ELECTRIC VEHICLE REBATES WIDEN TO INCLUDE BUSINESS
Province works with new car dealers to encourage sales of greener machines
British Columbia continues to play a leadership role in electric vehicle sales, in part from the partnership between new car dealers and the province, one that has collectively encouraged and supported increasing adoption of EVs among consumers.
As of late last year, there were 30,000 EVs on the road in the province, and I expect to see this number continue to increase, as more and more consumers are looking to go green.
Through the CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate Program (formerly CEVforBC), the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. has worked with the government to create incentives and competition between dealerships across the province to determine who can reach the highest level of sales of clean energy vehicles, across all brands.
The focal point of the partnership is the rebate program, which provides a point of sale purchase incentive on new clean energy vehicles, and is administered by the NCDA and its members.
Much of this increase in EV purchases in the province can be attributed to the great incentive programs we have adopted through CleanBC, which now has been widened to include more B.C. businesses that may want to go green.
Last week the government sent out a news release encouraging more businesses to continue the fight for a greener province, and encouraged them to go electric with their vehicle fleets with an additional $2 million in funding through the CleanBC Speciality-Use Vehicle Incentive.
Through the program, the province is making cleaner options more affordable, and aims to increase the use of EVs in how people get around, not only personally, but also with their businesses.
Eligible specialty-use vehicles include electric passenger buses, airport and port service vehicles, motorcycles, low-speed utility trucks, and heavy duty transport trucks. Rebates range from $1,700 to $50,000 per vehicle and are available for businesses, local and regional governments, and non-profit organizations that are purchasing five or fewer vehicles.
This is a positive move by CleanBC to further incentivize consumers and businesses to take a step in the right direction and work toward a cleaner future. The program supports businesses and fleets in adopting specialty-use electric vehicles.
A business that has already taken part in the incentive program is Harbour Seaplanes, which has purchased a fully electric, zero-emission passenger shuttle bus for dropping off and picking up passengers around Vancouver. It’s a great step in the right direction and I hope to see more companies follow suit.