More funding for electric vehicle rebate program

Jun 23, 2019 | 7:00 AM

The B.C. government is trying to make it affordable for more residents to own a clean energy vehicle (CEV).

The province is topping up its CEVforBC program with another $26.5 million and making changes to meet ongoing demand.

“With federal and provincial rebates now in place, switching to an electric vehicle is more affordable than ever,” said Michelle Mungall, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “Part of our CleanBC plan, the CEVforBC program has been a resounding success. The changes we are making today will ensure it remains accessible and supports even more British Columbians in getting their first clean energy vehicle.”

The NDP government’s 2019 budget committed $42.5 million toward the CEVforBC rebate program for this fiscal year, with $15 million having been released.

The changes include lowering the maximum price eligibility threshold to $55,000 – ensuring the program supports the most affordable vehicles.

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“On May 1, 2019, the federal government implemented a $5,000 CEV rebate in addition to any provincial rebates, which resulted in unprecedented CEV sales across the province,” said Mungall.

The provincial rebate will be reduced to $3,000 for battery, fuel-cell, and longer-range plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and to $1,500 for shorter-range plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, effective June 22, 2019. Vehicles purchased or reserved prior to that date will be covered by the prior program incentives and rules.

There are about 44 CEV models available for sale in B.C., most of them priced in the $30,000 to $50,000 range, before incentives. Prices for CEVs start at around $29,000, before incentives.

CEVs made up 4 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales in B.C. in 2018 and were 6% in the first quarter of 2019.

There are currently more than 20,000 electric cars on the road, and the CEVforBC program will support an estimated 17,000 more.

B.C. has more than 1,700 charging stations around the province.

The Zero-Emission Vehicle Act (ZEVA) passed on May 30, 2019, requiring all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in B.C. to be clean energy vehicles by 2040.

Targets under CleanBC and ZEVA are that CEV sales will increase starting in 2020, reaching 10% of light-duty sales by 2025, 30% by 2030, and 100% by 2040.

You can get more information on electric vehicles available in B.C at: https://pluginbc.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Electric-Car-Handout_190523.pdf

by Pete McIntyre

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