B.C. to redraw EV sales mandate, scrapping goal of 100 per cent by 2035

British Columbia's energy minister says the province will reduce targets for electric vehicle sales, effectively scrapping plans mandating that every new vehicle sold in the province must be zero-emission by 2035.

Adrian Dix says the 100 per cent mandate and a 90 per cent goal for 2030 are no longer realistic, and the NDP government will introduce legislation next year to revise the goals.

Dix says the new targets are not yet set because a review of CleanBC, the province's climate plan, is still underway.

Federal officials said earlier this month that Ottawa would unveil proposed changes to its electric vehicles sales mandate this winter, which was originally set to require zero emission sales of 20 per cent next year, rising to 100 per cent in 2035, a goal in line with B.C.'s mandate.

But on Sept. 5, Prime Minister Mark Carney paused a 2026 rollout of the EV mandate and launched a review.

Dix says the B.C. government is waiting until Ottawa completes its review, adding that provincial and federal targets "should be the same."

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick