Wonder how many people it would take to switch on over to EV's before BC decides that gas tax won't be enough and will super tax us on hydro too!
Electric car rebate offers buzz to eco-friendly B.C. drivers 
British Columbians will get up to $5,000 off certain new clean energy vehicles starting Dec. 1.
Environment Minister Terry Lake said the rebate includes new electric, hydrogen fuel-cell and compressed natural gas vehicles as part of a $17-million program the provincial government hopes will help people make the transition to more sustainable forms of transportation.
"We chose this [program] because we think this is what consumers are demanding," Lake said. "They want alternatives in transportation that are low in carbon intensity."
The program is also funding new electric battery charging stations around Metro Vancouver and upgrading existing hydrogen fuel cell charging stations.
And at the start of December, homeowners can get an up-to-$500 rebate through LiveSmart BC if they install a specialized 240-volt electric battery charging station at their home.
These specialized outlets cut down charging time to about six hours from the 12 it can normally take with a standard outlet Lake said.
The province will also continue funding the Scrap-It program which offers drivers incentives for trading in their old cars.
"It's designed to encourage people to get their old polluting cars off the road, so you can put money towards a new car, you can get a transit pass or a combination of things," Lake said.
NDP environment critic Rob Fleming said this batch of new car rebates offers the same incentives environmentally-friendly consumers once had.
"I think what the government has conveniently forgot to mention is these exemptions existed before the BC Liberals rammed the HST down the throats of British Columbians," Fleming said.
The previous rebates offered to new hybrid buyers had expired last year Lake said.
"We had a limited time program where the PST was rebated on hybrids and I believe that program ran out in 2010," Lake said. "So, that was a limited program. This is a different program…"
Fleming said he was concerned with the hundreds of green consumer products that were previously exempt from the PST yet are still being taxed 12 per cent before the HST is eventually rescinded in 2013.
"There were literally hundreds of green consumer products … including green building products, energy star appliances and high-efficiency heating systems," Fleming said.
The ministry tries to fund as many programs as it can with its limited resources and this $ 17-million program supports the growing number of people who want electric cars Lake said.
"Mr. Fleming wants everything," Lake said. "You have to pick and choose."
Similar rebate programs for new vehicles and charging stations are available in Ontario, Quebec, several American states and the U.K. Fleming said
Read more:
Electric car rebate offers buzz to eco-friendly B.C. drivers Eligible Vehicles
Battery Electric Vehicle - $5,000
Mitsubishi iMiev; Nissan Leaf; Tesla Roadster; Mercedes Smart Fortwo ED; Ford/Azure Dynamics Transit Connect
Fuel Cell Vehicle - $5,000
Honda Clarity, Mercedes Benz B-class F-cell
Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle with minimum battery capacity of 4kWh - $2,500
Toyota Plug In Prius (available in 2012)
Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle with minimum battery capacity of 15kWh - $5,000
Chevrolet Volt
Compressed Natural Gas vehicle - $2,500
Honda GX, Chevy Express (available in 2012), GMC Savana (available in 2012)
Read more:
Electric car rebate offers buzz to eco-friendly B.C. drivers 
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