Uncertainty over state of B.C.'s electric vehicle rebate fund after federal program halted
Provincial government has not responded to repeated questions from CBC about how much funding remains
Two weeks after the federal government abruptly paused its Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles program ahead of the scheduled March end date, the B.C. government has been unable to answer how much money is left in its own EV rebate program.
Ottawa said it halted the program because funds were running out due to a "surge of interest."
On top of the federal rebate program, several provinces, including B.C., offer additional subsidies for EVs.
Quebec also announced last month it would pause its provincial electric vehicle subsidy program until April, also because of growing demand.
But B.C.'s Ministry of Finance has not answered repeated questions from CBC News about how much funds remain in the provincial rebate program, which is called Go Electric.
The Go Electric rebate is based on income and 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.
British Columbians can still apply for funding on the website.
With the threat of U.S. tariffs on the horizon, B.C. is currently undergoing a spending review, looking at where it can cut costs.
At a Monday news conference about the spending review, Finance Minister Brenda Bailey did not provide an answer when asked whether Go Electric is on the chopping block.
"Each ministry will report back on what the opportunities are within those ministries and decisions will be made from that point," said Bailey.
Changes to B.C. program
The Go Electric program has already seen changes. A switch last year made fewer cars eligible for the rebate, according to Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C.
The association helps run the rebate program.
"They basically took 75 per cent of the available vehicles out of the running for the rebate program," said Qualey.
Almost a quarter of all new vehicle registrations in B.C. were electric in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to data from S&P Global, which is well above the national average of 16.5 per cent for the same time frame.
Qualey said any further cuts to the program would likely decrease EV sales in the province.
"The price continues to be such a big factor in the purchase of any vehicle," he said. "The rebates have made a big difference for people."
Net zero goals
The federal government has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. It has also set a target for all new light-duty vehicles sold in the country to be electric by 2035, with interim goals of at least 20 per cent by 2026 and 60 per cent by 2030.
Bob Porter, president of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, said EV sales are important to Canada achieving its net zero emissions goals."I think it's the direction to go to get us off fossil fuels," said Porter.
Porter said the rebate program allowed him to make the jump to electric when he got his EV in 2014.
"No program has a bottomless pit," he said. "All we can hope is that they will maybe renew the program again."
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With files from Michelle Ghoussoub