Buying a new electric car in B.C. could be expensive

Buying a new electric car in B.C. could be expensive. The province’s car dealers have issued the warning in response to Premier David Eby government halting the electric vehicle rebate program.

They say the federal government ended its rebate earlier this year and now B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix has said the province is halting its rebate program as it reviews its Clean B.C. climate program.

Car dealers say the move will put the price of new electric cars out of reach for many. Blair Quayle, president of the New Car Dealers Association, said electric cars are still more expensive than gas-powered vehicles and some form of support is needed to close the gap.

It is noteworthy that British Columbia has spent more than $650 million to encourage people to adopt electric vehicles under its electric vehicle rebate program.