Toronto, Ontario — In this week’s EV/AV Report, Audi announces it will only launch all-electric models beginning in 2026 and Brampton becomes the first municipality in Ontario to use an electric-powered fire truck. Meanwhile, a new study shows many Canadians are concerned about autonomous vehicles.
Combustion Engine Expiry Date Set
Starting in 2026, Audi will only launch new all-electric models on the global market and will phase out production of the last internal combustion engines by 2033.
According to a release, production of Audi’s final completely newly developed combustion engine model will start in just four years. And beginning in 2026, the premium brand will only release new models onto the global market that are powered purely by electricity.
“Audi’s last internal combustion engine will be the best we’ve ever built,” said Audi CEO Markus Duesmann.
As part of its strategic realignment, the company is accelerating the transition to e-mobility. The manufacturer will be gradually phasing out the production of internal combustion engines until 2033. Audi aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
“With this roadmap, we are creating the clarity necessary to make a decisive and powerful transition to the electric age. We’re sending the signal that Audi is ready,” said Duesmann.
AutoNOmous?
A third of Canadians say they’re excited for the development of self-driving vehicles – but nearly as many say they’re concerned, according to a recent report by CarGurus.
The survey, which was conducted in April asked 480 automobile owners about thoughts on autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance features.
Of those surveyed 32 per cent say they are excited about the development of self-driving vehicles, 29 per cent are concerned and 38 per cent are neutral about it.
The study found that shoppers today are more interested in Level 1-3 AV tech with ADAS features, like adaptive cruise control (38 percent), automatic parking (45 percent), or emergency braking (47 percent).
CarGurus also noted that consumers are most interested in using AVs to drive them home when they’re unable to safely (53 percent), which for many can be seen as interchangeable with ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft.
“For personal ownership of AVs to happen, there needs to be more clear benefits and use cases for consumers,” says the company.
Electric Fire Fighting
Today, Brampton City Council approved Brampton Fire and Emergency Service’s plans to replace a front-line pumper with a Rosenbauer RT, a fully electric-powered fire truck.
Brampton will be the first municipality in Ontario to use an electric-powered front-line emergency response vehicle, joining other world class cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam, Dubai, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The Rosenbauer RT is the first fully electric-powered fire truck available on the market that is able to meet current firefighting standards. The truck’s technology will allow Brampton fire crews to generate zero emissions while responding to emergencies, not only during travel, but also while on site. The elimination of emissions onsite protects both the environment and the health and safety of the firefighters on scene by reducing the intake of carcinogens.
The new electric fire truck is planned to be stationed at the new, state-of-the-art Brampton Fire Campus, which is currently under construction. The City will receive the truck in late 2022.
