Planning for your next car to be electric? The final price you end up paying will depend on which province you’re in.
Driving the news: Canada is going all in on electric vehicles, pushing to make one-fifth of all new car sales electric by 2026 and phase out the sale of new fully-gas powered vehicles by 2035.
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On the consumer side, the feds offer a rebate for Canadians who purchase some form of ZEV (zero emission vehicle) of up to $5,000, depending on the car you buy and its range.
- However, at the provincial level, rebates vary. Premier Doug Ford axed Ontario’s rebate program in 2018 as a cost-cutting measure. Still, other Premiers have created generous incentives for residents.
Here’s a breakdown of the provinces that make EVs more affordable:
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Northwest Territories: Residents will get a $7,500 rebate on top of the fed’s $5,000 for plug-in (PHEV) and battery (BEV) electric vehicles, as well as cover up to $500 for a level 2 charger installation, but the rebate doesn’t apply to used vehicles.
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Quebec: Residents are eligible for a $7,000 rebate when they buy a BEV or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) with a purchase price of less than $60,000. Rebates for PHEVs vary based on battery capacity, from $300 to $5,000. And used BEV buyers can get a $3,500 rebate.
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New Brunswick: New BEVs and PHEVs with a range of over 50 km get a $5,000 rebate. However, PHEVs with less range get half the rebate. Used EV buyers can benefit from a $1,000 rebate.
- British Columbia: New BEVs, FCEVs and PHEVs with a range of over 85 km are eligible for a $4,000 rebate—but that depends on your income. You can get the total amount if you earn less than $80,000, but if you make over $100,000, you get zip.
Why it matters: Transportation is one of the most expensive aspects of life. For many, EVs seemed like the equivalent of a Barbie Jeep for grown-ups—fun to have, but pricey and potentially not so practical.
But as EV manufacturers slash prices and governments provide incentive-boosting rebates, getting behind the wheel of an EV is becoming more affordable than ever—if you live in the right province.