The City of Kamloops says there could eventually be local incentives to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.

In the Community Climate Action Plan, the city’s goal is for 85 per cent of driving in Kamloops to be with electric vehicles by 2050.

Councillor Dieter Dudy says it’s a great initiative but says it’s cost-prohibitive, which was echoed by other council members,

“Primarily, to the average citizen in the community, we’re talking about eliminating fossil fuel transportation to the extent of about 80 per cent over the next number of years. While I think that’s a great idea, having done that myself, I also recognize the cost that’s attached to that, and we’re not talking a small touch here. So it comes down to incentives,” Dudy says.

Sustainability services supervisor Glen Cheetham responded to that concern.

“In terms of affordability, the zero-emission vehicles are expected to become more or less normalized in terms of those costs. And the other thing that’s going to start to grow is the used market. There’s still a relatively small market share because only so many people have been purchasing. But as more and more people purchase EVs, they will ultimately sell them and replace them which should help with that affordability.”

Cheetham also says studies say that cost parity is expected by 2027 for electric and non-electric vehicles.

And he says there are government incentives.

“I think around the tune of $7,000 dollars. There’s also some incentives available currently for setting up charging systems in your home, to support the use of the EV. Certainly I think there’s an opportunity for us through this work and listening and getting feedback from the public and from council to consider other incentives.”

City staff say 66 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Kamloops are from transportation.