May 21, 2022 - Rebates for electric vehicles must be expanded to include e-bikes and e-cargo bikes say sustainability and mobility advocates reports CBC.ca. While the federal government recently expanded its electric car rebate program to include SUVs and pickups for up to $5,000, it did not include e-bikes and e-cargo bikes.
Yet e-bikes are outselling EVs as the fastest-growing green mobility option for commuters, families, disabled riders etc. – read more here. “In order to incentivize people to buy alternative forms of transportation, there needs to be some kind of financial support,” says Ottawa resident Jessica Barnes who recently purchased an $8,000 e-cargo bike for her family.
Nova Scotia offers residents an e-bike rebate of up to $500, while Yukon’s rebate is capped at $750 for e-bikes and $1,500 for e-cargo bikes. Businesses in B.C. can receive up to $1,700 for an e-cargo bike and Quebec offers up to $2,000 for commercial e-cargo bike users.
The lack of a federal incentive program is a missed opportunity says Brian Pincott, executive director of Vélo Canada Bikes adding, “We need to expand transportation choice to improve sustainability and offer opportunities for people to get out of cars to build greater equity within our communities.”
Read the full article by Giacomo Panico here.
