The University of Waterloo is encouraging departments across the campus to electrify their fleets with a new incentive.
To help offset the high up-front cost of electric vehicles (EVs), the university is offering a $10,000 internal incentive to any department replacing a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle with an EV.
The incentive can be combined with other government rebates or grants that support the purchase of EV or the installation of charging stations.
“One barrier that often comes up for EVs is the up-front purchase price,” says Mat Thijssen, Director of Sustainability. “Although there are many operational savings on energy and maintenance from an EV that make them cost-competitive or very close to cost-competitive over their lifespan, that up-front cost can be a challenge.”
The university aims to reduce emissions from their fleet with the incentive, which accounts for about 1% of the campus’ total emissions.
This isn’t the first foray into green transportation for the university.
Over the last few years they have expanded the number of hybrid vehicles purchased, and in 2021 purchased their first EV, a Nissan Leaf.
