The British Columbian government is doubling its electric vehicle incentives for some businesses. The actual name for the program is the Specialty-Use Vehicle Incentive, and it applies businesses differently. Local governments, public sector and non-profit organizations can get 33 percent of the cost of an electric vehicle up to $100,000. Previously, this incentive only went up to $50,000. Hospitality and tourism industries can recoup 66 percent of an EV up to $100,000. This incentive doesn’t allow businesses to buy Teslas, but rather focuses on Battery or hydrogen-fueled buses, food delivery trucks or transport trucks. Specialty-use vehicles like motorcycles, cargo e-bikes and low-speed utility trucks also qualify. B.C. has been working to transition to EV’s more aggressively than some of the other provinces. Its goal is only to sell new consumer-level EVs starting in 2040, so adding larger incentives to businesses might help smaller businesses go green as well. For more info and to apply please goto https://pluginbc.ca/suvi/
In addition, Electric Autonomy Canada notes that B.C. is looking to invest $11 million into a Commercial Vehicle Pilot Program. This is for large-scale electrification ideas like commercial planes, trains and boats. This is a harder incentive to get, and applicants need to compete for it and submit ideas to the government for approval. These announcements are part of the government’s $10 billion COVID-19 response plan.