Frequently asked questions

The ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (eTV) program is an initiative that will conduct in-depth safety and environmental performance testing on a range of new and emerging advanced vehicle technologies.

Advances in automotive vehicle technologies are occurring at an increasingly fast pace. Manufacturers are introducing new technologies with greater frequency to address growing concerns over fuel prices and to reduce the impact of transportation on the environment. The challenge for the eTV program is to focus on commercially viable products that serve a demonstrated market need in Canada.

The program will test new and emerging technologies for passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks, before they are widely established in Canada. For example, the program will investigate the performance of alternative-fuelled vehicles, including electric, liquefied natural gas and hydrogen vehicles. The program will also test new hybrid technologies and aerodynamic improvements for trucks and trailers.

The program is working with international, federal, provincial and territorial regulators and industry to identify priority technologies for investigation. The program will focus on market-ready advanced vehicle technologies where a knowledge gap exists with respect to safety or environmental performance in Canadian conditions, such as hydrogen, electric or liquefied natural gas vehicles.

The mandate of the eTV program is to test and evaluate promising technologies in order to facilitate their introduction in Canada. As such, eTV is always on the lookout for new, commercially viable technologies that will improve fuel consumption and/or reduce harmful emissions. However, eTV does not provide funding or certification to organizations or companies looking to develop new prototypes, fuel additives or other technologies for the Canadian market.

The eTV program's mandate is to seek out the most advanced technologies in order to evaluate their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption and other pollutants in passenger cars and trucks. The aim of the program is to get the cleanest transportation technologies on Canadian roads as soon as possible.

To achieve this mandate, eTV focuses its efforts on evaluating technologies that are close to or at the commercialization stage. The program does not provide direct funding for the development of experimental or prototype technologies. However, once a working prototype has been developed, the eTV program may be able to work with the company to test and evaluate the performance of the prototyped technology on Canadian roads.

The eTV program conducts in-depth testing and evaluation of the environmental performance of a range of emerging technologies for use in vehicles in Canada. The results of these tests help inform the development of regulations, codes and standards for the next generation of advanced vehicles, including electric, fuel cell and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, among others. The results are also available to Canadians through the program’s website. Check the Test Results section of this website periodically for testing and evaluation results or sign-up for eTV’s Green Wheels newsletter, to receive updates when new test results become available.