The Government of British Columbia has announced that it will suspend its CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program starting May 15, 2025, or earlier if funding is exhausted. According to the official statement, the pause will allow time to evaluate the program’s performance and define future steps in supporting zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption.
Implemented in 2011, the initiative has provided over CAD 650 million in support and contributed to the deployment of nearly 197,000 ZEVs across the province.
The program offers income-based rebates: up to CAD 4,000 for battery-electric and long-range plug-in hybrid vehicles, and up to CAD 2,000 for short-range plug-in hybrids. Eligibility phases out for individuals earning more than CAD 100,000 annually.
To qualify for the rebate before the pause, applicants must obtain online pre-approval by 6:00 p.m. and finalize the purchase or lease of an eligible vehicle by 11:59 p.m. on May 15.
The decision follows the federal government’s cancellation of its own iZEV rebate earlier this year, and Quebec’s temporary suspension of its Roulez Vert program. British Columbia also plans to end its sales tax exemption for used ZEVs on May 1, 2025.
The province’s current ZEV mandate requires 26% of light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2026, scaling to 100% by 2035. The Global Automakers of Canada expressed concern about the rebate pause, noting it could hinder automakers’ ability to meet these targets.
British Columbia has one of the largest charging infrastructures in Canada, with more than 7,000 public charging stations, including a province-wide fast-charging network completed in 2024. The most recent Zero-Emission Vehicle Update shows that ZEVs represented 22.4% of new light-duty vehicle sales in 2024.
A broader review of CleanBC programs is expected, though no further details have been disclosed.
