Following similar EV infrastructure investments in Quebec and Ontario, Ottawa is now announcing an investment of $3.54 million for BC, to help support the installation of up to 810 EV chargers across the province. BC has the highest per capita sales of EVs in the country.
This investment, which is intended to “make EV charging more accessible to all,” is funded through the Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP).
According to the provincial government press release, “The Government of British Columbia will select recipients through a transparent process, based on demand. The EV chargers will then be installed at multi-unit residential buildings, workplaces or facilities for servicing light-duty vehicle fleets by October 2023.” Funding will be made available through existing provincial programs, specifically the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate and Fleets programs.
“If we are to keep pace with the increasing adoption of clean energy vehicles, we need to build the charging infrastructure to keep pace – but we must do so in a thoughtful, collaborative, and strategic manner that addresses the needs of today but more importantly, anticipates our needs well into the future,” said NCDABC president and CEO Blair Qualey.
There are currently federal rebates of up to $5,000 to help more Canadians make the switch to an EV, and Budget 2022 proposes to invest an additional $1.7 billion to extend the government’s purchase incentive program until March 2025 and to expand the types of vehicle models eligible under the program, which would include more vans, trucks and SUVs.
These investments are yet another step in reaching Canada’s target of ensuring all new passenger vehicles sold in Canada are zero-emission by 2035.
Said Bruce Ralston, BC Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, “With electric vehicles representing 13 per cent of all new light-duty vehicles sold in B.C., our province has the strongest adoption rate of electric vehicles in Canada. We’re positioning ourselves to become leaders in the EV industry. We’re working with our federal partners to increase rebates for home, workplace and fleet charging and making it easier and more affordable for people to make the switch to electric vehicles.”
