Right now consumers can get up to $5,000 for buying a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, or longer-range plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the latter referring to a vehicle with an electric range of at least 50 kilometres. Shorter-range PHEVs are eligible for up to $2,500.
A similar U.S. program pays nearly twice as much as Canada’s $5,000 rebate.
“Transport Canada will continue to monitor zero-emission vehicle results and assess the need for adjustments to the program to ensure it is meeting its objectives,” said the briefing note titled “Incentives for Zero Emission Vehicles Program.”
“The United States is offering a clean vehicle tax credit that would provide eligible individuals with up to US$7,500 or approximately CDN$9,600 off an eligible new vehicle and up to US$4,000 or CDN$5,100 of an eligible used vehicle.”
The national statistical agency’s report said that the share of ZEVs is approaching 10 percent. In Q3 of 2022, the overall 34,313 new ZEV registrations represented 8.7 percent of total new motor vehicle registrations. The report also noted that the number of new ZEVs registered continued to increase, up 43.2 percent year over year.
In a continuing trend seen over the last four years, BEVs made up the largest share of new ZEV registrations, representing 85.6 percent of new ZEVs registered in 2022 Q3, while PHEVs comprised the other 14.4 percent, according to the StatsCan report.
The report also noted that Canada’s three largest provinces accounted for 91.8 percent of all new ZEVs registered in Q3 of 2022. The most were registered in Quebec, followed by Ontario and then British Columbia.
Privy Council Office research in 2022 found Canadians divided over the program, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. “Most participants were aware of the Government of Canada’s target to make all new cars sold in Canada zero-emission vehicles by 2035.”
“Several worried about the cost to purchase a zero-emission vehicle presuming it could be prohibitive for many consumers,” added the report “Continuous Qualitative Data Collection of Canadians’ Views.”