Province hopes program extension will boost CEV sales
Posted March 26, 2013 10:03 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The auto industry says electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are the wave of the future, but it looks like we aren’t getting the message.
The environment minister is putting the jumper cables to a nearly two-year-old provincial incentive program. Terry Lake admits the goal of the Clean Energy Vehicle Program was to sell 1,200 units by now. But since 2011, only 431 have been sold.
He’s hoping a one-year extension to the program will help jump-start the sector.
“If we were to get up to the 900-mark, I think that would be a sign of success. We’ve got a little over 430; with another year, I think we can add another 500 or so to that.”
Lake predicts that with 500 charging stations coming online this spring, more buyers will make the switch.
“People are starting to understand the program now, and with the infrastructure in place, they’re going to be more confident. And I think the dealers are starting to become confident in selling these vehicles.
The program extension announcement was made this morning at the Vancouver International Auto Show.
The program allows for a rebate of up to $5,000 on the purchase of a clean energy car like a hybrid. It would have expired at the end of the month.
