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5 Plugged into Safety: A primer on the hazards of working with battery electric vehicles | March 2024 The BEV Market and Battery Supply Chain Facts and Stats THE EV MARKET IN CANADA In December 2023, the Government of Canada announced the Electric Vehicle Availability Mandate and set a target that beginning in 2026, at least 20% of new light duty vehicles offered for sale will be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), and annual increases will lead to 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. 4 While vehicle registrations were down overall, ZEV registrations jumped to 13.3% in Q3 of 2023 – a 2.7 percentage point increase over the previous quarter. 5 Canada is the only country in the Western Hemisphere with all the raw materials required for a lithium-ion battery, with Northern Ontario already being a key producer of nickel, cobalt and copper and home to several advanced lithium and graphite mineral development projects that could feed battery supply chains in the coming years. 6 According to a Clean Energy Canada Report: 7 – Canada's EV battery supply chain could support up to 250,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030 and add $48 billion to the Canadian economy annually. – Domestic battery production could help Canada achieve its ambitious target of 100 per cent zero-emission vehicles by 2035. It is anticipated that once up and running, the EV Battery production sector in Canada will have capacity to manufacture over two million electric vehicles annually. In February 2024, Canada was ranked number one among 30 countries on the BloombergNEF global lithium-ion battery supply chain ranking – an annual list that looks at each country's potential to build a secure, reliable and sustainable supply chain for lithium-ion batteries. 8 THE BEV SUPPLY CHAIN IN ONTARIO Ontario is the only place in the world that the six largest automakers call home. 9 In the past three years, Ontario has attracted more than $28 billion in automotive and EV investments, which includes the $7-billion investment by Volkwagen for a new battery plant in St. Thomas, ON. It is anticipated that more than 100,000 auto workers will be upskilled to work in this sector. 9 Through the Skills Development Fund, Ontario is investing more than $4.7 million in two programs – one with AIA and the other with APMA – to help over 360 technicians and jobseekers gain the skills they need to transition and launch their careers in the automotive manufacturing sector and emerging EV field. 10 " With rapid growth in electric vehicle production, the collaboration between APMA and WSPS stands as a powerful alliance for a safer tomorrow. Together we navigate the currents of innovation, ensuring that electrifying the future is not only sustainable, but ensures safety is a priority while progressing the EV industry." — Flavio Volpe President of APMA