IF youve been thinking about buying an electric- or natural gas-powered vehicle, the province is willing to chip in a few bucks to help persuade you.
Up to $5,000 to be exact.
The province announced in late March that it is extending its Clean Energy Vehicles for British Columbia grant program, which offers a rebate on battery electric, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell or compressed natural gas-powered vehicles.
"This makes it easier for all British Columbians to choose clean electricity transportation. Climate-friendly vehicles not only help lower travel costs, they improve the air quality in the communities where we live and work," said Rich Coleman, minister of energy, mines and natural gas in a press release.
The fund created 2011 to dispense rebates was set to expire on March 31, even though roughly $4.7 million of the original $6.8 million was still sitting untouched. The fund did not appear in the 2013 provincial budget, but the government will roll over another $2.5 million for prospective CEV buyers.
The news is highly welcomed by Bruce Stout, a North Vancouver resident and president of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association.
Im overjoyed. My goal in life is to get as many people as possible into electric vehicles. Anything that helps people afford an electric vehicle, Im all for. Im really glad theyve done that, Stout said.
Offering the incentive has clearly worked as members of VEVA purchased seven electric vehicles in March, when they feared the program would be canceled in April, Stout said.
If they had canceled the grant on March 31, there would have been a noticeable stop in the sale of EVs, he said.
Beyond the up-to-$5,000 rebate, the province is also added another year onto the LiveSmart BC Residential Charging Point Rebate Program, which offers up to $500 to applicants who want to install a charging station at home.
Those charging stations are essential, Stout said, because 90 per cent of electric vehicle charging happens at home.
