Incentives alone won’t boost shift to EV
Transitioning to clean energy vehicles requires changes in infrastructure, education for consumers
Most people would agree that transitioning as many British Columbians as possible to clean energy vehicles is in the best interest of our environment and for current and future generations. However, much of the discussion and debate often starts and ends with electric vehicles (EVs), when they are merely one of many options for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs).
What is lost in many conversations is the fact that newer model gasoline-powered vehicles also play an important role in GHG reductions, as manufacturers each year unveil new internal combustion models that have lower emissions and are much more fuel efficient.
Ideally, advanced technology vehicles such as electrics, would be a solution for every individual and family, but that simply isn’t the current reality. B.C. is a resource-based province in which geography, and weather in some regions, mean an electric vehicle is simply not a viable option. In the Interior and the North in particular, a robust charging network is required before we are going to see greater EV adoption.
Furthermore, in a province where affordability is an issue, the cost of newer model EVs is not necessarily within the reach of everyone.
Some would suggest that auto manufacturers should be forced to sell an arbitrary minimum number of electric vehicles in our market, but we believe such an approach would be counter-productive and not practical.
Even with ambitious increases in EV availability for B.C. consumers in the hope they will buy them, the only way to meet regulated quotas would be to restrict the sale of new non-EV vehicles to the province.
As a result, many British Columbians would be prevented from buying a vehicle that meets their family’s needs or that of their business. It would also mean additional costs to manufacturers, who would have no choice but to add those price increases across all their new vehicle lineups.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and any strategy to encourage greater adoption of clean energy vehicles needs to reflect that.
B.C.’s new car dealers support a three-pronged strategy that involves an ongoing commitment to the CEVforBC program, a point-of-sale purchase incentive program designed to make clean energy vehicles more affordable for British Columbians. The program has had more than 8,400 incentives approved over the past 3½ years.
We also advocate ongoing education for consumers on the latest in clean energy vehicles, along with planning and investment in infrastructure to support greater electric-vehicle usage.
B.C.'s new car dealers believe an approach using carrots, not sticks, that reflects the realities of today, will meet with the kind of success we all want, for a clean environment for current and future British Columbians.