The New Car Dealers Association of BC says the province’s clean-energy vehicle plan is great news, but a lot needs to be done to reach its goals.
The association’s president Blair Qualey says it will be “virtually impossible” to end gas and diesel passenger vehicle sales in B.C. without significant changes in technology.
Qualey says the most difficult change will be getting people to buy electric trucks and SUVs.
“We’re doing all the right stuff without having to put mandates in. But some folks in Victoria seem to think that there’s value in having those things, and we’ll share our thoughts with them as we always do, around suggestions on what actually might work to spur demand,” Qualey says.
Qualey says in the third quarter of 2018, electric vehicles made up about 15.4 per cent of all car sales in B.C., which he says is more than any other province in Canada.
However, he says there’s much fewer electric options on the market for trucks and SUVs, and overall last quarter, electric vehicles made up about four per cent of all vehicle sales in the province.
The province is aiming to make all passenger vehicle sales zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
Qualey says at face value, it’s great news the province is planning to bring legislation forward for that, which is anticipated to happen next spring.