Proposed update to B.C.’s EV mandate presents smart tools for automakers and consumers alike but undermines them with one stipulation - Clean Energy Canada

The article discusses Clean Energy Canada’s response to British Columbia’s proposed update to its electric vehicle (EV) mandate. Joanna Kyriazis, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada, praises the government for maintaining the EV mandate with adjustments that benefit both automakers and consumers. The mandate has successfully accelerated EV adoption in B.C., leading to earlier availability of desirable models, a stronger used EV market, and greater affordability for families. The introduction of a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Affordability Program in 2026, which will reward automakers for lowering prices and offering financing and charging support, is highlighted as a positive step toward overcoming the primary barrier of upfront costs for consumers. However, Kyriazis expresses concern about a stipulation in the update that B.C. should not set EV adoption targets more ambitious than those of Canada as a whole. She argues this risks undermining B.C.’s leadership role in EV adoption, given the province’s advantages such as a better charging