By Blair Qualey, President and CEO, New Car Dealers Association of BC
Quebec made headlines last week when the province quietly updated its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate to allow plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) to count toward automaker targets. While some might view this as a softening of climate ambition, Quebec’s update reflects a growing realization: fixed EV targets simply don’t match on-the-ground conditions.
Even this adjustment will help some automakers more than others, highlighting why the industry has long urged governments to focus on outcomes, not mechanisms. If the goal is greenhouse gas reductions, then set a target and let automakers determine how to achieve it. Prescribing a single technology, such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or even conventional hybrids, can unfairly benefit some while putting others at a disadvantage.
Policymakers should stay focused on the prize: reducing emissions, not dictating which vehicles consumers must buy.
Quebec and BC have long led the country in EV adoption, supported by strong mandates and incentives. But as targets tighten and affordability concerns grow, it’s time to recognize a key truth: flexibility matters.
Conventional hybrids are one solution British Columbians are embracing. They don’t plug in and recharge through regenerative braking. While not classified as ZEVs, they offer roughly a 20% improvement in fuel economy and corresponding emissions reductions.
Plug-in hybrids go further—offering up to 80 km of electric range before switching seamlessly to gas. For many daily drivers, this bridges the gap between sustainability and practicality. PHEVs provide electric driving without the infrastructure challenges or range anxiety that still affect rural and remote communities.
BC’s ZEV mandate currently includes PHEVs, but only those that meet minimum electric range requirements. That might have made sense when most EV drivers lived in Metro Vancouver. But today, these rigid rules risk limiting access for consumers elsewhere—undermining the very goals the mandate was designed to achieve.
At the New Car Dealers Association of BC, we’ve long called for consistent, adaptable, and pragmatic policy that balances environmental goals with consumer realities. That means considering regional infrastructure gaps, vehicle availability, and affordability.
With steep penalties for automakers who fall short of targets, a one-size-fits-all policy risks reducing supply or raising prices—neither of which help British Columbians transition to cleaner vehicles.
The mandate has already done important work: today, BC consumers can choose from over 100 ZEV models.
Now, the focus should shift to removing barriers to adoption, especially cost and access to charging. That includes reviewing constraints like the Luxury Car Tax, which continues to penalize cleaner, but pricier, vehicles.
Some voices in the sector have called for the mandate to be eliminated entirely. While that may be part of a longer-term policy conversation, we believe there is a more immediate and constructive step forward:
At a minimum, the government should pause and review the regulation. Holding ZEV targets at 2025 levels and suspending penalties would give all stakeholders time to regroup while reviewing forecasts from firms like DesRosiers, Bloomberg, or J.D. Power, and considering how shifts in federal or US policy could reshape the landscape.
BC should lead, not leap blindly. Future policies must treat all technologies fairly and reflect the diversity of BC’s drivers. This isn’t about choosing between ambition and action, it’s about delivering both. British Columbians are ready to go electric. Let’s give them the tools, choices, and policies to get there.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. You can email him at [email protected].
