Published May 9, 2024 • 5 Min Read
Higher upfront costs can be an obstacle for those looking to buy an electric car, or an “electric vehicle” (EV). money on gas and lowering your carbon footprint is alluring, but fitting an EV into your budget may be hard. Luckily, Canada’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 means federal and provincial rebates might be available to you to ease the stress of these up-front costs on your wallet.
Which electric vehicles are eligible for the federal government rebate program?
Canada’s Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles program, or iZEV, provides government rebates for “zero-emission vehicles”. It’s possible to drive these vehicles without emitting any tailpipe emissions (that is, greenhouse gases or other criteria pollutants) into the atmosphere.
Officially, there are three types of ZEVs eligible for rebates:
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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are fully electric, and need an external power source to be recharged. This is considered the most-efficient option. The average driving range of a BEV is around 350 km.
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Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are primarily powered by a battery that can be charged by an external power source, just like BEVs. The difference is they also have an internal combustion engine powered by fossil fuels. The battery can power the PHEV for moderate distances, around 60 km on average. It’s worth noting that this type of EV can be more expensive up-front, and its complexity may mean more repairs and maintenance.
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Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are powered by hydrogen gas, a lower-emission alternative to oil that emits only water vapour and warm air. FCEVs may be an attractive option because, unlike other EVs, they take only around five minutes to charge. However, these tend to be the most expensive EV options.
Note: If the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of your vehicle is greater than $65,000, you may not receive a federal government rebate on your purchase.
How much of an EV rebate can I get?
The amount of the government rebate depends on the type of ZEV.
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Long-range EVs, defined as travelling over 50 km solely on the battery, are eligible for up to $5,000 in point-of-sale rebates. That includes fuel cell electric vehicles and battery-electric vehicles.
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Shorter-range EVs, like plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, are eligible for rebates of up to $2,500.
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Medium and heavy-duty ZEVs (iMHZEV) are vehicles that exceed 8,500 lbs, which include electric trucks, shuttles, minivans and tractors. The incentives for these models range between $10,000 for the smaller vehicles to $200,000 for industrial-sized trucks for businesses.
You can search Transport Canada’s list of eligible vehicles to see the specific point-of-purchase incentives available, or complete RBC’s Electric Car Cost Calculator to estimate the cost of an EV with rebates in your province.
Looking for financing on your new EV? Get up to 15,000 Avion points with the RBC Clean Energy Vehicle loan
How do I receive the federal government’s EV rebate?
The rebate is applied during the sale of the EV — you’ll see it subtracted from the total amount on your bill of sale, or the lease agreement. Your dealer will include the purchase taxes and fees before the incentive is applied, but you’ll get the full incentive amount.
If your EV fails to meet all of Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, or if you have already received a government incentive to purchase an EV in the last year, you might not receive the federal government incentive.
Are provincial rebates for EV available as well?
Yes! Some Canadian provinces have their own incentive programs that can save you more money on top of the federal rebates already. Check the table below to see if there are provincial-level incentives in your area:
| Province | Incentive Program | Cash rebates available |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Go Electric | Long-range ZEVs: Up to Up to $4,000, depending on the driving range of the vehicle and individual income.** |
| Quebec | Roulez vert program | Short-range ZEVs: Up to $5,000Up to $7,000 for a fully electric vehicle. The amount of financial assistance will gradually decrease in 2025 and 2026, before the program ends on December 31, 2026. |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Electric Vehicle Rebate Program | Long-range ZEVs: Up to $2,500 Short-range ZEVs: Up to $1,500$2,500 towards the purchase or lease of a new or pre-owned fully electric vehicle, and $1,500 for a new or pre-owned plug-in hybrid vehicle. |
| New Brunswick | Énergie NB | Up to $5,000 for a new fully electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle, plus $750 towards a home charger. |
| Nova Scotia | Electrify Nova Scotia | Up to $3,000 for a new fully electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle, and up to $2,000 for a pre-owned fully electric vehicle. |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI Electric Vehicle Incentive | $5,750 towards a fully electric vehicle, and $3,250 for a plug-in hybrid vehicle, plus $750 towards a home charger. |
| Manitoba | Electric Vehicle Incentive Program | Up to $4,000 for new battery electric or plug-in hybrid EVs, and up to $2,500 for pre-owned electric vehicles. |
How long will these incentives be available?
At a federal level, the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles program continues until March 31, 2025 — or when the program’s funding is exhausted.
Try the RBC Electric Car Cost Calculator : Calculate the cost to buy and own an EV
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
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