By December 14, 2017 Read More →

Ontario electric truck rebate to roll out soon

Ontario electric truck rebate

The Kathleen Wynne government is hoping the Ontario electric truck rebate will be part of the province’s efforts to reduce its GHG emissions.  Tesla photo.

Ontario electric truck rebate part of Green Commercial Vehicle Program

The newly announced Ontario electric truck rebate could be worth up to $75,000 for buyers of electric trucks in Canada’s most populated province, according to a report by Reuters.

The rebate are offered through a $12 million fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018.  The fund is part of the Green Commercial Vehicle Program, which will offer buyers rebates of up to 60 per cent of the incremental purchase cost of an electric truck, compared to an equivalent diesel-powered vehicle.

Reuters reports the Ontario government set a cap of $75,000 per vehicle.

The Green Commercial Vehicle Program provides rebates on other fuel-saving devices and will bring the province in line with other jurisdictions, including Quebec, California and New York states, which offer incentives to offset the higher costs of electric trucks.

Following the unveiling of the Tesla Semi, Loblaw Cos Ltd was one of the first Canadian companies to pre-order trucks from the Palo Alto-based company.

Reuters reports that as of Dec. 12, Tesla has at least 285 reservations from companies in the US and Canada for its electric semi truck.

The province of Ontario introduced the rebate at the same time it is working to attract electric vehicle manufacturers and parts-suppliers.  In recent years the home of the Canadian auto industry has lost business to lower cost jurisdictions including Mexico and the southern US.

Chinese automaker BYD recently announced it will open a factory in Ontario to assemble 900 electric vehicles in the coming five years.  Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid said the Wynne government used in existing incentive program to attract BYD.

Ontario has set a goal of cutting GHG pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.

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