Rates and rebates make EVs in B.C. even more affordable
If you're like most electric vehicle (EV) owners, you'll do the majority of your charging at home or at work.
The rest, you'll likely supplement with charging at public charging sites, where fast chargers are often available.
With rebates available for the purchase and installation of Level 2 chargers in single-family homes, apartment buildings and workplaces, the overall cost of charging can be an accessible option for many people.
Estimating charging costs
To get an idea of the total costs of EV ownership, take into consideration the higher purchase price of EVs, the available purchase rebates to offset that purchase cost, the lower fuel and maintenance costs for EVs, and the prospect of battery replacement down the road.
You can estimate your BC Hydro electricity cost of charging different EVs with the CAA's Electric Vehicle Cost Calculator.
Optional time-of-day pricing
Want to manage home electricity consumption as an EV owner? Consider opting in to our tiered rate with time-of-day pricing.
If you opt in:
- You'll get a discount of 5-cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity use between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- You'll pay a 5-cent surcharge per kWh for usage from 4 to 9 p.m.
This is a good option for EV owners who can charge their EV at home overnight.
With just a few tweaks to your lifestyle, switching to the plan could help you save money, and help us reduce demand on our electrical grid during busier times of day.
Learn more about the rate plan and estimate your costs
For separate EV meters
If, in addition to your home's main electricity meter, you have a second electricity meter connected to your EV charger, you can choose to just have that meter billed on time-of-day pricing.
This would allow you to shift your EV charger usage to overnight for a discounted rate, while continuing to use electricity at home during the on-peak period without a surcharge.