INDUSTRY INSIDER
B.C.’S ZERO EMISSION PLAN WILL HAVE SPEED BUMPS
The B.C. government recently announced its intention to introduce legislation in the spring to phase in targets for the sale of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVS) and in doing so, will set targets of new vehicle sales (10 per cent ZEV sales by 2025; 30 per cent by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2040).
As part of the plan, Victoria has suggested it will expand the size of the province’s fastcharger network to 151 sites, increase funding for the CEVforBC Program by $20 million this year, and review the program with a view to expanding it over time. These are all initiatives the B.C. New Car Dealers welcome as a means of ensuring greater EV adoption.
In the province, sales of electric vehicles have increased from 567 in 2013, to more than 3,500 in 2017, and to more than 6,300 through the first three quarters of this year. In fact, according to FleetCarma.com, during the third quarter of 2018, the sale of electric vehicles represented 15.4 per cent of all new car sales in the province.
The New Car Dealers support the goal of transitioning British Columbians into clean energy vehicles, and as I’ve written in this space before, believe the best way to accomplish that goal is through carrots, not sticks. We believe incentives that make clean energy vehicles more affordable, education on the latest technologies, and ongoing investment in the province-wide charging network are key aspects of such an approach.
However, a ZEV mandate, what amounts to a legislated sales quota, is of concern because it does not take a number of key factors into account.
These include: the fact EVs are still unaffordable for many individuals and families in British Columbia; in some areas of the province, particularly in the Interior and the north, geography and climate mean an EV is not a realistic option for many families or businesses; a comprehensive network of charging stations is critical to support increased EV adoption and further details are required about how, where and when the network will be developed; and finally, there is no recognition that newer model gasoline-powered vehicles can also play an important role in emission reductions as manufacturers unveil new internal combustion models that are much more fuel efficient with each passing year.
B.C.’s New Car Dealers already play a significant role in moving British Columbians to clean energy vehicles and we want to continue doing so with government, in a manner that is based on a thoughtful, fact based and detailed strategy. To that end, we are interested in the extent to which a public consultation process may occur prior to the introduction of legislation to ensure that the views of all regions of the province are represented in what is a very important and ongoing discussion.