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BC introduces amendment increasing EV’s manufacturing targets

Oct 24, 2023 | 3:08 PM

BRITISH COLUMBIA— The Province has put forward an amendment with plans to increase it’s zero-emmission vehicle (ZEV) targets.

If passed the act will require automakers to meet an annual escalating percentage of new light-duty zero emission vehicles sales and leases, reaching 26% of light-duty vehicle sales by 2026, 90% by 2030 and 100% by 2035, five years ahead of the original target.

With the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, our government was the first in the world to put an EV sales target into law,

said Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

Osborne continues by saying B.C. is the leader on the switch to electric vehicles and hopes that these actions will make it easier for drivers to choose electric when they make their next purchase.

We’re taking action to encourage a cleaner British Columbia, while making headway on CleanBC’s mission to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030. These changes also support rising demand for cleaner vehicles on the roads and will make it easier for more people to choose an electric vehicle.

George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Along with the amendments, British Columbia’s Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program for homes, workplaces and multiunit residential buildings has been recharged with $7 million in provincial funding. The program’s funds were exhausted earlier in the year due to higher-than-anticipated demand. EV charger rebate applications for single-family homes and workplaces will reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023.

The ZEV Act supports B.C.’s CleanBC goals to reduce greenhouse gasses, increase economic opportunities and improve community health.