The British Columbia government is taking steps to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles to meet its 100-per-cent sales target five years sooner than initially planned.
B.C. would require all new light-duty vehicles sold in the province, including passenger cars and trucks, to be emission-free by 2035, it said, five years before the initial goal of 2040.
Association president Blair Qualey said post-pandemic supply issues are still affecting the industry, that the province lacks an adequate charging network, particularly in B.C.’s Interior and the north, and zero-emission vehicles remain relatively unaffordable, even with incentives.
“By building flexibility into the regulatory regime and penalty structure, we stand a better chance of collectively meeting the kind of success we all want, and in doing so creating a cleaner, greener future for all British Columbians,” he said.