Charge Your Ride
Transitioning from fossil fueled vehicles to electric and other low-emission modes of transportation is an important part of reducing our carbon pollution and fighting climate change. Transportation accounts for more than half of our community’s greenhouse gas emissions.
An increasing number of electric vehicle (EV) and electric bicycle (e-bike) options are now available and BC now leads North America with the highest rate of EVs sold per capita! There are lots of reasons people are switching to electric transportation, such as:
saving money on commutes
- reducing carbon pollution
- improving health and fitness
Thinking about charging your ride?
Here are 3 simple ways to learn more and explore options this summer:
Visit our Charge Your Ride display at various outdoor events to ask questions, get a feel for vehicle chargers, and see if an e-bike or EV would work for you and your family. Check out the list of upcoming events below!
Take a FREE e-bike course, offered through Capital Bike, to learn more about e-bikes and bike safety, followed by a fun guided road ride. Reserve your spot!
Learn about rebates and resources available to help you get started. Scroll down for more information and tools to help you Charge Your Ride.
Join us at one of our big test drive and ride events to try out an EV or e-bike!
Test drive an EV or jump on an e-bike to see if switching to electric is right for you. Expert staff and EV and e-bike enthusiasts will be on hand to answer your questions.
- Take an EV for a spin or sign up for an e-bike test ride
- Chat with EV owners, look at their vehicle and ask questions
- Talk to e-bike owners about their experiences
Charge Your Ride - Westshore
- July 23, 2022 , 10 am - 4 pm
- Belmont Secondary, 3041 Langford Lake Rd, Victoria, BC
- Read more >>
Charge Your Ride - Peninsula
- July 30, 2022, 10 am - 4 pm
- Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC
- Read more >>
Charge Your Ride - Core
- Aug 13, 2022, 10 am - 4 pm
- Camosun College Lansdowne Campus, 3100 Foul Bay Rd, Victoria, BC
- Read more >>
Community events
Charge Your Ride ambassadors will be coming to a variety of community events this summer. Look for the bright blue tent labeled Charge Your Ride. Ask questions, take a closer look at our EV, e-bike, and EV chargers, and win small prizes!
Rebates for electric vehicles
New electric vehicles purchased or leased in BC are eligible for up to $9000 in rebates:
- Up to $5000 in federal rebates automatically applied at the point of sale
- Up to $4000 in provincial rebates for income-qualified individuals and households (application required)
New plug-in hybrid electric vehicles purchased or leased in BC are eligible for up to $7000 in rebates:
- Up to $5000 in federal rebates automatically applied at the point of sale
- Up to $2000 in provincial rebates for income-qualified individuals and households (application required)
To view vehicle and income eligibility and apply for the provincial rebates, visit the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program website.
To view vehicle eligibility for the federal rebates, visit the Federal Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program website.
The Scrap-It Program offers an additional $500 to scrap a combustion engine vehicle and buy a new or used EV.
Rebates for electric bikes
Rebates for charging infrastructure
Types of Charging
- Level 1: Level 1 EV Chargers, sometimes called ‘trickle’ chargers are the slowest way to charge your EV. Taking between 20-24 hours to go from 0% to 100%, Level 1 EV Chargers can be used to top up your battery overnight at home with any regular 120V outlet.
- Level 2: Level 2 EV Chargers are the most common residential and commercial charging type. Level 2 EV Chargers take approximately 8-10 hours to charge your EV from 0% to 80%. Level 2 EV Chargers can be installed by a certified electrician at home through a 240V connection.
- Level 3: Level 3 EV chargers are often referred to as fast chargers as they are the quickest way to charge your EV; going from 0% to 80% in approximately 40 minutes. These chargers are typically found in public settings and are not yet manufactured for personal use.
Charging In Public
Public charging stations are often located in hubs such as malls, recreation centers and restaurants. Public charging rates range from free to about $3 an hour for Level 2 charging and from about $10-15 an hour (a full charge) for Level 3. Paying for public charging can be done using a regular credit card or through a charging station app.
There are over 200 public charging stations in the capital region! Check out these charging station maps, such as Charge Hub, PlugShare and FLO EV charging network are websites and apps that help you find the nearest available EV charger on a map.