Energy and Climate Solutions
VANCOUVER - To make clean energy vehicles more affordable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Province will offer incentives of up to $5,000 for the purchase or lease of a new battery electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and up to $6,000 for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett announced today.
When combined with new SCRAP-IT program incentives, total savings could be up to $8,250 for an electric vehicle.
The new incentives are part of Phase 2 of the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program which starts on April 1, 2015, and will distribute $10.6 million from the Province’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund over the next three years for the following purposes:
- $7.5 million for point-of-sale incentives for electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
- $1.59 million for investments in charging infrastructure and hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.
- $1 million for incentives for commercial fleet purchases of clean energy vehicles.
- $500,000 for research, training, and public outreach on clean energy transportation technology.
Today, electric vehicles typically cost about 25% more than non-electric vehicles but can save drivers about 75% on their fuel costs, which adds up to $1,600 per year. The incentives will narrow the price gap and encourage more British Columbians to purchase an electric vehicle.
Most electric vehicles do not have the same range as non-electric vehicles. To make it easier for electric vehicle drivers to “fill the tank,” an analysis will be conducted to identify gaps in the location of charging infrastructure and determine the most effective way to deploy infrastructure funding. This will include looking at issues such as what locations (multi-unit residential buildings, downtown parking areas, shopping centres, etc.) would best support increased use of electric vehicles.
The first phase of the CEV program ran from 2011 to 2014 and helped support the purchase of 950 electric vehicles and the development of over 1,000 charging stations, and resulted in 57,000 tonnes of direct emissions reductions.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines will administer and implement the CEV program through partnerships with the New Car Dealers Association of British Columbia, the Fraser Basin Council, and the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association.
The ICE Fund is designed to support government’s energy and environmental priorities and advance British Columbia’s clean energy sector. It receives funding through a 0.4% levy on the final sale of specified energy products such as natural gas, fuel oil and grid-delivered propane.
(flickr.com) Quotes:
Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines -
“With the Clean Energy Vehicle program, we’re providing incentives that will make electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles more affordable for British Columbians, and expanding the charging and fuelling infrastructure to make it easier to ‘fill the tank.’ ”
Mary Polak, Minister of Environment -
“Encouraging and promoting environmentally friendly transportation is part of a broader strategy to ensure British Columbia remains a climate action leader. With transportation representing 37% of total provincial greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy vehicles are essential to reducing emissions and maintaining healthy air quality.”
Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. -
"The New Car Dealers Association of BC is pleased with the announcement of the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) incentive program. Our members are seeing increasing interest from consumers in purchasing electric vehicles and this program will provide many with the incentive they need to make a purchase.”
David Marshall, executive director, Fraser Basin Council -
“Clean energy vehicles are a good fit for B.C., and this is a smart investment in a low-carbon future. We look forward to working with B.C. communities, businesses, strata developments, fleets and other sectors where use of electric vehicles is expected to grow, and to support charging infrastructure in areas of critical need.”
Eric Denhoff, president and CEO, Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association -
“The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association is tremendously excited to see the reintroduction of B.C.’s Clean Energy vehicle incentives that would apply to zero-emission vehicles. We now have the incentives and vehicles to accelerate consumer adoption of fuel cell vehicles in Vancouver and in B.C. Given major automakers are considering B.C. as a location for the upcoming deployment of commercial fuel cell vehicles, this announcement is both timely and welcomed.”
Mark Nantais, president, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association -
“The CEV program announced today provides critical support to consumers buying plug-in electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, helping to broaden their adoption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to help switch transportation fuel demand from non-renewable fuels to clean provincial renewable energy.”
David Adams, president, Global Automakers of Canada -
“The decision to renew the Clean Energy Vehicle program in British Columbia will undoubtedly spur consumer demand for advanced vehicle technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to us that the government has looked more holistically at a suite of low-emission and zero-emission technologies - which is the same approach automakers are taking to meet the stringent federal greenhouse gas emissions regulations in place now through 2025 that are aligned on a North American basis.
Quick Facts:
- Vehicles are responsible for 45% of B.C.'s household greenhouse gas emissions.
- Compared to a 2000 model year or older vehicle, a clean energy vehicle would reduce emissions by about 5.6 tonnes per year.
- Compared to a new internal combustion vehicle, a clean energy vehicle reduces emissions by about three tonnes per year.
Learn More:
For information on electric vehicles and charging systems and infrastructure visit Plug-In BC at: http://pluginbc.ca/
For information on the Clean Energy Vehicle incentive program, visit: www.cevforbc.ca
New Car Dealers Association of BC: http://www.newcardealers.ca/
Fraser Basin Council: http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/
Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association: http://www.chfca.ca/
Media Contacts:
Jake Jacobs
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628
(flickr.com) BACKGROUNDER
B.C.’s clean energy vehicle incentives
The vehicle incentives in the Province’s Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) program enable the purchaser or lessee of a new eligible electric vehicle to receive a before-tax, point-of-sale incentive of up to $5,000.
The purchaser or lessee of a qualified new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will also receive an additional point-of-sale incentive of $1,000 to offset the current barrier of limited hydrogen fuelling locations for fuel cell vehicles.
Eligible vehicles and the maximum point-of-sale incentive amounts are as follows:
- Battery Electric Vehicle: $5,000
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle: $6,000
- Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle /Extended Range Electric Vehicle with a minimum battery capacity greater than 15 kilowatt hours (kWh): $5,000
- Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle/Extended Range Electric Vehicle with a minimum battery capacity of less than 15kWh but greater than 4kWh: $2,500
Leased vehicles are eligible for an incentive depending on the term of the lease and whether the vehicle is used for personal or fleet purposes as follows:
- 12-month lease: 33% of CEV incentive for personal and 0% for fleet.
- 24-month lease: 66.7% of CEV incentive for personal and 0% for fleet.
- 36-month lease: 100% for CEV incentive for personal and fleet.
No vehicle purchased or leased prior to April 1, 2015, will be eligible for an incentive. The point-of-sale incentives will run until March 31, 2018, or until funds are exhausted.
For descriptions and costs of eligible vehicles currently available, visit: www.cevforbc.ca
The CEV incentives for electric vehicles can be combined with additional incentives of $3,250 now offered by SCRAP-IT BC to individuals who scrap their 2000 model year-or-older vehicles and purchase a new battery electric or eligible plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
To learn more about the BC SCRAP-IT electric vehicle incentive, visit: https://scrapit.ca/ev-program/
Media Contacts:
Jake Jacobs
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628
