Welcoming additional funding for electric vehicles
Today the BC government announced that it was injecting another $10 million into the Clean Energy Vehicle Program (CEVP). The program has been so successful, that it was in danger of running out of funds later this month. As noted in our media release (reproduced below) I am very pleased that the program received the additional funding.
This file is one on which I have spent a good deal of time. Ensuring the stability of this flagship program was essential in advance of the upcoming announcement of British Columbia’s clean growth strategy later this fall.
Media Release
Weaver welcomes additional funding for electric vehicles
For immediate release
September 24, 2018
VICTORIA, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, praised the BC government’s efforts to find more funding to support vehicle adoption. Weaver says the higher-than-forecasted demand shows that British Columbians are on board with the transition to the low-carbon economy.
“British Columbians clearly want electric vehicles and I am pleased the government has found more funding to support their choices,” said Weaver.
“Over the past several months, we heard concerns from British Columbians that this funding was running out. We communicated these concerns to government and I am delighted that they acted quickly and decisively on this essential priority.
Due to higher-than-expected demand for EVs, the government added an additional $10 million to support the adoption of EVs, hybrids and fuel cell vehicles while it looks for more stable funding.
“As with any new technology, the cost of research and development is baked into the price of electric vehicles, driving up prices,” Weaver continued. “Transportation makes up 40% of B.C.’s emissions. We should ensure that stable, long-term funding is available to help support British Columbians to make the shift towards zero-emission vehicles.
“Our office has been working closely with the government to develop the Clean Growth Strategy that will position B.C. to be a leader in the low-carbon economy while enabling us to meet our targets. It will be essential that this plan be backed up with adequate funding and implementation. As the New Zealand Productivity Commission found last month, early action is almost always a winning economic strategy, even if other jurisdictions are slow to act. B.C. has all the strategic advantages we need to seize the economic opportunities arising as the world transitions to low-carbon economy, and the demand for EVs shows that British Columbians are on board. I look forward to making this vision a reality.”
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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca
6 Comments
As a rural person hauling various loads, I need an electric truck that I can plug in to electrify at home. What choices do I have for buying a small, double cab like the B2200 Mazda electric truck?
thanks!
I would like too have seen 10’s of Billions not Millions in grants, incentives, tax deductions and investments in the clean energy as a whole. As the Fossil Fuel energy gets the tax breaks, hydro breaks and subsidies from the government. That being said we’ll take what we can get , at least green energy , is moving forward as an alternative to fossil fuel. 2019 should be a very interesting year as Trillions of dollars globally will be divested away from fossil fuel, and invested into Green Energy. I hope that BC get’s in on that action, and bring in Billions to the BC Green Economy of the Future.
I can not find any incentives for a homeowner to install a charger at their residence. We are renovating an old home and plan to install one as there are more EV’s now (and soon to be even more with this incentive) and not many new charging stations. Are there any plans to replace the previous incentives to install a home charger.
Thanks for this program,
Katrina
I agree with Mr. Walkinshaw that strata residents must be able to plug in their vehicles as of right, and that more needs to be done (including increasing subsidies even more) to make EVs more affordable for all British Columbians – even if that means subsidizing slightly-used imports. I am a landlord and am on the committee for two stratas, and I would love to see regular plugs and even some Level 2 chargers available at every parking spot at strata building in BC. These could be metered and charged to the unit that owns the spot, and I don’t think it would be that hard to lock them so that people were not stealing each other’s power. This is another area where government subsidies might help get us to the tipping point, because it’s currenty a huge obstacle for adoption by strata residents.
When is the NDP going to change the strata act so that residents cannot be stopped from plugging their vehicle into existing electric plug in at their designated (owned) parking spot? Currently some strata have bylaws prohibiting a resident from plugging their vehicle into existing wall plug. Also since government subsidies of vehicles create accelerated depreciation why is the grant not available on a used electric vehicle imported from the USA? (USA subsidies created accelerated depreciation on these vehicles making the price very reasonable) Earlier this century the Bc government gave grants for natural gas vehicles. (Yes times change) This grant was worded one grant per vehicle first time registered in BC so used vehicles from the USA qualified making demand very high. Yes it’s great their is tax money to subsidize the purchase of a $62000 electric vehicle, however what about extending the grant to purchasers of lower priced electric vehicles?
Great job and well done. Congratulations to both parties in making this a reality. I look forward to hearing details on how it will be implemented.