--- title: "Move to Electric: the TEAM for a Livable Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/parties/team-for-a-livable-vancouver/2026-platform/environment/move-to-electric" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:00:48.099Z" meta: description: "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would ask BC Hydro to change its two-step power rates, expand public EV charging, simplify the rules for adding home c..." "og:description": "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would ask BC Hydro to change its two-step power rates, expand public EV charging, simplify the rules for adding home c..." "og:title": "Move to Electric: the TEAM for a Livable Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" "twitter:description": "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would ask BC Hydro to change its two-step power rates, expand public EV charging, simplify the rules for adding home c..." "twitter:title": "Move to Electric: the TEAM for a Livable Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" --- ** TEAM for a Livable Vancouver · Vancouver 2026 # TEAM on going electric: BC Hydro rates, public charging and heat pumps TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would ask BC Hydro to change its two-step power rates, expand public EV charging, simplify the rules for adding home chargers, encourage electric trucks, offer incentives for heat pumps and solar, and count the emissions built into materials when planning. All 6 commitments [Read the party's own page ](https://www.voteteam.ca/our-positions-home-2026/our-environment-2026/environment-learn-more) [**14**Candidates](https://voche.me/parties/team-for-a-livable-vancouver/candidates) [**10/10**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/parties/team-for-a-livable-vancouver/platform) [**27**Sources on file](https://voche.me/parties/team-for-a-livable-vancouver/money) **9**Questions answered ENVIRONMENT ## Move to Electric: what the Our Positions says TEAM for a Livable Vancouver wants more of the city to run on electricity, using rewards in place of requirements. Under the heading "Move to electric" on its environment page, the party lists steps on cars, trucks, home heating and power prices. It also asks that planning count embodied greenhouse gases, the emissions released when building materials are made, moved and later thrown away, and that new buildings be planned to last hundreds of years. On price, TEAM would ask BC Hydro to change its step rates. The party says the cost of power rises by 50% when a household moves from the first price step to the second, which it argues discourages people from switching to electric. On cars, it would expand public charging through policy and incentives, make it easier to add chargers in new and existing homes by simplifying building rules, and encourage electric commercial trucks. It would also offer incentives for heat pumps and solar panels for heat and hot water. The city does not control BC Hydro, so on that item it can only ask. The city's own building bylaw, its parking and permit rules and its incentive programs are under Council's control, which covers most of the other items here. THE PARTY'S NUMBERS ## Figures in this chapter **50%** Rise in BC Hydro electricity rates from Step 1 to Step 2, as stated by the party The party's figure 6 COMMITMENTS ## What the party says it would do 1. ### Count the full life cycle of emissions TEAM would consider all environmental factors affecting climate change in planning, development and transit, including the embodied greenhouse gases (GHGs) across the supply chain: resource extraction, transport, manufacturing, materials, heat island effects, demolition waste and building life expectancy. It would plan for buildings to last hundreds of years, in place of a few decades.

Who has the power: City Council Council sets the city's planning policies and its own building bylaw.
Source: TEAM our environment, learn more

2. ### Ask BC Hydro to change step energy charges The party would work with BC Hydro to lower the cost of electricity by adjusting the step energy charges so they encourage electricity use. It says current rates rise by 50% from Step 1 to Step 2.

Who has the power: Province The city does not control BC Hydro or the rates it charges, so it can only ask.
Source: TEAM our environment, learn more

3. ### Expand public charging infrastructure TEAM would expand public charging infrastructure through policy and incentives. Its transportation page also speaks of options for on-street and public charging stations.

Who has the power: City Council The city controls its streets and its own charging and incentive programs.
Source: TEAM our environment, learn more

4. ### Simpler rules for home EV charging The party would make it easier to add electric vehicle charging in existing and new homes by reviewing and simplifying the Building Code and other regulatory requirements.

Who has the power: City Council Vancouver has its own building bylaw, which Council can change.
Source: TEAM our environment, learn more

5. ### Electric commercial trucks TEAM would encourage commercial trucks in the city to switch to electric.

Who has the power: City Council The city can offer its own incentives and set rules for loading and charging on its streets.
Source: TEAM our environment, learn more

6. ### Incentives for EVs, heat pumps and solar The party would provide incentives for switching to electric vehicles and charging, and for heat and hot water systems that use heat pumps and solar panels.

Who has the power: City Council Council can fund its own incentive programs through the city budget.
Source: TEAM our environment, learn more

WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT ## Where the power sits for this chapter City Council5 Province1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ## Questions about move to electric

What does TEAM for a Livable Vancouver want from BC Hydro?

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would work with BC Hydro to lower electricity costs by adjusting the step energy charges, which the party says rise by 50% from Step 1 to Step 2. The city does not control BC Hydro, so it can only ask (TEAM Our Environment page).

How would TEAM help Vancouver drivers switch to electric cars?

TEAM says it would expand public charging through policy and incentives, make it easier to add chargers in homes by simplifying building rules, and offer incentives for buying electric vehicles (TEAM Our Environment page).

Does TEAM support heat pumps?

Yes. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would offer incentives for heat and hot water systems that use heat pumps and solar panels. It prefers incentives over mandatory rules for existing buildings (TEAM Our Environment page).

What are embodied emissions in TEAM's platform?

TEAM says planning should count embodied greenhouse gases, the emissions from extracting, making and moving building materials and from demolition waste. It would plan for buildings that last hundreds of years (TEAM Our Environment page).

Would TEAM push for electric trucks in Vancouver?

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would encourage commercial trucks in the city to switch to electric. It would also work with TransLink to electrify the bus system, which its transportation page covers (TEAM Our Environment page).

ON THE BALLOT ## The TEAM for a Livable Vancouver candidates behind this ### Mayor [50**Colleen Hardwick**Ballot 50 · Former Vancouver city councillor](https://voche.me/candidates/colleen-hardwick) ### City Council [110**Amanda Boggan**Ballot 110](https://voche.me/candidates/amanda-boggan) [117**Charles Kelly**Ballot 117](https://voche.me/candidates/charles-kelly) [123**Kathleen Larsen**Ballot 123](https://voche.me/candidates/kathleen-larsen) [127**Jonathan Weisman**Ballot 127](https://voche.me/candidates/jonathan-weisman) [130**Raj Mundra**Ballot 130](https://voche.me/candidates/raj-mundra) [142**Patrick Sauriol**Ballot 142](https://voche.me/candidates/patrick-sauriol) [150**Josh Gordon**Ballot 150](https://voche.me/candidates/josh-gordon) ## Sources Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it. 1. [TEAM our environment, learn more ](https://www.voteteam.ca/our-positions-home-2026/our-environment-2026/environment-learn-more)SAYS SO ITSELFTEAM for a Livable Vancouver · checked September 22, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.