B.C. is scaling back parts of its electric-vehicle strategy while it waits for the federal government to decide what Canada’s national EV targets will look like.
The province says it will update its zero-emission vehicle rules in spring 2026, including revisiting its sales targets. Officials say they want B.C.’s targets to line up with whatever Ottawa decides, instead of running a separate set of rules.
B.C. says its goal of having all new cars sold being hybrid or electric by 2035 has been ditched. Ottawa paused its 2026 EV mandate back in early September and now the program is under review. Nobody knows what’s coming next.
Right now, automakers are meeting B.C.’s 2026 requirements, but the province acknowledges that slowing demand, higher prices, supply-chain issues and U.S. tariffs could make compliance more difficult in the coming years. B.C. will allow manufacturers to use a built-in one-year grace period without penalties while it rewrites the legislation.
“B.C. currently leads Canada in EV targets, and we are proud to be a North American leader in EV adoption, with more than 210,000 ZEVs on provincial roads,” touted Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “We have more than 7,000 public charging stations throughout the province and are on track to meet our target of 10,000 by 2030.”
Two regulatory changes are taking effect sooner. The first expands which plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles qualify for ZEV credits and relaxes range requirements, giving automakers more flexibility and adding more models to the market.
The second sets up a new “ZEV Affordability Program” for 2026, which gives extra credits to companies that cut prices, offer low-interest financing, or help buyers with charging.
The province says the adjustments are meant to lower costs, add options for buyers and keep the auto sector onside until the federal government finalizes its own EV mandate.
B.C. has now axed its provincial EV rebate that was paused six months ago, that offered up to $4,000 for EV buyers.
Industry groups welcomed the pause. The New Car Dealers Association of BC said the changes offer “helpful interim steps” as the market cools, while Electric Mobility Canada called the approach “pragmatic.”
When there were both federal and provincial rebates available, sales of EVs surged, but since both have been axed, sales have fallen sharply. Automakers were benefitting from these EV rebates but now prices are far higher than before.
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