Zero-emission vehicles accounted for 3.5% of new passenger car sales in Canada — with B.C. leading the pack since a new federal subsidy was introduced in May, said a new report by Electric Mobility Canada.

For the third quarter (July through September), zero emission vehicles accounted for about eight per cent of new light duty vehicle sales in B.C. Year-to-date, the vehicles accounted for 8.5% of new vehicle sales in B.C. in 2019.

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Quebec had the second-highest rate at seven per cent.

The spike in sales of battery electric, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen vehicles were the result of a new federal subsidy that can be stacked on top of provincial subsidies in both B.C. and Quebec.

When the $5,000 federal rebate was combined with provincial subsidies, it meant British Columbians were eligible for up to $16,000 — $5,000 under the B.C. program and up to $6,000 for trading in an older car under the Scrap It program.

The province has since dropped the rebate to $3,000.

Under the CleanBC program, the province is mandating that 10 per cent of new cars sold in B.C. to be low or zero emission by 2025. Year-to-date, B.C. is already about two per cent away from that target.