The Prince Edward Island government says it soon will offer the most generous electric vehicle incentives in Canada by providing $5,000 to Islanders who purchase a new or used EV, as well as financial help with chargers.
The package means Prince Edward Island will be the fourth province in Canada, and the second in the Maritimes, to offer an EV incentive along with British Columbia, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.
“We know that one of the main hurdles for Islanders to switch to an electric vehicle is the high cost,” says Environment Minister Steven Myers. “With that in mind, we are launching an EV incentive in an effort to increase uptake and in return, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our transportation sector – which represents nearly half of overall provincial emissions. This will help us get closer to our goal of net zero by 2040.”
In addition to the $5,000 rebate, the PEI government will also offer a free Level 2 charger to people who purchase an EV, and $2,500 to those who buy a plug-in hybrid. Islanders will be responsible for installation costs associated with charging infrastructure.
The incentive means Islanders who buy a new, fully electric vehicle may be eligible for up to $10,000 off the purchase price combined with the federal government rebate of $5,000.
Also, Maine Governor Janet Mills has signed an executive order to accelerate Maine’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, by calling for a “clean transportation roadmap” to achieve the state’s climate plan goal of increasing the number of EVs on the road in Maine by 2030.
The roadmap, due by December, will develop recommendations to enhance the EV market in Maine, expand charging infrastructure, evaluate effects on electric utilities and the grid, and ensure an equitable and affordable transition to clean transportation for all people in Maine.
Reducing emissions from transportation – which is the source of more than half of all greenhouse gas emissions in Maine – is a key piece of the state’s overall effort to curb state emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. The state’s climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait, estimates Maine needs 219,000 light-duty EVs on the road by 2030 to meet its emissions targets.