The Government of British Columbia is giving $10 million to the Clean Energy Vehicle Program (CEVP) in an effort to keep it affordable.
The CEVforBC program offers incentives of: up to $5,000 for the purchase or lease of a new battery electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and up to $6,000 for a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle.
In 2017, BC gave $27 million to the CEVforBC program, but those funds are running out sooner than expected and would have been depleted by the end of September 2018.
These additional funds will help bolster the program while the government works on a new strategy for a clean-growth future later this year.
The latest statistics indicate British Columbia has the highest per-capita electric-vehicle adoption rate in Canada.
In fact, British Columbia had the highest market share of electric-vehicle sales in Canada at 3.7 per cent in June.
Between April and June of this year, more than 1,400 incentive applications were paid out to consumers.
“We are making it easier for everyone in our province to choose a clean-energy vehicle as their next purchase,” said Michelle Mungall, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
“These additional funds will make transportation more affordable today, while supporting our long-term work to build a cleaner future.”
A transition to clean-energy vehicles is an important part of meeting the province’s updated greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The targets are aiming for a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from 2007 levels by 2030, and a 60 per cent reduction from 2007 levels by 2040.
The upcoming clean-growth plan is part of the provincial government’s work to build a strong, stable and innovative economy.
In the fall 2017 Budget Update, the B.C. government recommitted $40 million for the Clean Energy Vehicle Program, with $27 million going to the CEVforBC vehicle incentive program.
To know more about the B.C.’s Clean Energy Vehicle Program: www.gov.bc.ca/cleanenergyvehicleprogram
