[Update: As of October 31, 2023 the CleanBC – Go Electric Charger Rebate Program has been recharged with $7 million in provincial funding to make the EV Ready Plan and EV Ready Infrastructure rebates available again.]
[Original article June 10, 2023] Due to its popularity, funding for the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program in the BC Hydro electric service territory is no longer available. As of June 15, 2023 applications for the EV Ready rebate programs through BC Hydro are no longer being accepted. All rebate offers continue to be available to FortisBC utility customers while funding lasts.
BC Hydro’s site says that as of June 15, the CleanBC program will offer funding from the Government of Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP). Maximum of $25,000 per strata corporation for a limited time. This funding will be available until funds are exhausted. See more information about ZEVIP below. Note that the eligibility criteria for ZEVIP funding is different than it was for the EV Ready program.
See BC Hydro’s website and the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program guide for details. In some areas of BC, the CleanBC program is administered by Fortis. Check the Fortis website for updates.
What does this mean for strata corporations?
CleanBC EV Ready Plan Rebate
The provincial program offered a rebate of up to 75% (max $3,000) to obtain an EV Ready Plan. If your strata has already submitted a completed EV Ready Plan to receive a rebate, BC Hydro will consider your application. BC Hydro’s website says “Please note that funding is distributed on a first come first served basis. It’s possible that applications received by June 15, 2023 may not be eligible for rebates. Applications that have received pre-approval confirmation will continue to be processed.”
If your strata corporation has an EV Ready Plan underway or was planning to obtain one, it cannot apply for a rebate after June 14, 2023. As of June 15, 2023 no new applications can be submitted as ZEVIP does not provide funding for EV Ready plans. You may wish to check whether there are rebates from your local government such as Kamloops, North Vancouver, Saanich, and Whistler.
CleanBC EV Ready Electrical Infrastructure Rebate
If your strata has already been pre-approved for this rebate, your completed project should receive the pre-approved rebate of up to 50% of costs to install the electrical infrastructure required to implement your EV Ready plan, to a maximum of $600 per parking space, and a project maximum of $120,000.
If your strata corporation isn’t pre-approved, see eligibility for the ZEVIP rebate through BC Hydro below. You may wish to check whether there are rebates from your local government such as Kamloops, North Vancouver, Saanich, and Whistler.
CleanBC EV Charger Rebate
If your strata has already been pre-approved for this rebate, your completed project should receive the pre-approved rebate to install charging stations. The rebate was up to 50%, to a maximum of $1,400 per level 2 charging station, to a maximum of $14,000 per strata corporation.
If your strata corporation isn’t pre-approved, see eligibility for the ZEVIP rebate through BC Hydro below. You may wish to check whether there are rebates from your municipality or district.
EV Advisor
This service is still available to strata council members and strata managers.
You may also send questions about EV charging to EVcharging@visoa.bc.ca
Single-Family Home Charging Installation Rebate
This rebate was previously available to individuals such as townhouse and bare land strata owners installing a charging station in their garage, carport, or driveway. It provided a rebate of up to 50% of the purchase and installation costs of an eligible Level 2 EV charger, to a maximum of $350.
As of June 15, 2023 applications are no longer being accepted for this program. ZEVIP doesn’t provide funding for individuals.
Eligibility for ZEVIP rebates
The Government of Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) offers funds to provincial and local governments and not for profit organizations in Canada to administer rebate programs for installing EV charging infrastructure and charging stations in public places, multi-unit buildings, and workplaces. The eligibility criteria may vary for each individual program.
See the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program guide pages 11-15 for eligibility and eligible costs. *Additional information is from the ZEVIP program details.
- Strata corporations that:
- Are apartment-style/condominium buildings
- *Have a common entrance (such as a lobby or entrance to a common stairwell)
- *Have a minimum of 3 stories and/or a footprint greater than 600 m2 (for example the ground floor would have an area of at least the equivalent of 3 condos of 657 sq feet each). This is known as a Part 3 building in the National Building Code of Canada.
- Pre-approval is required
- Eligible expenses generally include technical, engineering, construction, installation, infrastructure, permits, Level 2 stations
- Does not include legal costs
- Does not include operating costs
- Does not include expenses incurred prior to approval
- Level 2 chargers must be new, permanently installed, approved for use in Canada, and owned by the strata corporation
- Chargers must be “connected”:
- Have the ability to communicate to other stations and/or to a server or the cloud through cellular/wireless signal or connected vehicle communications using software to report on usage and/or other capabilities such as providing real-time status of charging stations
- *Provide data to allow the strata corporation to meet ZEVIP’s reporting requirements
- Program funding is based on the number of Level 2 charging stations actually installed and owned by the strata corporation:
- Stalls could be made EV Ready, but enough stations would have to be installed to make best use of the rebate:
- Up to 50%, to a maximum of $5,000 per Level 2 charging station installed
- Maximum of $25,000 per strata corporation for a limited time. This funding will be available until funds are exhausted.