I would like to start out by…

I would like to start out by saying that I feel our Government is on the right track with their Climate Change Plan, and I am honoured to live in a Province that takes this serious issue to heart. With that said, I do have some comments and suggestions on how I feel the plan can be improved, and what areas I feel are working well.

Regarding the $75k cap on the EV rebate, I feel that this should be raised, or have certain restrictions put into place for it. I understand that we do not want to be subsidizing the cars of millionaires, however I know of many people who have purchased a Tesla Model S strictly for the environmental benefits, and who would never dream of spending that kind of money on any other car.
Capping the rebate to $3k on this car takes it out of the reach of most people, and I do feel that this will hurt EV adoption in general. If the cap was raised to $100k, or the rebate applied to "non-performance" models only, I think this would help adoption.

I also feel that the EV rebate should apply to electric motorcycles as well. Zero Motorcycles makes some incredible long range bikes that are excellent for commuting and helping with traffic congestion. I had one that I used as my sole commuter vehicle for 2 summers, but had to sell it as I could no longer afford the vehicle. Incentives to bring electric bikes more in line with a traditional gas bike would greatly help adoption of these amazing machines.

One point I would like to make on the EV charger rebate - I feel that it should apply to both new and used EVs. The reality is that even with incentives, buying a brand new EV is still beyond the budget of some people. There is a very attractive market for used EVs right now, but then these people are required to find a charging station solution. I think the charging station rebate should apply to any "first time" EV buyers, as this would be attractive to both buyers of new and used vehicles. My father and my girlfriend have both recently purchased a used EV for under $20k, but have to spend a few thousand more to get a charging station installed.

To touch on Dealership/Public awareness and education - I do feel that this is a huge issue that needs to be addressed. The lack of knowledge that I have witnessed in dealerships, as well as from the general public is extremely frustrating to say the least. Not only are most people unaware of the advantages of EVs, but some are filled with straight up lies about the limitations of the vehicles. I am not sure how this can be addressed, but events from organizations like Plug'n'Drive are a good start. Perhaps a pamphlet on EV facts and figures that gets mailed out in the envelope when people have to renew their drivers license / license plate sticker? Many people I have spoken to aren't even aware there are incentives in place to buy EVs, and they don't know how much money they can save by switching to electric. They think that because of the hydro rates in the Province, it would actually be more expensive to operate an EV than a gas vehicle.

Thank you for opening this forum for discussion to the general public like myself. It's good to know that our voice is being heard. Hopefully some of my thoughts and comments can be helpful in revising the plan. Cheers to a greener future!

[Original Comment ID: 196216]