British Columbia’s electric vehicle sales mandates were created with good intentions, but the collision with reality is now obvious.

Although we are still in 2025, the 26 per cent zero-emission vehicle sales mandate is already hitting our dealerships. That’s because it applies to the 2026 model year, and many of those models are starting to arrive across the province now.

While 26 percent sounds moderate compared to 90 per cent by 2030 or 100 per cent by 2035, as also required by B.C. law, the facts on the ground are grim.

According to S&P Global Mobility data, EV sales in B.C. have plummeted to around 15.4 per cent as of June 2025, down from nearly 25 per cent in mid-2024. This decline happened fast after both federal (up to $5,000) and provincial governments (up to $4,000 in B.C.) stopped funding their EV rebate programs earlier this year. So, the very incentives that made expensive electric vehicles accessible to middle-income buyers disappeared just when they were needed most.

Government polling shows 60 per cent of British Columbians say cost is their biggest........

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