Welcome to the Electric Vehicle news blog for July 2024. In this article, we’ll take a look at the biggest stories in Canada’s electric vehicle market for the month of July.
Manitoba launches an Electric Vehicle rebate program
Manitoba has launched a new rebate program to boost EV adoption in the province. It is named the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Rebate program. Drivers can receive a $4,000 rebate for the purchase of a new EV and $2,500 for the purchase of a used EV. The program includes qualifying EVs purchased on or after August 1, 2023.
To be eligible, EVs must be bought or leased from Manitoba dealerships. New vehicles must have a maximum MSRP of $70,000. Used EVs must be purchased for up to $70,000 and be less than four years old. New Teslas with a price tag of $70,000 or less and purchased outside of Manitoba between August 1, 2023, and May 2, 2024, also qualify. Leased vehicles on a four-year term are eligible for the full rebate amount ($4,000). Leases less than four years will receive smaller amounts. Rebates are awarded by the vehicle and owner. Drivers can stack the provincial rebate with the federal iZEV program.
EV adoption in Manitoba has increased over the past year and a half. In 2023, zero-emission vehicles (which include battery electric and plug-in hybrids) accounted for 3.5 % of new vehicle registrations in the province. As of 2024, Manitoba ranks fifth in Canada for new zero-emission vehicle registrations. The Manitoba government hopes the new rebate program will further increase EV adoption in the province.
Manitoba is now the seventh province in Canada to offer an EV incentive. Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are the remaining three provinces without an EV rebate program. Besides the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Rebate program, Manitoba Hydro offers drivers a financing program to install Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.
Calgary researchers find Level 1 charging meets the majority of EV drivers’ needs
A study by the University of Calgary (published June 2024) found Level 1 chargers fully meet the daily charging needs of 29% of electric vehicle drivers. When supplemented with occasional DC fast charging, a Level 1 charger could meet 53% of drivers’ needs. In total, that’s 80% of drivers sampled.
The motivation behind the study was to examine whether Level 1 chargers offset Level 2 home charging, which can be expensive and complicated to install. Some barriers highlighted by the study include the potential need for costly panel/service upgrades and upgrades to local distribution grids.
The study challenges the common belief that Level 1 charging is incapable of meeting charging needs. Many experts recommend installing a Level 2 charger in your home; Level 2 chargers are capable of meeting driving needs.
According to the author of the study, Sasa Hastings-Simon, there is a widely held assumption that drivers need access to Level 2 charging to operate an EV. Hastings-Simon also says that Level 2 charging should not be neglected, but drivers should be a little more mindful when buying a home EV charger, i.e., considering whether they really need Level 2 charging.
Québec introduces draft regulations to ban ICE vehicles
The Québec government unveiled a draft regulation that lays out the conditions to prohibit the sale of gas-powered vehicles in the province starting in 2035. The proposed regulations are in line with the federal 2035 zero-emission vehicle standard and B.C.’s 2035 provincial mandate. However, a significant aspect of Québec’s mandate is it also prohibits the sale of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). According to the Québec government, the proposed regulation applies to any vehicle propelled by an engine which burns fuel that emits pollutants during propulsion, like gasoline and diesel. Since PHEVs are capable of gas combustion, they are included in Québec’s regulations.
If enacted, Québec’s ZEV mandate would be the strictest in Canada. Both the federal and B.C. ZEV mandates permit the sale of PHEVs in 2035 and onwards.
FortisBC switching to energy-based rates at EV charging stations
FortisBC has received approval from the B.C. Utilities Commission to bill customers based on energy consumption rather than time spent charging. The rate change comes into effect at all FortisBC charging stations on August 1. The energy-based rate will charge customers 39¢/kWh. FortisBC also has the option to implement an idling charge of 40¢/minute.
According to FortisBC, energy-based rates ensure fairness for drivers. Time-based rates typically favour drivers with fast-charging electric vehicles. With energy consumption rates, all drivers pay the same rate for electricity they use regardless of charging speed. FortisBC further stated that the energy-based rates for EV chargers ensure that the actual cost of electricity used to charge vehicles is covered by individual drivers instead of all customers on the system.
Other charging networks in the province have implemented energy-based rate structures. BC Hydro charges 34.34¢/kWh at fast charging stations and 28.28¢/kWh with Level 2 chargers. The B.C. Utilities Commission approved energy-based rates for charging stations in the province effective on January 1, 2024.
Novia Scotia to install 660 new EV charging stations
Novia Scotia is installing 660 new Level 2 Chargers after receiving $3.1 million worth of funding from the federal government. Two local property developers, Polycorp Group of Companies and 292 Main Street Developments Ltd, will be awarded the funding. Polycorp will receive $3,054,725 million, and 292 Main Street will receive $95,596. Ploycorp will install 634 Level 2 chargers in nine of its multi-unit residential buildings. Main Street Developments will install 26 Level 2 chargers in yet-to-be-announced locations across Nova Scotia. The chargers are scheduled to go up and running in December 2024.
Nova Scotia has the most EV chargers in Atlantic Canada. As of January 2023, there were approximately 200 public EV chargers in the province. Over 1,900 EVs are registered as well. However, access to DC fast chargers is inconsistent. There are gaps in the province where fast chargers are hard to find. While the influx of 26 new Level 2 chargers strengthens Nova Scotia’s charging infrastructure, it does not increase fast charging accessibility.
Nova Scotia Power has also partnered with Natural Resources Canada and the provincial government to install DC-fast charging and Level 2 charging stations across Nova Scotia.
