Update: This article was written to cover reductions in the BC Hydro EV charger rebate program applying largely to the EV Ready and EV Ready Infrastructure programs. However, as of Oct. 31 a new round of funding has since been approved, and these programs are once more available to support multifamily EV charging. Visit our Multifamily EV Charging page for the most up to date info, or reach out to us to start your application!
BC Hydro Has Made Significant Changes to the EV Charger Rebate Program
BC Hydro’s EV charger rebate program has provided significant funding to homeowners, multifamily strata, and workplaces for EV charging systems and electrical infrastructure upgrades. However, while plenty of rebates are still available for EV chargers, the BC Hydro program has shifted significantly.
At TCA Electric, our team is constantly keeping an eye out for rebates and incentives that make the EV ownership experience more convenient and affordable for our customers. While the BC Hydro program is now more limited, funding is still available—including new rebates for multifamily chargers from Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. Here’s what you need to know!
What Parts of the BC Hydro EV Charger Rebate Program Have Changed?
The BC Hydro rebate program offered multiple incentives covering both single-family and multifamily properties. Here are the major changes that have been made.
EV Ready Funding No Longer Available
BC Hydro offered two EV Ready rebates that provided funding for multifamily property owners to make infrastructure upgrades necessary to support EV chargers. Both of these portions of the rebate are no longer available. This includes funding for both the creation of the EV Ready plan, as well as for the EV Ready infrastructure rebate.
Single-Family Charger Rebates No Longer Available
In addition to the multifamily rebate program, BC Hydro also rolled back single-family EV charger incentives. This means single-family EV charger rebates are no longer available from BC Hydro. We will continue to provide updates on single-family rebates as they become available, but currently the focus for incentives seems to be multifamily properties, workplaces, and public charging stations.
What Rebates Are Still Available?
Currently the only rebate available from BC Hydro is the multifamily standalone EV charger rebate. This continues to provide funding for the purchase and installation of EV chargers in multifamily strata. The rebate covers up to 50% of the cost to purchase and install EV chargers, to a maximum of $5,000 per charger and a project maximum of $25,000. This project maximum is increased from the previous maximum of $14,000.
Why Were the Rebates Changed?
Though these changes are unfortunate for EV owners who were not able to take advantage of these programs, the reason for the change is encouraging: strong EV adoption led to high popularity for these programs, and funding ultimately ran out. We’re encouraged by what this means for EV infrastructure and electric vehicle adoption here in British Columbia, and we’ll continue to report on new rebate programs as they become available.
ZEVIP: New Rebates for Multifamily Properties
As BC Hydro funding winds down, a new round of Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) rebates will be rolling out. The 2023 round of funding was expected to begin in spring 2023, though it has yet to open. Even so, this funding will be available soon and provide rebates for public, on-street, multifamily, and workplace EV charging stations. We will provide further information on this program in a separate post as funding opens.
Keep Up with the TCA Blog for More Updates!
As Vancouver’s leading EV charging experts, we make it a priority here at TCA Electric to stay up to date on all rebate programs available to our customers. We’ve been proud to be part of British Columbia’s EV revolution, and a major part of that has been connecting homeowners, business owners, and property managers with rebates to reduce the upfront cost of necessary EV infrastructure.
As these rebates continue to evolve, be sure to subscribe to our blog to stay in the know! And if you have any questions about EV charger installation or rebates, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.