BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Province has released $26-million in funding for public charging stations giving BC the lead in embracing zero-emission vehicles in Canada.
The Province’s newly released annual report about zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) shows they represented 18.1 per cent of new light-duty passenger vehicles sold in 2022 – the highest percentage for any province or territory. The year-end funding of $26 million will go toward the CleanBC Public Charging Program for light-duty vehicle charging.
“BC’s new car dealers are proud to be involved in a true partnership that has been so instrumental in BC establishing and maintaining a leadership position in zero-emission vehicle adoption. Ongoing investments that continue to support the CleanBC Go Electric rebate program and the availability of adequate charging infrastructure for consumers and businesses will be critical to the Province meeting its ZEV mandate targets, while also creating the promise of a greener and stronger economic future for British Columbians,” said Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC.
The new funding will support approximately 250 more public light-duty fast-charging stations, including stations to complete the Electric Highway, a CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 commitment that will make recharging easier in every corner of the province.
The 2022 ZEV Update report highlights CleanBC Go Electric rebates and programs that have helped drive growth in the number of electric vehicles in BC. The number of registered light-duty EVs rose from 5,000 in 2016 to more than 100,000 today – a 1,900 per cent increase in the past six years. Last year, 30,004 zero-emission vehicles were bought in BC, beating the previous record of 24,263 in 2021.
In addition, the report outlines progress in the installation of public charging stations across British Columbia, which now has one of the largest public charging networks in Canada, with more than 3,800 charging stations at the end of 2022. That compares to just 781 charging stations in 2016.
The CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, released in 2021, details a range of expanded actions to accelerate the switch to cleaner transportation, including strengthening the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act to require 26 per cent of light-duty vehicle sales to be ZEV by 2026, 90 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035 — five years ahead of the original target, and implementing the Clean Transportation Action Plan.
Business Examiner Staff
