Canada’s federal government is exploring the inclusion of used electric vehicles (EVs) in its Incentives for Zero Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program. The potential shift in policy has been revealed shortly after the government’s newly announced Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, which aims to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
The Government of Canada introduced the federal Incentive for Zero Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program on May 1, 2019, offering a rebate of up to $5,000 on the purchase or lease of an eligible zero-emission vehicle, which includes battery electric, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The program has proven to be popular and is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2025, or earlier if funding runs out.
This rebate is in addition to any provincial-level incentives, most of which only apply on the purchase of a new EV, just like the federal rebate. That is not the case however in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, where the incentive also applies on used EVs.
However, the federal rebate may soon join those provinces in offering an incentive on a used EV. That is according to the ‘2023 Progress Report on the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan,’ which says the government is exploring the possibility.
“Explore the potential to expand the Incentives for Zero Emission Vehicles Program to include used vehicles, building off the recent expansion of the program to enhance access to more incentives for car-sharing fleets,” the report states. (via CBC)
Unfortunately that is all the information about used EVs contained in the report – there is no mention of when this policy change may take place, what its parameters might be, or the potential rebate amount. However, its mention is a promising sign as there have long been calls to include used EVs as part of the program to further increase EV adoption in Canada.
