BC Election 2020 - Where do the parties stand on making EVs more affordable?

10/19/2020 2:06 PM | Admin1 (JS) (Administrator)

BC Election 2020: Electric Vehicles
Where do the parties stand on making EV's more affordable?

Vancouver, BC October 19, 2020 – for immediate release
Where do BC’s political parties stand on making zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) an affordable, consumer-driven part of BC’s economic and climate change response? 
 
The BC Green Party and the BC NDP have taken up this issue, in part in response to policy recommendations made by BC’s nine electric vehicle associations. 
 
The associations represent the interests of 42,000 EV owners across the province and joined together to provide the political parties with ten recommended policies to include in their platforms.
 
Affordability of EVs
A critical recommendation concerns the affordability of electric vehicles.  Given that most new EVs have a $45,000-65,000 MSRP, the associations focused on incentives for used electric vehicles including steps to ensure that used EV dealers have access to rebates and PST Tax exemption initiatives to make EVs more affordable for lower income British Columbians. 
 

  • The BC Green Party is proposing to remove PST on used EVs to make ZEV ownership more accessible.
  • The BC NDP “will provide a new income-tested incentive on new and used zero-emission vehicles to get more people into the electric vehicle rebate program, regardless of their income.”
  • The BC Liberals did not mention EV incentive programs and affordability in their platform, but have promised a one-year PST suspension and a second year at 3%. 

 
Availability of Pickups and Trucks
Pickup trucks are a vehicle of choice in many BC jurisdictions, and medium and heavy-duty trucks are a necessary part of BC’s transport system, yet currently there are no ZEV models in these sectors in BC.  To address this shortfall, the associations are asking government to incorporate ZEV versions of these vehicles into the province’s mandated zero emission schedule that has proven so successful for cars, namely 10% sales in 2025, 30% in 2030 and 100% by 2040.
 

  • The BC Greens propose to “work with industry to develop additional innovation incentive programs and set new ZEV targets for commercial vehicles and on and off-road medium and heavy-duty vehicles.”
  • The BC NDP and BC Liberals do not cover medium and heavy-duty vehicles in their platforms. This is an unfortunate omission. While currently only 11% of BC road vehicles are heavy duty, they produce 50% of the GHG load and 70% of fine particulates (PM2.5).The resulting toll on our environment and health this causes can readily be corrected by incorporating these vehicles into the province’s zero emission schedule.

 
There are signs the availability of affordable models of electric vehicles is set to increase. Vancouver EV Association President John Stonier observes “With supportive government policies, we can expect to see the day when car and truck manufacturers will offer zero emission models that compete favourably on purchase price with gasoline and diesel vehicles.  ZEVs are much cheaper to operate than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, and they are fun to drive.  As more models become available, we anticipate there will be a profound shift to personal and commercial ZEV transport that mirrors the changes we have seen in mass transit.”
 
For a further comparison of the BC EV Associations’ recommendations and the BC Political Party platforms, see the attached table


 

EV Policy Recommendations - BC EV Associations and Owner Groups

Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association
Victoria Electric Vehicle Association
Comox Valley Electric Vehicle Association
Sunshine Coast Electric Vehicle Association
Transition Saltspring Island EV Group
Prince George Electric Vehicle Association
Mid Vancouver Island EV Association
Kamloops Electric Vehicle Owners
Tesla Owners Club of British Columbia


About the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association
VEVA was formed in 1988 as a non-profit society to promote the use and adoption of electric vehicles through educational programs and outreach to the general public, corporate and government leaders.
VEVA membership is open to the public and engages members with monthly Member meetings to hear the latest news and developments related to electric vehicles, through weekly Meet-ups and on-line discussion forums, and through our annual electric vehicle festival ElectraFest.

ElectraFest21, will be our 35th annual after ElectraFest20 had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, and will be held at the Roundhouse Community Centre in downtown Vancouver on Saturday August 21, 2021.

 Media Contact: John Stonier  media@VEVA.ca (778.775.8456)
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