Electric vehicles

By 2035, new sales and leases of light-duty vehicles in B.C. must be zero-emission vehicles. (AdobeStock)

B.C. policy expert gives green light to higher electric-vehicles goals

But New Car Dealers Association of BC warns of unintended consequences

By 2035, new sales and leases of light-duty vehicles in B.C. must be zero-emission vehicles. (AdobeStock)
Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, speaks during an announcement at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, June 15, 2023. British Columbia’s government is accelerating its zero-emission vehicle targets so it can hit its goal five years sooner. Osborne says the province is the “first in the world” to put EV sales target into law. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. pressing the gas pedal on EV transition targets by 5 years

Aiming to mandate all new light-duty vehicles, passenger cars and trucks sold be EVs by 2035

Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, speaks during an announcement at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, June 15, 2023. British Columbia’s government is accelerating its zero-emission vehicle targets so it can hit its goal five years sooner. Osborne says the province is the “first in the world” to put EV sales target into law. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, speaks during an announcement at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, June 15, 2023. British Columbia’s government is accelerating its zero-emission vehicle targets so it can hit its goal five years sooner. Osborne says the province is the “first in the world” to put EV sales target into law. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. pressing the gas pedal on EV transition targets by 5 years

Aiming to mandate all new light-duty vehicles, passenger cars and trucks sold be EVs by 2035

Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, speaks during an announcement at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, June 15, 2023. British Columbia’s government is accelerating its zero-emission vehicle targets so it can hit its goal five years sooner. Osborne says the province is the “first in the world” to put EV sales target into law. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Toyota’s fourth-generation hybrid arrives in spring. PHOTO: Toyota

Auto Almanac: Toyota’s 4th-gen hybrid; Fixing spongy brakes + more

DRAWING BOARD 2024 Toyota Prius: Toyota’s fourth-generation hybrid arrives in spring with…

  • Oct 22, 2023
Toyota’s fourth-generation hybrid arrives in spring. PHOTO: Toyota
An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

EVs are getting easier to find — but with price tags out of reach for many

Average EV price now nearly $73,000, according to Canadian Black Book

An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
The Audi E-tron GT has front and rear electric motors and a claimed best range of about 380 kilometres. That will definitely be lower if you take advantage of the car’s ample thrust that propels it to 60 mph (96-km/h) from rest in as little as 3.1 seconds. PHOTO: AUDI

2024 Audi E-tron GT: Sleek, premium-class electric sedan acts more like a sports car

Platform sharing when it comes to electric vehicles is quite common. One…

  • Oct 21, 2023
The Audi E-tron GT has front and rear electric motors and a claimed best range of about 380 kilometres. That will definitely be lower if you take advantage of the car’s ample thrust that propels it to 60 mph (96-km/h) from rest in as little as 3.1 seconds. PHOTO: AUDI
Tires displaying the 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol and M+S (mud and snow) tires both meet the legal requirement as long as they have least 3.5 mm of tread. Winter tires outperform M+S tires in cold and snowy conditions. Black Press file

October’s arrival means it’s time for winter tires

Designated highways require winter tires or chains from Oct. 1 to March 31, other routes to April 30

Tires displaying the 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol and M+S (mud and snow) tires both meet the legal requirement as long as they have least 3.5 mm of tread. Winter tires outperform M+S tires in cold and snowy conditions. Black Press file
The Mazda CX-9, pictured, continued while the new CX-90 was being brought online. Now it’s time for the CX-9 to bow out. PHOTO: MAZDA

Auto Sleuth: Welcome to the Lotus Eletre; farewell to Mazda’s CX-9 and Chrysler’s 300C

Say so long to the CX-9 You could say it was inevitable…

  • Sep 29, 2023
The Mazda CX-9, pictured, continued while the new CX-90 was being brought online. Now it’s time for the CX-9 to bow out. PHOTO: MAZDA
The most important aspect of a vehicle when it comes to safely navigating variable weather conditions is simple: get winter tires.

Oct. 1 means winter tires are mandatory on many B.C. routes

By Blair Qualey The change of season means a lot of things…

  • Sep 24, 2023
The most important aspect of a vehicle when it comes to safely navigating variable weather conditions is simple: get winter tires.
The orange 10th Anniversary Special Edition GR86 has dual exhaust outlets, exterior stripes, 18-inch forged alloy wheels and leather-trimmed seats with faux suede inserts. PHOTO: TOYOTA

2023 Toyota GR86: A rare find in a sea of practical transportation choices

Sports-car fans on a budget have few choices. Fortunately, the Toyota GR86…

  • Sep 24, 2023
The orange 10th Anniversary Special Edition GR86 has dual exhaust outlets, exterior stripes, 18-inch forged alloy wheels and leather-trimmed seats with faux suede inserts. PHOTO: TOYOTA
More than 110,000 zero emission vehicles are registered in B.C., most purchased with the benefit of the Clean BC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program, which the NCDA delivers in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia and funded by BC Hydro.

Canada crosses critical threshold in ZEV adoption

By Blair Qualey According to a recent Bloomberg Green analysis of zero…

  • Sep 11, 2023
More than 110,000 zero emission vehicles are registered in B.C., most purchased with the benefit of the Clean BC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program, which the NCDA delivers in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia and funded by BC Hydro.
The long-rumoured N version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (standard version pictured) will somewhat mirror the performance of the related Kia EV6 GT. PHOTO: HYUNDAI

The Auto Sleuth: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric, Cadillac XT4 updates and more

Hyundai’s electric Ioniq 5 gets the performance treatment The N designation has…

  • Sep 8, 2023
The long-rumoured N version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (standard version pictured) will somewhat mirror the performance of the related Kia EV6 GT. PHOTO: HYUNDAI
Be extra cautious in and around school zones as children head back to school.

Back to school means drivers need to pay greater attention

By Blair Qualey It’s that time of year when summer is coming…

  • Sep 5, 2023
Be extra cautious in and around school zones as children head back to school.
Fully Charged LIVE comes to the Vancouver Convention Centre West, Sept. 8 to 10. Photo courtesy Fully Charged

Get Fully Charged up about our green future in the home and on the road

Visit Fully Charged LIVE this weekend in Vancouver

  • Sep 5, 2023
Fully Charged LIVE comes to the Vancouver Convention Centre West, Sept. 8 to 10. Photo courtesy Fully Charged
The Buick Envista is a great looking vehicle that’s both cheaper and larger than the Encore GX. The Envista does not offer all-wheel-drive, however. PHOTO: BUICK

2024 Buick Envista: Beautiful and affordable, but limited

It’s interesting that Buick, with a long history of producing mostly larger…

  • Aug 31, 2023
The Buick Envista is a great looking vehicle that’s both cheaper and larger than the Encore GX. The Envista does not offer all-wheel-drive, however. PHOTO: BUICK
The long-rumoured N version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (standard version pictured) will somewhat mirror the performance of the related Kia EV6 GT. PHOTO: HYUNDAI

The Auto Sleuth: Hyundai’s electric Ioniq 5; Cadillac updates the XT4 + more

Hyundai’s electric Ioniq 5 gets the performance treatment: The N designation has…

  • Aug 31, 2023
The long-rumoured N version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (standard version pictured) will somewhat mirror the performance of the related Kia EV6 GT. PHOTO: HYUNDAI
British Columbia is a vast province and those looking for that final summer road trip should research the endless opportunities that exist away from communities affected by wildfires.

Enjoy British Columbia but avoid travel into areas still impacted by fire damage

By Blair Qualey As we enter the final days of summer, I…

  • Aug 24, 2023
British Columbia is a vast province and those looking for that final summer road trip should research the endless opportunities that exist away from communities affected by wildfires.
The rugged and roomy 2023 Ascent should appeal to the brand’s existing fan base as well as new buyers.PHOTO: Subaru

2023 Subaru Ascent offers space for eight in an all-weather, all-road and trail package

For transporting families, on or off the main thoroughfares, the Ascent is…

  • Aug 24, 2023
The rugged and roomy 2023 Ascent should appeal to the brand’s existing fan base as well as new buyers.PHOTO: Subaru
Be sure to plan ahead for your road trip to avoid issues due to road construction, forest fires or fully booked ferries or hotels.

A road trip without the stress. Is that even possible?

By Blair Qualey As we enter the final weeks of summer, there’s…

  • Aug 21, 2023
Be sure to plan ahead for your road trip to avoid issues due to road construction, forest fires or fully booked ferries or hotels.
An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Canada is inching closer to reaching a milestone where one in every 10 passenger vehicles sold is powered by electricity. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Access to electric vehicle charging getting better but not quickly enough

10% of the country’s EV charging stations are in the Greater Vancouver area

An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Canada is inching closer to reaching a milestone where one in every 10 passenger vehicles sold is powered by electricity. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick