Council Report: S 147/2020

Subject: Response to CQ 1-2020 – Facilitating the Transition to Electric Vehicles - City Wide

Reference:

Date to Council: November 25, 2020
Author: Rob Slater
Executive Initiatives Coordinator
(519) 255-6247 ext. 6005
rslater@citywindsor.caCity Engineer
Report Date: October 21, 2020
Clerk’s File #: SW/13715

To: Mayor and Members of City Council

Recommendation:

That Council RECEIVE this report in response to CQ 1-2020.

Executive Summary:N/A

Background:

The City of Windsor has had a long and storied relationship with the automobile. Windsor also has had a lesser known but significant history with electric vehicles.

In 1886, Windsor was the first city in Canada to have an electric streetcar. That history is commemorated by the recent restoration of Street Car #351. We continue to build on that piece of its history too. Today, Windsor is home to electric vehicle research and development by FCA and the Ford Motor Company of Canada. In addition, the Pacifica Hybrid (one of two electric vehicles currently manufactured in Canada) is manufactured here.

Recent contract settlements with Ford Motor Company of Canada and FCA call for substantial investment in electric vehicles and battery production. Highlights of those settlements include:

Ford Motor Company of Canada

• $1.5 billion (U.S.) in investments to bring battery electric vehicle production to Oakville and a new engine derivative to Windsor;

• The investment plan involves building five models of electric vehicles.

FCA

• A commitment by FCA to invest between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion in Windsor by 2024.

• A second platform will run in addition to the current Pacifica platform and will build plug-in hybrid vehicles and/or battery electric vehicles.