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LiveSmart BC

Transportation Rebates and Incentives

The Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program - Overview

Minister Terry Lake with Chevrolet Volt

The BC Government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2020, and by 80 percent by 2050 (compared to 2007 emissions).  Since approximately 36 percent of BC’s greenhouse gas emissions come from its transportation sector strong action is necessary within this sector in order to reduce transportation energy demand and related greenhouse gas emissions.  Accelerating the adoption of clean energy vehicle technology in the light duty passenger vehicle sector can play an important role in achieving both the short and long term emission reduction targets. 

It will take considerable time and strong policies to bring new clean energy vehicles such as plug-in electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles into the mainstream market.  Meeting our legislated emission reduction targets will require these vehicles to penetrate the market in significant numbers.  Ideally, the technology and deployment of these new clean energy vehicles would emerge through regular market mechanisms. 

However, high upfront costs, lack of fuelling/charging infrastructure, and limited public awareness pose a significant challenge that must be overcome if these vehicles are to penetrate the market significantly and not be relegated to a niche market. Costs will fall as technology advances, as more vehicles and charging stations are produced/deployed, and as economies of scale are achieved, but in the meantime, appropriate government incentives and initial investment in charging/fuelling infrastructure will be instrumental in catalyzing the market. 

On November 5, 2011, the Province announced the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program designed to support a market transformation to the use of clean energy fuels and vehicle technologies in the light duty transportation sector. The $14.3 million Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program is designed to support the increased use of natural gas vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.  The Program has three distinct measures:

  1. Point of sale incentive program for the purchase or lease of eligible CEVs (complete program details available at the Clean Energy Vehicles for BC website (www.cevforbc.ca). 
  2. Residential Rebate Program for installation of charging points at single family residential dwellings. 
  3. Charging or fuelling infrastructure investments, including investments in hydrogen fuelling infrastructure and the delivery of the 1000-point Charging Infrastructure Project

The delivery of the CEV Program also includes significant efforts on increasing awareness and understanding, conducting analyses, and engaging with communities, industry and academic institutions to support an overall market transformation to clean energy vehicles.