Transportation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada, accounting for a quarter of Canada’s total GHG emissions. Since almost half of these emissions come from cars and light trucks, one way to reduce the amount of GHG emissions is to put more zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road.

In order to encourage the adoption of Zero-Emission Vehicles by Canadians and Canadian businesses, the Federal Government of Canada launched the “Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles,” known as the iZEV Program in May 2019. Since this time there have been many changes, and rumours, about whether the program will get cancelled or continue.

While we have no prediction about what the provincial government will do with the rebates in the future, right now the BC electric vehicle rebates are at their highest! Plus, in addition to the federal iZEV rebate, there is the provincial Clean BC rebate as well.

With gas prices at record highs, that is welcome news for people looking to get into all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. With government iZEV rebates as high as five thousand dollars, it is like getting a down payment towards an environmentally friendly vehicle. But, in addition with the Clean BC rebate, buyers can qualify for up to $8,000.00 in rebates.

Ford and Lincoln both have lineups that are eligible for the BC, EV Rebates. The top selling Escape plug-in hybrid, the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, the luxurious Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring and the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring all qualify for the EV and plug-in hybrid government rebates. In other words, the government is giving you a down payment towards any one of these vehicles.

Another not so well-known incentive is that there is no luxury tax on electric, or zero-emission, vehicles under the $75,000.00 price tag. For non electric vehicles, the luxury tax is applicable to vehicles priced $55,000.00 and above. So, the margin to avoid the luxury tax on EV vehicles is much better than gas powered vehicles. As well, if you buy any pre-owed, or used, electric vehicle in BC, you will be exempt from paying PST, the provincial sales tax, on your used EV. That can be a whopping savings on tax when you purchase a pre-owned, all-electric vehicle.

What do you need to do to get your electric vehicle rebate in BC? Nothing, as a dealership we take care of everything for you. All you need to do is sign the forms for the rebate at the time you purchase your plug in hybrid or all electric vehicle. Depending on the model of vehicle and eligibility, you can get up to eight thousand dollars in rebates.

We are also really happy that we have many incoming Escape plug-in hybrids, all-electric Mustang Mach-Es and plug in hybrid Lincolns on their way to meet the needs of guests. With the current gas prices, we are seeing a huge movement towards hybrid and electric vehicles and we are ready to meet that need with inventory and the expertise to answer all your questions.

Once you have your plug-in hybrid or EV at home, there are also government rebates available on buying and installing your charger. If you’ve recently purchased and installed an EV charger in your single-family home, you could be eligible for a rebate from the Government of B.C., administered by BC Hydro and FortisBC. The rebate offer is up to 50% of purchase and installation costs of eligible, new Level 2 charging equipment, to a maximum of $350. You can even purchase a charger through us and make the payments part of your vehicle purchase.

As a buyer looking to get into an all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, the incentives have never been better. When it comes time to look at your EV vehicle options and answer all your questions about government rebates, we are here to help.