Some B.C. electric vehicle charger rebates ending due to popularity
Posted June 10, 2023 1:44 pm.
Last Updated June 10, 2023 1:45 pm.
If you were hoping to get some help paying for a home electric vehicle (EV) charger, you may be out of luck – for now.
It looks like B.C.’s EV charger rebate program is running out of money. FortisBC and BC Hydro manage the funding, with the latter saying it won’t be taking any installation applications after June 15.
In a statement to CityNews, FortisBC adds it “has a limited amount of funding available and has not yet set a deadline for applications.”
Read more: Tesla tells customers B.C. EV rebate program has run out
Ryan Chan says his EV installation company typically works with condo owners and believes costs are about to skyrocket.
“Without the BC Hydro EV Ready program, it makes it a lot more difficult for stratas to get that work kicked off,” he said.
“We typically ask our customers to budget around $2,000 to $3,000 for the full supply and installation of the chargers… However, now that the EV Ready program is gone, customers can typically expect around $5,000 to $6,000,” Chan said.
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation says while the single-family home rebates and the EV Ready plan rebates are oversubscribed, the rebates for apartments condos and workplaces will continue.
“The rebates for apartments, condos and workplace chargers will continue starting June 15, with funding support from the Government of Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. Rebate levels will be increased from a maximum of $2,000 per charger (up to 50 per cent of costs) to a maximum of $5,000 per charger (up to 75 per cent of costs),” the statement reads.
It looks like B.C.’s EV charger rebate program is running out of money. FortisBC and BC Hydro manage the funding, with the latter saying it won’t be taking any installation applications after June 15. (Kier Junos, CityNews Image)
Chan adds that without the rebate funding, a lot of projects won’t be happening.
“One of the big advantages that why we see British Columbia have so many EV chargers is because of these rebates,” he said. “And without that, it’s very much like Ontario where it’s very difficult to come by public chargers or personal chargers.”
