British Columbia has become the 14th jurisdiction to sign on to the International Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Alliance. Environment Minister Mary Polak made the announcement today at the 2015 climate conference underway in Paris, France.

Members of the alliance will strive to make all new passenger vehicles in their jurisdictions ZEVs by no later than 2050. Achieving this will accelerate the global transition to ZEVs and could reduce transportation sector climate impacts by more than one billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by 2050, lowering global vehicle emissions by about 40%. ZEVs in use today include battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles.

Other governments that have signed on to the International Zero-Emission Vehicle Alliance include Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Quebec.

British Columbia is a leader in clean-energy vehicles with the largest public charging infrastructure network in Canada and the second-highest per capita adoption of electric vehicles in Canada.

The Province introduced the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program in 2011 and has since committed $25 million to make clean energy vehicles more affordable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program offers point-of-sale purchase incentives and invests in charging infrastructure, outreach, and research and training. Since 2011 the program has supported the purchase of approximately 2,000 electric vehicles and the development of over 1,000 charging stations.

Encouraging and promoting environmentally friendly transportation is part of a broader strategy to ensure British Columbia remains a global leader in reducing vehicle emissions.

The electricity that will power the growth of electric vehicles in B.C. is 98% clean or renewable and B.C. has a legislated commitment that at least 66% of new incremental energy demand will be met with efficiency and conservation measures.

In addition, B.C. has created policies to help transportation industries clean up their non-electricity fuels. B.C. is one of only three jurisdictions in the world with a low carbon fuel standard. The Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Regulation reduces B.C.’s reliance on non-renewable fuels, establishes a market for low carbon fuels, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to a low-carbon economy.

In 2012 the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels resulted in the avoidance of over 900,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases in B.C. – the equivalent of removing more than 190,000 vehicles from the road. By 2020, the low-carbon fuel requirements are expected to result in the avoidance of 2.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.

Quotes:

Mary Polak, Environment Minister –

“I am pleased to sign on to the International Zero-Emission Vehicle Alliance on behalf of the Province of British Columbia. Transportation represents over a third of B.C.’s total provincial greenhouse gas emissions, and nearly half the emissions by the average B.C. family. As a member of this international alliance we will work with other governments and partners and at home in British Columbia to increase the adoption of ZEVs and reduce tailpipe emissions, helping us fulfil our international climate action responsibilities.”

Bill Bennett, Energy and Mines Minister –

“With our Clean Energy Vehicle Program we have established British Columbia as a leader in electric vehicles. As a member of the International Zero-Emission Vehicles Alliance we will proudly share our programs, actions and ideas with other jurisdictions and work with them to build on our successes and get even more people behind the wheel of a clean, green, zero-emission vehicle.”

Nic Lutsey, program director of the International Council on Clean Transportation, which serves as the Secretariat to the International ZEV Alliance –

"British Columbia has proven itself to be among the leaders in paving the way for a global fleet of ZEVs. The province clearly comprehends how a system of incentives, public charging infrastructure, and consumer outreach programs is what is needed to spur the early electric-drive market. The ZEV Alliance is delighted to welcome its 14th participant and looks forward to all the continued collaboration to come.”

Quick Facts:

• Under the CEV Program the Province offers incentives of up to $5,000 for the purchase or lease of a new battery-electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and up to $6,000 for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
• The CEV Program investments in infrastructure have supported 301 residential charging stations, 142 multi-unit building charging stations, over 550 public level 2 charging stations, and 30 DC Fast Charging stations. A further 20 DC fast charging stations and 200 level 2 charging stations will be installed by March 31, 2018.
• British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington are signatories to the 2013 Pacific Coast Collaborative Action Plan on Climate and Energy and have pledged to take actions to expand the use of zero-emission vehicles in public and private fleets.
• The Province is developing a new Climate Leadership Plan, assembled with advice from the Climate Leadership Team and through public consultation. The Climate Leadership Team’s recently released report included recommendations to establish zero-emission vehicle targets for the sale of light duty vehicles. The second round of public consultation on B.C.’s Climate Leadership Plan will begin in January 2016.
• British Columbia’s Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Regulation requires:
  • A provincial average of 5% renewable content in gasoline sold in British Columbia.
  • An annual average of 4% renewable content in diesel sold in B.C.
  • And a 10% reduction in the well-to-wheels lifecycle carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 2020.

• In 2014, the fuel industry responded to the low carbon requirements by increasing the renewable content in fuels beyond the levels required by the renewable content requirements.

Learn More:

For more information on the International Zero-Emission Vehicle Alliance visit: http://zevalliance.org/

Follow Minister Polak’s COP 21 activities at: www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/cop and on Twitter: @maryforbc

To learn more about COP 21, visit: http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en

To learn about British Columbia’s CEV Program visit: https://www.cevforbc.ca/clean-energy-vehicle-program

For information on electric vehicles and charging systems and infrastructure visit Plug-In BC at: http://pluginbc.ca/