Whereas British Columbia and Metro Vancouver have shown exceptional leadership for electric vehicle EV uptake due in large part to generous incentives and early infrastructure upgrades; And whereas the current level of EV ownership must increase to meet agreed-upon climate targets and cannot be considered sufficient at this time: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask all orders of government federal, provincial and local and BC Hydro to increase investment in EV infrastructure and decrease user fees including Step 2 EV exemptions until EV uptake is sufficient; And be it further resolved that the Government of Canada immediately make all necessary regulatory changes to allow for pricing EV charging by unit of energy.
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation The Province acknowledges the strong leadership British Columbians and local governments, particularly those in the Metro Vancouver area, have shown in adopting zero-emission vehicles ZEVs. The Province committed 84 million in Budget 2022 to continue the CleanBC Go Electric Program and continue to increase EV adoption. The CleanBC Go Electric Program has been highly successful in starting the transition to a transportation system that is powered by clean energy. British Columbia BC has one of the highest uptake rates of electric vehicles EVs in North America, with EVs making up 13 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales in 2021, and 16.4 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales in the first half of 2022. Efforts to decarbonize transportation in BC are guided by the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 which included the following commitments: - Accelerated sales targets under the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act ZEV 26 percent of new light-duty vehicles sold by 2026, 90 percent by 2030, 100 percent by 2035; - New ZEV sales targets for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles aligned with California; and - Completing BCs Electric Highway by 2024, and 10,000 public EV charging stations in BC by 2030. The Province is continuing to work with federal and local governments and private sector companies to deploy public charging stations along all primary and secondary highways and major roads throughout BC. Approximately 64 percent of the core network of fast charging sites enabling travel throughout BC are now ready. Through a partnership with the federal government, an additional option to support fast charging installation costs for applicants is the Natural Resources Canada NRCan Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program ZEVIP. The program offers 50 percent in federal funding to a maximum of 50,000 with an additional 25 percent to a maximum of 25,000 for BC applicants provided through the province. User fees at public charging stations owned and operated by public utilities such as BC Hydro are set through public processes before the British Columbia Utilities Commission BCUC, to ensure that all ratepayers interests are considered. Similarly, any changes to BC Hydros current residential rate structure designed to promote EV charging at home e.g., changing the current two-tiered residential rate structure or introducing a specific EV charging rate would require a public process before the BCUC. Measurement Canada has enacted a temporary dispensation program that enables Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers to allow pricing by unit of energy. Measurement Canada also has plans to enact a temporary dispensation program for Level 3 EV chargers in 2023.
Transport Canada As you have noted, Canada needs to further support the adoption of electric vehicles in order to meet its climate goals. The installation of charging infrastructure addresses one of the key barriers to the widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles ZEVs and facilitates public confidence that a ZEV can get people in Canada to their destination. Since 2016, Natural Resources Canada NRCan committed over 376 million in the deployment of charging infrastructure targeting to support the installation of 34,500 chargers; however, we know that more effort is required to meet future demand. In support of the governments objective of adding 50,000 ZEV chargers to Canadas network, Budget 2022 provides an additional 400 million to NRCan to continue deploying electric vehicle chargers. This will be complemented by an investment of 500 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank towards large-scale ZEV charging and refuelling infrastructure that is both revenue-generating and in the public interest. By 2030, the Government of Canada will have invested more than 1.2 billion to support close to 85,000 chargers across the country, including in underserved areas, such as rural and remote locations, multi-unit residential buildings, and workplaces.
BC Hydro We agree that British Columbians have shown exceptional leadership in electric vehicle uptake and are proud that our province has the highest-level EV adoption in Canada. BC Hydro also agrees that the current level of EV ownership must increase to meet the provinces Clean BC goal of 100 of light duty vehicle sales being fully electric by 2035. BC Hydro will commit to increasing investment in EV infrastructure in the communities we serve. We will be sending further information shortly, on this topic, to all local governments in BC Hydros service territory. In order to expand our infrastructure, BC Hydro will need support from local governments to provide safe and accessible sites for public EV charging. With respect to decreasing user fees until EV uptake is sufficient, BC Hydro continues to review our rate offerings and is committed to explore rate options or changes to meet customer needs and the Provinces CleanBC objectives, including rates that encourage the adoption of electric vehicles. Changes to BC Hydros rates require review and approval by the British Columbia Utilities Commission BCUC through an open and transparent regulatory process. BC Hydro plans to submit an optional residential time-of-use rate application to the BCUC in early 2023. The proposed optional time-of-use rate will provide bill saving opportunities to residential customers if they shift their electricity consumption, including EV charging, from BC Hydros system peak hours to the overnight period when BC Hydros cost to serve is lower, which will benefit all BC Hydro customers.