The forthcoming review of the province’s EV sales mandate will focus on setting more “realistic” goals and aligning with updated federal targets

The British Columbia (B.C) government plans to introduce legislative updates next year that will update the province’s electric-vehicle (EV) sales mandate.

B.C. currently has the most ambitious EV targets in Canada, requiring that 26 per cent of new vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2026 and reaching 100 per cent by 2035.

Adrian Dix, B.C.’s minister of energy and climate solutions, told reporters at a press conference last week that the 100-per-cent target for 2035 and the interim target of 90 per cent by 2030 were no longer “realistic.”

The province will now revisit those targets next spring. The review, guided by a CleanBC review and ongoing consultations with consumers and industry, aims to balance B.C.’s climate ambitions with affordability, consumer choice and support for automakers.

“It’s good news for British Columbians that the B.C. government is keeping in place its EV mandate, with some adjustments,” says Joanna Kyriazis, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada, in a statement. “The EV mandate… ensures more families have the option to drive a cost-saving EV, making it both a climate measure and an affordability one.”

She added that the policy has helped bring desirable and more affordable models to B.C. sooner, while also supporting the growth of a strong used-EV market.

Push for a uniform national EV mandate

B.C.’s reassessment of its EV mandate comes as the federal government revisits its national Electric Vehicle Availability Standard (EV mandate), which was put on pause in September.

The federal government’s original EV mandate targeted 20 per cent ZEV sales by 2026, 60 per cent by 2030 and full adoption by 2035.

The entire policy is now in a 60-day review. Following this review, the federal government will announce the next steps early in the new year.

B.C. now says it wants its updated targets to align with the upcoming federal ones.

“It is B.C.’s strong view that there should not be different targets in B.C. and Canada. In the current climate, it is vital for B.C. and Canada to be aligned, and there should be one clear, harmonized sales target for the country to provide clarity and accelerate adoption,” the province said in a statement. “B.C. looks forward to the results of the federal review, which will inform provincial policies.”

Industry groups also echo the need for a single national mandate, especially as both federal and provincial rebate programs wind down.

“The sale of zero-emission vehicles has dramatically cooled with the removal of incentives—down 43 per cent nationally at the end of September compared to September 2024,” says David Adams, president and CEO of the Global Automakers of Canada, in a statement.

“We need pragmatic, coordinated action by not only the B.C. government but also with the Quebec and the federal governments to ensure that if there are to be ZEV mandates in Canada, that there is only one, as the industry also struggles to deal with the complexities arising from tariffs, retaliatory tariffs and supply chain challenges.”

Immediate regulatory changes

In the meantime, the B.C. government is introducing two immediate, near-term changes intended to give automakers more compliance flexibility, lower EV costs and expand charging access.

The first expands eligibility for ZEV credits by increasing the range of vehicles that qualify. The update broadens consumer choice and eases compliance for automakers.

B.C. is also relaxing the range requirements for plug-in hybrids, a move designed particularly at rural and remote drivers who face longer travel distances.

The second change is the launch of the ZEV Affordability Program in 2026, which will reward automakers for making EVs more accessible. Manufacturers will be able to earn additional credits by lowering vehicle prices, offering zero- or low-interest financing, providing home or public charging support, or investing in charging infrastructure.

“We are particularly pleased to see the introduction of a ZEV affordability program that rewards automakers…for lowering vehicle prices…and helping with charging,” Kyriazis said. “Upfront cost remains the number one barrier keeping would-be EV buyers from making the switch—even though many consumers know an electric car would save them money.”