Evidence of meeting #33 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bus.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
They could. They would have to do a new reinstall if they moved it.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
For most of the natural gas vehicles that would use this, are they gasoline-capable as well, or are they exclusively powered by natural gas?
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
That's a good question.
In North America, the only pure natural gas vehicle I'm aware of that's being sold today is a Honda, I think a GSX or something like that. There are also a lot of pure natural gas vehicles being sold in foreign countries.
I can tell you that our customers, the automotive manufacturers, are looking at natural gas and how we get this out there. They're all working on bi-fuel vehicles, which are gasoline and natural gas.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
So if you fuelled up at home and you're on a long road trip, you could then....
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
Exactly.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I'm going to do one more round with just a question, and then we'll move to the motion.
Ms. Chow.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
In terms of the timing of the electric pedicabs, the three-wheelers, and all of those other types of electric vehicles—they are vehicles, actually, under the Highway Traffic Act—what would be the timing for legislation? Right now there isn't any. Would it be, for instance, within a year that something needs to be in place so there's no vacuum there?
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
Yes, I think two years would be safe for that type of thing. The ones that I know of that are either being developed or under consideration wouldn't launch before a two-year timeframe.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Okay.
I have one question on Israel. They've discovered natural gas, and my understanding is that they don't have a problem with the battery swap. There are no lineups. They seem to have the system worked out.
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
In Israel?
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
Yes, I would say that certainly it's doable, but I would suggest to you that the government subsidies must be tremendous to make it work.
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
Yes.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Do you know...? You know what? I'll skip that question, because I'll ask it of people who know the situation there well.
Do you know what the percentage of the subsidy is between the private and the public sectors? Because they've established an entire system.
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
No, I don't know the number, but I recall hearing something. Basically, I think the government is paying for half the car, and my guess is that they're probably subsidizing the swap stations as well. I think it's a really heavy subsidy on those.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Pascoe, in Quebec, people really want work to be done on the electric car. Has Magna International started talks with Hydro-Québec? Are discussions going on? If so, what stage are they at?
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
We had discussions with some of what I'll call the subs of Hydro-Québec. I believe there was a battery pack company, and I think Dow Kokam purchased them at the end of the day. We've had discussions at that level about potentially getting technology. Certainly, Hydro-Québec has some great—
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Chair, I can often hear chat-chat over on that side. When I ask questions, I expect a modicum of respect so that I can hear the answer.
Sorry about that, but....
Vice-President of Corporate Engineering, The Americas, Global Headquarters, Magna International Inc.
Certainly, Hydro-Québec has brought some really excellent battery chemistry to bear, and that's being licensed out, I believe. It's the lithium iron phosphate chemistry. That, for hybrid applications, is really very good.
Conservative