B.C.’s 2021 Budget Increases EV Funding
British Columbia tabled its 2021 budget on Tuesday, and new investments bring the total funding for CleanBC to nearly $2.2 billion over five years.
The province announced $130 million for zero-emission vehicle incentives, electric charging stations, technological development and electrification of school buses, ferries and government fleets.
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This includes:
- $94 million in Go Electric program rebates for purchases of zero-emission vehicles, charging stations and supporting the commercialization of heavy-duty vehicles.
- $18 million for active transportation infrastructure like bike lanes, sidewalks and multi-use pathways.
- A PST exemption on electric bikes to encourage more active transportation that will save British Columbians an estimated $7 million annually.
- $10 million to further develop policy on reducing the carbon intensity of fuel and developing the hydrogen economy in B.C.
Go Electric allows a customer to save as much as $8,000 when purchasing a zero-emission vehicle in B.C., depending on the make and model.
“This program directly supports B.C. in meeting its 2025 mandate to have at least 10 per cent of new light-duty vehicles sold in B.C. be zero emissions vehicles,” the budget reads.