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VICTORIA — B.C. expects to dramatically exceed the new targets it passed in the legislature Monday to increase sales of zero emission vehicles.

The government released new projections for the sale of battery-powered vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuelled vehicles on Monday, after passing its legislation through committee stage debate at the legislature. Third and final reading of the bill is expected Tuesday morning.

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The government estimates roughly 17 per cent of all new light duty vehicles sold in B.C. by 2025 will be zero emission. That’s higher than the 10 per cent level of sales called for in the newly passed bill.

Government estimates it may hit the 10 per cent as early as 2022, and forecasts new sales of zero emission vehicles to be as high as almost eight per cent of all vehicles this year.

Electric car dealers are already citing an unprecedented surge in sales earlier this month as motorists faced with high gas prices cash in on provincial and federal government incentives worth up to $16,000. B.C. has already had to top up its subsidy program.