BC to End Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

Three Tesla electric vehicles drive past a gas station in Vancouver on May 14, 2022. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The B.C. government is ending its electric vehicle (EV) rebate program that provided financial incentives to residents upon the purchase of an EV, citing a review of its environmental programs.

The announcement comes a little more than three months after Ottawa announced it was ending its EV rebate program for Canadians. The province also followed the federal government’s lead when Ottawa ended the consumer carbon tax in March, with BC eliminating its provincial consumer carbon tax on April 1.

The government said it is pausing its Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program “to consider next steps” for the provincial program now that the federal rebate initiative has concluded.

The provincial program offered $500 to $2,000 for plug-in hybrids with a range of less than 85 kilometres and between $1,000 and $4,000 for battery electric or long- range EVs.

Residents can apply for a rebate up to May 15 or until the “funds run out,” according to the energy ministry. Those who want to receive a rebate will need to purchase or lease a vehicle and apply online before 6 p.m. on that date.

Eligibility requirements on the website indicate the rebate is for B.C. residents who meet income requirements and have a valid B.C. driver’s licence.

Rebates are offered to those earning less than $100,000, with the total rebate depending on the type of vehicle and household income.

EV Focus

The government also released its annual Zero-Emission Vehicle Update for 2024 and said it is still committed to working with vehicle manufacturers and dealerships to support EV adoption.

“This work will form part of a broader comprehensive review of CleanBC programs, details of which will be announced soon,” a government information bulletin said.

There are nearly 195,000 zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on B.C. roads, up from just 5,000 in 2016, according to the Ministry of Energy.

B.C. said it has spent more than $650 million since 2011 to support residents who switch to EVs and has added more than 7,000 electric charging stations across B.C.

The government’s next major focus is spending on EV infrastructure, Energy Minister Adrian Dix said in the 2024 update.

“We have already made great strides, including the completion of B.C.’s Electric Highway—a network of public fast-charging stations along all major highways and key roadways,” he said in the update. “Looking ahead, we will continue to build out charging infrastructure in urban, rural, and remote communities to ensure every British Columbian has access to reliable, convenient EV charging.”

The government’s Zero Emission Vehicle Update report notes that light-duty ZEV sales have levelled off at just under 23 percent of light-duty vehicle sales in 2023 and 2024.

The B.C. government introduced the Zero Emissions Vehicle Act in 2019 to set targets on EV sales for vehicle makers. Twenty-six percent of sales were expected to be EVs by 2026, 90 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035.