British Columbia has announced the renewal of its Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) incentive program, effective April 1 (via Green Car Reports). The CEV program, which expired in the spring of 2014 after exhausting its original $12-million budget, offers point-of-purchase rebates of up to $5,000 Canadian ($4,000 US) for battery EVs and $6,000 Canadian ($4,800 US) for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The province has also allotted C$1 million in incentives for companies to add plug-ins to corporate fleets, C$1.6 million for EV charging and hydrogen fueling stations, and half a million for research and training.

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Several advocacy groups pressured the government to restore the incentives, pointing out that EV sales have risen only modestly in BC since the first phase of incentives expired, while in Ontario and Quebec, which have continued to offer incentives, sales have soared.

“Encouraging and promoting environmentally friendly transportation is part of a broader strategy to ensure British Columbia remains a climate action leader,” said Minister of Environment Mary Polak. “With transportation representing 37% of total provincial greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy vehicles are essential to reducing emissions and maintaining healthy air quality.”

“The CEV program announced today provides critical support to consumers buying plug-in electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, helping to broaden their adoption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to help switch transportation fuel demand from non-renewable fuels to clean provincial renewable energy,” said Mark Nantais, President of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association.                   

Source: Government of British Columbia via Green Car Reports