The BC government announced on November 20^th, 2018 that they will be introducing legislation next spring to phase in targets for the sale of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). The legislation will set targets of 10% ZEV sales by 2025, 30% by 2030, and 100% by 2040; while the government will take additional steps to make ZEV’s more affordable. This is a welcome, vital element in the process of rolling out electrification in BC so that the province can meet its GHG reduction targets. It supports the message in our “Electrification of British Columbia” white paper where our study shows that EV transportation is one of the 3 main pillars for carbon reduction.

The paper also shows that while passenger vehicles are important (14.9%), it is the light, medium and heavy-duty trucks that provide the largest opportunity for GHG reduction (84%). The province is now in a position to look at mandates for EV trucks and buses. Interestingly, 8.3% of cars sold in Canada in the last quarter were already EVs. However, the BC government’s targets apply to all light duty vehicles (i.e. passenger cars and trucks, with the latter category including CUVs, SUVs & pick-ups), and when they are included, the total EV sales in BC will have hit 3.9%. As such, we are getting very close to the 2025 target of 10% EV sales. EV sales have tripled in the last year and, at these rates, the targets are likely to be achieved well before the 2025, 2030 and 2040 targets. We would welcome pushing the targets even further and faster because we are already on the way.

Jae Mather is executive director of Clean Energy BC

Click here to read the article from Canada’s National Observer that was published on November 20th.