Ontario Exempts Hybrids from Emissions Tests, Encourages Hybrid Sales

Ontario Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky has announced that the province is exempting hybrid vehicles from Drive Clean emissions testing. “We are helping protect the quality of our air, our environment and our health by reducing harmful vehicle emissions through Drive Clean,” said Dombrowsky, who drives a hybrid. “These vehicles have very low emissions and achieve excellent gas mileage and consumers should consider one for their next vehicle.”

The emissions testing equipment used in Ontario is not compatible with hybrid vehicles as it requires the vehicles to idle, something hybrids are not designed to do. Once these vehicles arrived in Ontario, the ministry began working on an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act to exempt hybrid vehicles from Drive Clean. The exemption is retroactive to May 1, 2005. Owners of hybrid vehicles that were tested will be contacted by the Drive Clean office and their test fees refunded.