British Columbia has terminated a rebate initiative for electric vehicles that had been put on hold six months ago and is abandoning the requirement that all new vehicle sales in the province must be zero-emission by 2035.
Energy Minister Adrian Dix is transferring the responsibility for setting targets, providing financial incentives, and addressing the issue of high electric vehicle costs to the federal government.
Dix stated that the previous 100% sales target and the 90% goal for 2030 were no longer seen as achievable and that the government views rebates as a federal matter.
“The rebate programs were not designed to be permanent,” Dix mentioned regarding the provincial program that granted up to $4,000 to buyers of battery-electric vehicles before its suspension in May.
Dix revealed during a press briefing in Victoria that the NDP administration plans to introduce legislation next year to modify B.C.’s mandates to align with forthcoming targets from the federal government.
“We believe that targets should be attainable through effort,” Dix expressed. “They should not be based on expectations but on realistic achievements with dedicated work.”
The new targets have not been finalized yet due to an ongoing review under CleanBC, the province’s climate strategy, and the federal government’s pending evaluation of its own mandates.
Federal officials recently announced intentions to propose adjustments to their electric vehicle sales requirement this winter, which initially aimed for 20% zero-emission sales next year, escalating to 100% in 2035, mirroring B.C.’s previous objective.
However, on September 5, Prime Minister Mark Carney postponed the 2026 rollout of the EV mandate and initiated a review process.
Dix emphasized the importance of aligning B.C.’s mandate with Ottawa’s to enhance efficiency.
Moreover, he partially attributed the surge in electric vehicle prices to Ottawa’s imposition of substantial tariffs on EVs imported from China.
While forthcoming mandates may undergo revisions, Dix assured that all automakers are on track to achieve a 26% sales target by 2026, with provisions for a grace period if targets are not met.
Dix emphasized the necessity for automakers to ensure that residents of British Columbia have access to electric vehicles, noting that the government plans to implement significant regulatory modifications to support EV sales.
Furthermore, Dix stressed the importance of focusing on expanding charging infrastructure in B.C., with the province aiming to reach 10,000 public charging stations by 2030.
Although provincial rebates are no longer available, the government intends to introduce measures such as broadening the range of vehicles eligible for zero-emission-vehicle credits and launching a program to reward manufacturers enhancing access to financing incentives for EV buyers.
Dix acknowledged the significance of these initiatives while acknowledging that additional steps are required for meeting future mandates without direct financial support.
Hon Chan, the B.C. Conservative critic for climate solutions and climate readiness, echoed the Opposition’s view that the EV mandates were unattainable, emphasizing concerns over fairness to consumers and car dealers.
Dix’s announcements come following the release of government documents by Energy Futures Institute, questioning the feasibility of achieving the 90% sales target by 2030.
These documents underscore challenges in reaching the target due to factors like affordability issues, insufficient charging infrastructure, and policy changes that have impacted EV adoption in B.C.
The documents highlight that zero-emission vehicles represented 22.4% of all light-duty vehicle sales in the province in 2024, a significant increase from 0.8% in 2015, yet slightly lower than 22.7% in 2023.
Introduced in September 2019 through legislation, B.C.’s zero-emission mandate is part of the CleanBC program aimed at reducing emissions by 40% by 2030.