BC Announces Zero Emission Mandate

Members of the VEVC were out in force at the BC Legislature on Tuesday as Premier John Horgan and Third Party Leader Andrew Weaver made a joint announcement on the province’s electric vehicle future.

The provincial government, in partnership with the BC Green caucus, will introduce legislation next spring to phase in targets for the sale of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). This legislation will set targets of 10% ZEV sales by 2025, 30% by 2030,and 100% by 2040, while government will take additional steps to make ZEVs more affordable.

The Premier outlined a three-point plan to kick-start and fuel the rollout of the ZEV standard:

1. Expanding the size of the province’s electric vehicle direct-current fast-charger (DCFC)network to 151 sites, with 71 already completed or underway and, leveraging federal and private-sector dollars, another 80 in the works.

2. Increasing the provincial incentive program by $20 million to encourage more British Columbians to buy clean energy cars now. This will bring the incentive program up to $57 million in total.

3. Reviewing the incentive program with an eye to expanding it over time, so buying a ZEV becomes a more affordable option for middle- and lower-income British Columbians.

“If we want British Columbians to be part of the solution for reducing air pollution, we need to make clean energy vehicles more affordable, available and convenient,” said Premier Horgan, who added that this initiative is the first major policy commitment of the government’s upcoming strategy to meet B.C.’s legislated climate goals.

The following video of the announcement was captured by Manfred Wissemann. Photo above by Glenn Garry.