WATCH: The provincial government is setting a new target for more electric cars and other zero-emission vehicles in B.C. By the year 2040, the province wants all new cars and light trucks sold in B.C. to be zero-emission vehicles. As Kendall Hanson reports, while some critics say it’s an overly ambitious goal, those who sell and service EVs say BC is already speeding down that road.
Dave Thompson loves his new Tesla-X.
“If you want a premium product it blows everything else out of the water,” said Thompson.
The Nanaimo resident got it two months ago and he’s part of the big change that’s happening on B.C.’s roads. The provincial government says that by 2040 all cars sold in B.C. will be zero-emission vehicles. It’s an ambitious goal, but the company with Canada’s largest electric vehicle charging network says it’s achievable.
“We’re likely to see a really strong turning point when there’s a wide variety of electric vehicle models available at many different price points so British Columbians have a lot of choices and also when British Columbians know that there is dependable reliable charging across the whole province,” said Travis Allan, FLO’s vice-president of public affairs.
FLO says it’s working on it’s charging station infrastructure, and car dealers say it can’t come soon enough.
“It’s coming. I think it’s coming a lot faster than we think,” said Steve Arnold, sales manager at Harbourview Volkswagen.
AT VW’s dealerships there’s a backlog for the new E-Golf as car buyers switch to electric.
That demand has Woodgrove Centre planning to expand the number of charging stations it has.
“Usage this quarter has tripled over last year,” said Mark Fenwick, Woodgrove Centre’s General Manager.
Currently, the mall has eight Tesla super-charging stations as well as two other electric charging spots.
“Adoption of electric vehicles is going up,” said Fenwick. “People like the fact they can relax shop here while getting a charge up with their vehicle while shopping.”
And it has adopters such as Dave Thompson charged up about great car performance as well as limiting his impact on the environment.
Kendall Hanson
