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What does 98% clean mean?

Why B.C. is such a great place to drive an electric vehicle

According to Science World, the estimated annual rainfall in Vancouver is 146 cm. Over in Tofino, it's a whopping 327 cm. While many people complain about the rain in B.C., we never do at BC Hydro. Quite the opposite. All that rain (and melted snow) keeps our reservoirs full and our turbines turning to generate electricity for the whole province. This simple, sustainable process is why BC Hydro electricity is an incredible 98% clean.

In other parts of North America, where electricity is generated using fossil fuels, you might wonder how sustainable driving an electric vehicle (EV) really is. But in B.C., charging and driving a typical EV produces just 10% of the greenhouse gases emitted by an equivalent gas-powered vehicle covering the same distance.

This map indicates the primary power generation source for each of Canada's provinces and territories.
Map of clean energy sources in Canada

Importance of clean energy

A 2019 report from the United Nations arrived with the warning that climate change is damaging human health, air, water and land, and killing off or reducing populations of many animal and plant species. But the report emphasized that it's not too late to act.

Electrical utilities across the world find themselves at the centre of this climate action, leaning more and more on clean energy to reduce fossil fuel use and the pace of climate change. And most look with considerable envy at B.C.'s investment in clean, renewable electricity generated by the power of falling water.

In B.C., electricity generation accounts for less than 1% of the province's greenhouse gas emissions. How does that compare? In the United States – which still leans heavily on coal and other fossil fuels to produce power – emissions from electricity generation produce a 28% of total GHG emissions. And in Australia, that number is 37%.

Clean electricity is the pathway to achieving our share of Canada's targets to support the Paris Agreement, which sets out to limit the global temperature increase this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

This graph shows the percentage of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to electricity generation methods in the province of B.C. as compared to the countries of the United States and Australia.

comparison of greenhouse gas emissions from power generation for B.C., USA and Australia

Hydroelectricity

A major advantage for the EV future 

It's vital to have a source of electricity you can ramp up and down to match customer demand. In B.C., all that water stored in our reservoirs works like a battery we can plug in to at any time.

While regions that rely heavily on wind or solar power get energy only when the sun shines or the wind blows, the water stored in our reservoirs allows us to more easily integrate other renewables. We're now using a fair amount of wind power and an increasing amount of rooftop solar.

B.C.'s hydroelectric advantage has powered our economy and our homes for decades, at electricity rates among the lowest in North America. Now it has opened the door to reduced reliance on gas-powered cars and trucks, which are part of a transportation sector that runs mostly on fossil fuels and produces 37% of B.C.'s greenhouse gases.

Currently, there are over 20,000 EVs in B.C. By 2030, we forecast that there'll be around 300,000. And the Government of B.C.'s CleanBC plan includes the Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Act that requires 100% of all new light-duty vehicle sales are ZEVs by 2040.

This ambitious goal really is attainable, thanks to the growing number of EV chargers across the province, multiple incentives for eligible vehicles and chargers, and of course, BC Hydro's 98% clean, green electricity.

Related content

How much does owning an EV cost?

Find out

Charging and your BC Hydro bill

Get the facts

Q&A: Advice from EV owners

Watch now

Quick Links

  • Home EV charger options
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Rebates for single-family homes

If installed at a single-family home, this charger may be eligible for a rebate of up to 50% of purchase and installation costs to a maximum of $350. 

This includes duplexes or townhouses with private garages or dedicated parking. 
Rebate amounts are subject to change. Visit the EV charger rebate program for information and eligibility criteria.

If installed at an apartment/condo or workplace, this networked charger may be eligible for a rebate. 

Rebates for apartments/condos

Up to 50% of purchase and installation costs to a maximum of $1,400 to $2,000 per charger.

Rebate amounts vary depending on factors such as whether or not the building is participating in other EV Ready rebates.

Rebates for workplaces

Up to 50% of purchase and installation costs to a maximum of $2,000 per charger.

Pre-approval from BC Hydro is required for apartment/condo and workplace customers. Program maximums apply.

Rebates for single-family homes

If installed at a single-family home, this charger may be eligible for a rebate of up to 50% of purchase and installation costs to a maximum of $350.

This includes duplexes or townhouses with private garages or dedicated parking. 

Rebate amounts are subject to change. Visit the EV charger rebate program for information and eligibility criteria.

Features

Load management: Allows multiple EV chargers to share the same electrical circuit, allowing the charging power to be distributed across each charger.

Networked: A networked charging station that is connected to a central system via internet communication such as open protocol (e.g. OCPP, OpenADR or other) or a proprietary system (must be connected to a network for minimum of two years).

Multiple ports: Allows multiple vehicles to charge at the same time.

CSA Certification: Tested and certified electric vehicle charging and components by CSA Group. 

cETL Certification: Compliant with North American safety standards and tested/certified by Intertek.

cUL Certification: Compliant with Canadian safety standards by UL Canada.

Breaker Current

Every circuit breaker has specified amperage (amount of current). The rating is the labelled on the breaker. Understanding your electrical service and panel is important in determining the type of EV charger you can support.

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