Individuals, businesses and organisations with an environmental conscience in the Canadian Province of Ontario have been boosted by the news that they may be eligible for a rebate on the purchase of electric cars.
From July 1, buyers may qualify for a rebate between C$5,000 and C$8,500 although the cash boost will only be made available to the first 10,000 applicants who qualify by purchasing or leasing a new plug-in hybrid electric or battery electric vehicle.
The move continues Ontario’s strong investment into the green sector – since 2006 the province has provided more than $24million in rebates for more than 14,000 conventional hybrid vehicles as part of its Alternative Fuel RST Rebate Program.
Now the government hopes that one in every 20 vehicles driven in Ontario will be electrically powered by 2020.
It also plans to introduce several additional strategies to boost green driving including green licence plates that allow drivers to use less congested High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, even when there is only one person in the vehicle; and future access to public recharging facilities and parking at GO stations.
The overall aim of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014; and 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
