Government charges up incentives for zero-emission vehicles
By Contributor
Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett Friday announced an investment of $40 million to encourage British Columbians to make the switch to zero-emission vehicles, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support investment in made-in-B.C. green technology.
“Zero-emission vehicles are clean, quiet and reliable, and help drivers reduce fuel and maintenance costs and tailpipe emissions, and are a growing economic sector in the province,” said Bennett.
“Additional funding of $40 million for the Clean Energy Vehicle Program will help make zero-emission vehicles more affordable for British Columbians and build out charging infrastructure at residences, businesses and along our roads and highways to make sure there are places to charge them up.”
The funding for the Province’s Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program will be distributed over the next three years to support continued point-of-sale purchase incentives of up to $5,000 for battery electric vehicles and $6,000 for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. When combined with SCRAP-IT program incentives, total savings could be up to $11,000 for a new electric vehicle.
Programs funded within the $40 million are also under development to:
- Expand public, residential and workplace charging and hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.
- Support research, economic development and job training in the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sector.
- Increase public awareness of the benefits of ZEVs.
- Continue purchase incentives for specialty-use vehicles used in vehicle fleets such as light-duty zero-emission trucks, buses and motorcycles.
- Provide incentives for bikes, electric bikes, electric scooters, car share credits and transit passes when someone scraps an older vehicle.
The vehicle price cap established for the CEV Program in March 2016 remains in effect – vehicles priced above $77,000 are ineligible for purchase incentives. The vehicle incentives will continue to be administered and delivered by the New Car Dealers Association of British Columbia.
Funding for incentives of $500 toward the cost of bicycles, electric bicycles, electric scooters, car-share credits and transit passes when someone scraps an older vehicle will be distributed by SCRAP-IT BC. Incentives from SCRAP-IT BC for the purchase of a new electric vehicle have been increased from $3,250 to $6,000, and SCRAP-IT BC is also now offering incentives of $3,000 for the purchase of a used electric vehicle.
The Province introduced the CEV Program in 2011 and – including today’s announcement – has since committed more than $71 million for vehicle purchase incentives, charging and hydrogen fuelling infrastructure, vehicle fleet programs, public outreach, and research and training.
The #BCTECH Strategy is a key component of the BC Jobs Plan to support the growth of B.C.’s vibrant technology sector and strengthen British Columbia’s diverse innovation economy. The multi-year strategy includes a $100-million BC Tech Fund and initiatives to increase talent development and market access for tech companies that will drive innovation and productivity throughout the province.
Quick Facts:
- B.C has the highest ratio of ZEV sales to non-ZEV sales in Canada with over 4,800 ZEVs on the road.
- B.C. has the largest charging network in Canada with over 1,100 public, Level 2 charging stations and 30 fast-charging stations.
- Each electric vehicle on the road in B.C. displaces four tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
- Eligible electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles displaying an official decal are allowed in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes throughout the province regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle.
- In 2015, the ZEV sector in B.C. encompassed 198 companies, employed approximately 3,850 full-time equivalents, and contributed approximately $700 million in total direct economic activity.