As prices at the pump remain high, and affordability pressures persist, consumers are making real-time decisions when it comes to purchasing their next vehicle.
In BC, 2,614 Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) were sold in February – a 36 per cent increase from January – according to Statistics Canada. In February, ZEVs also accounted for nearly 18.6 per cent of all new vehicle sales in British Columbia, up from 13.7 per cent the previous month. To quantify that, BC residents bought 2,614 new ZEVs in February, compared to 1,920 the month prior.
This increase in sales also coincides with gas prices hovering around $2 per litre, and the reintroduction of the federal government’s EV purchase rebate through the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program, which returned on February 16 after being paused for a year. The program provides consumers with a rebate up to $5,000 for new battery electric vehicles and $2,500 for a plug-in hybrid. This policy change is a step in the right direction and seems to be making a difference already.
ZEV sales aren’t just up in BC, they’re up nationally and represent 10.2 per cent of all new vehicle sales in February – up from 6.9 per cent in 2025. Other provinces are also seeing this surge in ZEV sales, including Quebec who has seen a massive jump in ZEV sales in February.
These numbers come as no surprise, as our dealers in BC are seeing these purchase changes first-hand. With the recent surge in gas prices, consumers are seeing they can save over the short-and-long-term when it comes to trading in their gas vehicle for a ZEV – with fuel savings, maintenance, and reliability all playing a role in these decisions.
Affordability is a national issue that isn’t specific to the auto industry, but in a time where the average family is looking to save where they can, a switch to a ZEV could be an option now.
I have heard from numerous local dealers that consumer interest in electric vehicles have accelerated significantly this year, especially in urban markets with accessible charging infrastructure. For this trend to continue, additional charging infrastructure is needed, and government and the development sector could work together to ensure new builds are equipped with EV-ready parking stalls.
The recent surge in ZEVs also confirms a point that the New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) has continued to make – aligning policy with real-world consumer conditions is important. This sales increase is as good an example as any that policy, economics, and consumer behaviour are all intertwined – high gas prices are driving interest in ZEVs, and government incentives are helping to drive adoption.
Affordability, an increase in available charging infrastructure, and arming consumers with all the information they need to make a confident decision, are the recipe to long-term success when it comes to ZEV sales.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. He can be reached at [email protected]
