REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: January 13, 2021 Report No. APC-21-006
TO: Chair and Members of the Advisory Planning Commission; Design Review Committee
FROM: Tricia deMacedo, Policy Planner and Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Electric Vehicle-Ready New Residential Construction Regulations
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Advisory Planning Commission receive staff report APC-21-006 for information and provide Council with a recommendation to approve the EV-ready new residential construction regulations as proposed.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Climate Emergency Declaration 2019
Climate Action Charter
Official Community Plan
Parking Bylaw, 1992, No. 2011
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Healthy, Livable and Diverse Community - Develop and implement strategies that reduce impact on the environment consistent with our Climate Action Charter goals.
BACKGROUND:
Electric vehicle (EV) sales in BC are being supported by the Provincial and Federal government through rebate programs and annual targets for sales. The Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Act, passed in 2019, requires automakers to meet increasing annual levels of EV sales reaching 10% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. The Act is meant to ensure that automakers increase the number and type of EVs that they sell in B.C. to meet consumer demand. Already in Esquimalt we have observed the rapid uptake of EVs; the number of EVs registered to Esquimalt residents has doubled in the past year, from 136 to 282 according to ICBC data. As the provincial requirements for sales targets increases, we can expect to see many more EVs owned by Esquimalt residents.
Local government can support the uptake of EVs through ensuring that EV owners have access to both public and private charging options. As most EVs are charged at home, residential charging options are crucial to uptake of EVs. This is especially important in multi-unit buildings. As the cost of ...
Click here for full text