The provincial government is requiring automakers and their sellers to completely phase out gas-powered vehicles five years earlier than the original target, with all new vehicle sales in B.C. required to be “zero-emissions” by 2035.

B.C. announced the changes Tuesday, introducing amendments to the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, saying it will “help increase access and choice for ZEV car buyers, while provincial funding will help expand B.C.’s charging network.”

The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation says the amendments will require vehicle companies to “meet an escalating annual percentage of new light-duty ZEV sales and leases, reaching 26% of light-duty vehicle sales by 2026, 90% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.”

The province says that along with the escalating percentage of new sales, the government is also “recharging” the Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program for homes and workplaces with another $7 million to reopen the program.

“The rebate program’s funds were exhausted earlier in the year due to higher-than-anticipated demand. EV charger rebate applications for single-family homes and workplaces will re-open on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023.”