B.C. to end zero-emission vehicle rebate program
The program, which mirrored a similar federal program, offered $4,000 rebates on new ZEVs
B.C. is halting its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) rebate program this month, citing a government-wide spending review and economic instability for the decision.
The fate of the program had been uncertain, after a similar federal program was abruptly paused in January, with officials saying funds had run out early due to a "surge of interest."
The province said it was reviewing the program in early April, after removing the consumer carbon tax created a $1.8-billion fiscal hole in its budget.
The program, Go Electric, provides income-based rebates. It offers between $500 and $2,000 for plug-in hybrids with a range of less than 85 kilometres, and between $1,000 and $4,000 for battery electric and long-range plug-in hybrids.
In a statement this week, the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions said people could still receive the rebate through May 15, "following which the Province will be pausing the program to consider next steps in view of progress to date."
The ministry says since 2011, the province has put more than $650 million toward programs to help people switch to cleaner transportation, resulting in an increase from 5,000 ZEVs on the roads in 2016 to nearly 195,000 today.
Stalled progress on targets
Despite the increase, the new 2024 Zero-Emission Vehicle Update shows ZEV progress has stalled in the province. While sales continue to increase, the percentage of light-duty sales that are ZEVs has remained below 23 percent the last two years.
The province has legislation in place, the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, which establishes targets for the percentage of light-duty vehicle sales that must by ZEVs, with manufacturers facing penalties if they aren't met.
In 2026, 26 per cent of sales in B.C. must be ZEVs, with that increasing to 90 per cent in 2030 and 100 per cent in 2035.
'Very optimistic'
Bob Porter, president of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, says it's unfortunate the province is ending the rebates, particularly since the federal rebates have also stopped, and the targets may need to be reassessed.
"I think it was very optimistic," he said. "They're going to have to re-calculate where they want to be with electric vehicles."
Porter says, with the current economic situation, he understands why the government would end its rebate program, but he says it's played a major role in encouraging people to make the switch from internal combustion vehicles.
"I'm hoping that rebates will come back both federally and provincially.... I mean, it's one way to clean up the air in the province. I mean, transportation adds a lot of pollution to the air," he said.
Porter adds that removing the consumer carbon tax at the beginning of April — which lowered the cost of fuel for drivers — further removed an incentive for people to make the decision to buy electric vehicles instead of those requiring fossil fuels.