Ontario’s new electric vehicle incentives – timetable and intended funding

 

Earlier this week, Ontario government announced its Five-Year Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) 2016-2020.

In this CCAP, there are various Action areas such as : transportation, building and homes, land-use planning, industry and business, collaboration with indigenous communities, research and development, government and agriculture, forest & land.

 

In regards to electric vehicles, here are some details we can read in the CCAP:

Greenhouse gas pollution from cars account for more emissions than from industries like iron, steel, cement and chemicals combined. This action will help get more people into electric vehicles and lower greenhouse gases. CCAP will:

2.1 Maintain incentives for electric vehicles: Ontario intends to extend the rebate program to 2020 for leasing or buying an eligible electric vehicle (up to $14,000 per vehicle), including rebates for purchase and installation of home charging stations (up to $1,000 per station). Timetable: Action Start 2017.  Intended funding: $140,000,000 to $160,000,000.

 

2.2 Eliminate HST on zero emission vehicles: Ontario will work with the federal government to explore ways to provide full-HST relief to purchasers of new battery electric vehicles, with the objective of introducing this relief by 2018. Timetable: Action Start 2017-2018.  

 

2.3 Free overnight electric vehicle charging: The province intends to establish a four-year free overnight electric vehicle-charging program for residential and multi-unit residential customers starting in 2017. Charging electric cars at night can help balance electricity system demands and potentially reduce costs associated with exporting excess electricity overnight. Ontario intends to work with utilities to transition this program to an optional enhanced time-of-day charging program. The goal would be to lower overall electricity bills for homes that charge vehicles. Timetable: Action Start 2016.  Intended funding: $15,000,000.

 

2.4 Replace older vehicles: The province intends to help get older and less fuel-efficient vehicles on the roads by offering a rebate to low- and moderate-income households that will help them replace old cars with new or used electric vehicles or a plug-in hybrid. Timetable: Action Start

2017-2018.  Intended funding: $10,000,000 to $20,000,000.

2.5 Ensure charging infrastructure is widely available: Ontario intends to increase access to the infrastructure required to charge electric vehicles by ensuring the following:

• 2.5.1 More charging stations: The province intends to invest in the rapid deployment of charging in workplaces, multi-unit residential buildings, downtowns and town centres. Ontario will encourage ONroute locations to equip themselves with high-speed chargers. It will further encourage the federal government to invest in highspeed, fast-charging infrastructure on inter-provincial highways and highways that connect Ontario to the United States. Timetable: Action Start Ongoing.  Intended funding: $80,000,000.
• 2.5.2 Electric-vehicle-ready homes: Ontario intends to require all new homes and townhomes with garages to be constructed with a 50-amp, 240-volt receptacle (plug) in the garage for the purpose of charging an electric vehicle. These receptacles can be used with home charging stations and readily available at retail locations and are compatible with all plug-in hybrid and electric cars. Timetable: Action Start January 2018.
• 2.5.3 Electric-vehicle-ready workplaces: Ontario intends to establish a requirement that, as of 2018, all newly built commercial oce buildings and appropriate workplaces must provide charging infrastructure. The workplace is the second most common place to charge electric vehicles after the home. Workplace charging is particularly critical to people living in multi-residential buildings who may not have access to a home-based plug. Timetable: Action Start 2018.

 

2.6 Electric and Hydrogen Advancement Program: Starting in 2017, vehicle manufacturers that oer their customers access to Ontario’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program will need to participate in an Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Advancement Program. This program will recognize manufacturers that exhibit performance in advance zero-emission vehicle sales, marketing, infrastructure and public awareness. Timetable: Action Start 2017.

 

2.7 Increase public awareness: Ontario will work with Plug’n Drive, a non-prot electric vehicle advocacy organization, to establish and operate a facility to showcase electric vehicles and related technology to Ontarians across the province. Timetable: Action Start 2017-2018.  Intended funding: $1,750,000 to $2,000,000.

You may also be interested in this article : Ontario will empower municipalities to require installation of EV charging stations in surface parking areas.