.