The carbon tax introduced by the B.C. government is unlikely to trigger a flood of sales of hybrid vehicles, new-car dealers said Wednesday.

The New Car Dealers Association of B.C. says many car makers now offer hybrids but they represent a small percentage of new-car sales.
(CBC)

The New Car Dealers Association of B.C., with 350 members, said the tax will simply help grow a market that is still a small part of overall sales.

"What this is is a gentle wake-up nudge to all of us that our carbon emissions are worth something," said Glen Ringdal, the association's president and CEO.

Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced Tuesday that as part of the new tax plan, carbon-based fuels — including gasoline, diesel, natural gas and home heating fuel — will be taxed at $10/tonne of greenhouse gases generated, starting July 1.

That will work out to a new 2.4 cents per litre tax on gasoline at the pump. By 2010, it will be 7.24 cents per litre.

In July, the province will begin phrasing in a tax on all fossil fuels, including a 2.4-cent increase per litre in gasoline.
(CBC)

The province's environment minister, Barry Penner, said Wednesday he hopes that when people replace their vehicles, they consider replacements that cause less environmental harm.

Ringdal said consumers will soon be able to choose from 20 hybrid models made by companies like Honda, Toyota, GM and Ford. Hybrids only represent about six per cent of new-car sales in B.C., he added.

"When people make their decisions going forward, they will have one further impetus to make a wise choice ... to always look for the kind of vehicle that you need [and] the most efficient one in that category," he said.