Ontario amps up electric car incentives

The province is hoping additional EV incentives will help decrease carbon emissions. PHOTO: Plug’n Drive

TORONTO—Queen’s Park is stepping up its campaign to put more Ontarians in electrics.

Building on its Electric Vehicle Incentive Program, which was launched in 2010, the provincial government is increasing the amount of assistance electric vehicle buyers will get on their new low or zero-emissions ride.

“With a growing population and expanding urban regions, transportation emissions pose one of our province’s greatest challenges in achieving our ambitious greenhouse gas pollution reduction targets,” Premier Kathleen Wynne, who announced the upgraded program today in Toronto, said.

EV enthusiasts will now get between $6,000 and $10,000 from the Ontario government on a new EV—representing at least $1,000 more than under the previous program, which provided a base amount of $5,000. Meanwhile, a larger incentive also comes standard with vehicles with larger battery capacities. The province has built in the opportunity for an additional $3,000 incentive for cars that can take drivers farther afield.

Also looking to help more families drive off the lot with an electric, the province is offering an additional $1,000 for vehicles with five or more seats.

“By making it easier for people to switch to an electric vehicle, we are taking an important step in our fight against climate change while ensuring our province remains productive and efficient,” Wynne added.

The program is part of Ontario’s climate strategy, under which the province hopes to decrease its carbon emissions 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. The transportation sector accounts for approximately 35 per cent of Ontario’s current emissions—the largest of any single source.

So far, 4,800 Ontarians have taken advantage of the government’s EV incentives—and with falling EV costs and higher incentives, more consumers may be inspired to kick their old gas model.