August 27, 2025
Langley, BC – The New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) welcomes today’s federal announcement of $22.7 million to support eight new EV charging projects across British Columbia, adding more than 480 public and fleet chargers to improve access for electric vehicle drivers.
While this is a positive step, NCDA cautions that charging infrastructure alone will not deliver Ottawa’s and BC’s ambitious zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) targets without action on affordability and policy timelines.
“This investment is good news, but it won’t matter if British Columbians can’t afford the vehicles,” said Blair Qualey, President and CEO of the NCDA. “The federal and provincial governments must re-establish EV rebate programs and put the brakes on unrealistic ZEV mandates. Without immediate action, these targets will remain out of reach—and consumers will be left behind.”
Affordability and Policy Must Work Together
- Rebates Are Essential: Provincial rebates under the CleanBC Go Electric program are currently on pause pending review, while federal iZEV support is also under review. These programs have been critical to making EVs more affordable.
- Mandates Need a Reality Check: B.C.’s ZEV mandate requires 26% of new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2026, ramping up to 90% by 2030. Ottawa’s national mandate mirrors these timelines—targets that simply aren’t achievable because they are based the assumption of strong incentives and market readiness, conditions that no longer exist.
- Consequences of Inaction: Without rebates and more realistic timelines, the province risks consumer pushback, inventory challenges for dealers, and disruption across new and used vehicle markets. Already, some manufacturers are restricting their allocations of gas-powered vehicles to BC in order to comply — unintentionally limiting consumer choice and creating market distortions and higher prices for new and used vehicles.
The NCDA has consistently advocated for a three-pillar approach to EV adoption based on:
- Affordability through incentives
- Infrastructure, like today’s investment
- Education to build consumer confidence
“All three must work together,” added Qualey. “Government cannot remove one leg of the stool and expect the system to stay upright. We are urging both levels of government to restore incentives and revisit ZEV policies before British Columbians are priced out of the market.”
About the NCDA: The New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) represents over 400 new car and truck dealers throughout British Columbia who provide 30,000 family supporting jobs and are responsible for close to $17 billion in retail sales in the province. The Association speaks on behalf of the retail automotive industry and advocates on legal, environmental, and consumer issues relating to vehicle sales in British Columbia.
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Contact:
Kelly Gleeson
