VICTORIA — Joanna Kyriazis, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to B.C.’s updated Zero-Emission Vehicles Act:
“B.C.’s historic leadership on electric vehicles has led to tangible benefits for British Columbians, and today’s decision to maintain the province’s own path on EV policy is a win for current and future drivers, cleaner neighbourhoods, and our climate.
“As gas prices climb past $2 a litre in many parts of B.C., the province’s zero-emission vehicle sales regulation is more important than ever. According to a forthcoming study from Clean Energy Canada, a typical EV driver in B.C. saves up to $34,000 over a decade of ownership, or about $2,600 to $3,400 per year compared to someone driving an equivalent gas vehicle. This policy will help ensure British Columbians continue to be first in line for the best EV makes and models available in the country at the most affordable prices—so more families can start saving sooner.
“While B.C. has aligned its surface-level ambition with the federal government through a new target of 75% EV sales by 2035, the province’s approach provides greater certainty by requiring more EVs specifically (the federal approach could be met with a mix of hybrids), ensuring B.C. is treated preferentially by automakers delivering affordable fully electric cars. The regulation also keeps B.C.’s hands on the wheel of its own auto destiny if ever, for example, it disagrees with the direction of a future federal government.
“Compared to other Canadians, British Columbians are already more likely to go electric, with EVs accounting for 23% of new car sales in B.C. in the final quarter of 2025, even as B.C. cancelled its rebate and the federal program remained paused. And that market share is almost certain to increase in 2026. British Columbians are unsurprisingly more inclined than other Canadians to choose an EV for their next vehicle, with a majority inclined to go electric. That share is even higher in Metro Vancouver, where about seven in 10 lean toward getting an EV. On top of that, British Columbians already benefit from one of the strongest public charging networks in Canada.
“The zero-emission vehicle sales regulation also supports private sector investment in Canada’s EV supply chain by providing market certainty for the nearly 400 EV-related companies that directly employ over 8,000 British Columbians and contribute more than $900 million to provincial GDP. The policy additionally helps improve air quality from transportation, which costs B.C. an estimated $1.3 billion per year, and reduces climate pollution, with transportation accounting for 42% of the province’s total emissions.
“British Columbians deserve a policy designed for them, and today the government kept in place a proven one—albeit with less ambition than previously, but nonetheless with its core purpose intact. As the B.C. government charts its path to 75% EV sales by 2035, it should design a route that builds on the province’s leadership to date so that even more British Columbians can reap the many benefits of going electric.”