Budget Investments Continue Nation Leading Electric Vehicle Adoption in BC
Victoria, BC –Today’s balanced provincial budget includes further support for clean energy initiatives that will help ensure BC’s success in electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues, says the President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC.
In total, the 2020 Budget provides over $32 million to support the Go Electric BC program to help more people and businesses transition to electric vehicles.
Of prime importance to New Car Dealers and their customers is the addition of $20 million in operating funding to ensure the continuation of the Go Electric BC Program. This initiative provides British Columbians with savings of up to $3,000 on the purchase of a new battery electric or hydrogen full cell vehicle, and has been administered by the New Car Dealers Association of BC since 2010. BC Consumers can also receive as much as $5,000 in additional incentives from the Federal iZEV incentive program, and up to $6,000 when also combined with the BC Scrap-It incentive, for a potential incentive total of up to $14,000.
In addition to the Clean Energy Vehicle point of sale EV purchase incentives, Budget 2020 provides $5 million for incentives to install home and workplace charging stations, and $2 million to build new public fast-charging and hydrogen fueling stations for zero-emission vehicles. An additional $5 million is being provided to continue incentives for zero-emission buses and heavy-duty vehicles.
“BC is four years ahead of meeting its 2025 mandate of 10 percent new cars and trucks to be zero emission vehicles,” said Blair Qualey, President & CEO. “BC’s New Car Dealers are pleased to see the BC government hasn’t taken its foot off the accelerator in funding the Go Electric BC program. These key investments and the ongoing partnership between new car dealers and government has helped BC assume a leadership role in clean energy vehicle adoption in North America – and the latest funding commitments will help maintain its position.”
About the New Car Dealers Association of BC: The NCDA is the provincial industry association that represents more than 390 new car and truck dealers throughout British Columbia. Members of the Association provide over 30,000 family supporting jobs for British Columbians and are responsible for over $16-Billion of retail sales in the province. The Association speaks on behalf of the retail new automotive industry to the public, media, and government, and deals primarily with the legal, environmental, and consumer issues relating to vehicle sales in BC. The NCDA owns and manages the Vancouver International Auto Show, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and running from March 25-29 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
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Contact:
Shona Wercholuk
604-805-4821
[email protected]
