Electric bikes, also known as e-bikes, have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their ability to provide a more eco-friendly and cost-effective mode of transportation. With an increasing number of people opting for e-bikes, many provincial governments around Canada have introduced incentives and subsidies to promote their use. In this blog, we will discuss many such programs. These initiatives aim to encourage the adoption of e-bikes by offering financial assistance to residents and businesses. Let's take a closer look at the details of these programs and how they can benefit potential e-bike buyers.

British Columbia

Program Name: BC Electric Bike Rebate Program
Location:  British Columbia
Incentive Type: Post-purchase rebate
Incentive Amount: Up to $1400 based on your income
Details: Residents of British Columbia who are 19 years old or above will have the opportunity to receive rebates when purchasing an approved e-bike. The amount of the rebate will be determined based on the individual's income and will range from $350 up to a maximum of $1,400. Unlike previous initiatives, it is not necessary to scrap a car in order to be eligible for the rebate. The government of British Columbia is investing over $6 million into this rebate program, which is expected to benefit up to 9,000 individuals by reducing the cost of their e-bike purchase. The administration of the rebate program will be carried out by the Scrap-It Society.

How to apply? Here is a detailed application guide

Program Name: TMU Employee E-Bike Discount
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia
Incentive Type: Post-purchase rebate, low-interest loan
Incentive Amount: Up to 10% off the purchase value of an e-bike, up to $300 total; financing available for bikes with a minimum purchase price of $500 and maximum of $5,000.
Details: The TRU Employee E-Bike Purchase program provides incentives for employees to purchase e-bikes. Eligible employees can receive up to 10% off the purchase value of an e-bike, up to a total of $300. To help employees purchase higher-value bikes, permanent full-time employees can also apply for financing with a repayment period of up to two years. Financing is available for bikes with a minimum purchase price of $500 and a maximum of $5,000. Contract employees with TRU may apply for financing up to the end of their contract term. Additionally, TRU is offering a seasonal commuter parking permit to cyclists, which is valid from November 15th to March 15th for either economy ($200) or general ($250) lots.

Program Name: Nelson E-Bike Program
Location: Nelson, British Columbia
Incentive Type: Post-purchase low-interest loan
Incentive Amount: Up to $8,000 per household, with an interest rate of 3.5%
Details: The Nelson E-Bike Program provides low-interest financing for Nelson homeowners who want to purchase a commuter bike, including electric bikes, do-it-yourself conversion kits, non-electric bikes, and commuting-related accessories. The loan is applied monthly on the homeowner's Nelson Hydro electric bill and repaid over the term of the loan. The maximum loan amount is $8,000 per household, which can support the purchase of more than one bike. Participants can choose an amortization period of two or five years, with an interest rate of 3.5% (subject to change each year). The program is available to City of Nelson residents who own their own homes.

Program Name: North Vancouver E-Bike Program
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Incentive Type: Post-purchase rebate
Incentive Amount: Up to $1,600 for e-bikes, e-tricycles, and front-drive wheelchair attachments
Details: The North Vancouver E-Bike Program is slated to begin in Quarter 1 of 2023 and is targeted towards median-to-low-income earners in the district. Buyers will receive up to $1,600, determined by household size. The total cost of the program is budgeted to be $135,000, inclusive of administration costs, allowing 100 households access to the program.

Program Name: Clean BC
Location: Powell River, British Columbia
Incentive Type: Post-purchase rebate
Incentive Amount: $1,700 for non-profits and businesses for electric cargo bikes; $2,000 rebate for an electric motorcycle; up to $5,000 for other “low speed vehicles”
Details: Clean BC offers rebates for non-profits and businesses for electric cargo bikes, including a $1,700 rebate. The program also includes a $2,000 rebate for an electric motorcycle and up to $5,000 for other "low speed vehicles."

Program Name: Scrap-It
Location: Province-wide, British Columbia
Incentive Type: Post-purchase rebate
Incentive Amount: $750 for the purchase of an electric bike from a participating retailer
Details: The SCRAP-IT program in British Columbia offers a $750 rebate for the purchase of an electric bike from a participating retailer. The minimum retail purchase price of the electric bicycle that qualifies for the $750 SCRAP-IT rebate is $1,200 before taxes. The program requires the person who scrapped the vehicle to be the recipient of the rebate. The receipt must be in the name of the person who scrapped the vehicle. Once approved, there is a 30-day window to purchase the e-bike, scrap the vehicle and claim the rebate. All electric bikes must be purchased from a SCRAP-IT program partner who is a BC-based business or has a business location operating in BC with a valid BC business license.

Program Name: BC Provincial Sales Tax E-Bike Discount
Incentive Type: Sales tax waiver
Incentive Amount: N/A
Details: The government of British Columbia does not offer any rebates or subsidies for the purchase of e-bikes. However, e-bikes qualify for an exemption from PST (Provincial Sales Tax) when certain requirements are met. To qualify, an e-bike must have pedals or hand cranks that allow for the bike to be propelled by human power, wheels that measure 350mm or more in diameter, the electric motor or motors must not be capable of propelling the bike at a speed greater than 32 km/hr on level ground and must not have a continuous output power rating that exceeds 500W in total, and must not have a combustion engine.

Program Name: West Vancouver E-Bike Incentive
Incentive Type: Cash rebate
Incentive Amount: $500
Details: The West Vancouver E-Bike Incentive is a pilot program that uses an estimated budget of $135,000 to offer two tiers of incentives, either $500 or $1500, based on household income. Eligible participants must purchase a new electric bike from a participating retailer located within West Vancouver and submit an application for the rebate within 90 days of the purchase. The program is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget is exhausted.

Alberta

Program Name: Banff Residential E-Bike Rebate

Incentive Type: Financial Rebate

Incentive Amount: Up to $750 for Banff residents

Details: The Banff Residential E-Bike Rebate program provides financial rebates to Banff residents to encourage energy conservation and eco-friendly transportation methods. The program offers rebates for e-bikes, studded bike tires, urban crampons, and other eligible products. Banff residents can receive a maximum rebate of 50% of the purchase price or $500, whichever is lower. Access Tier 1 and Tier 2 residents can receive up to $750 and $1000, respectively. This program provides a great opportunity for residents to invest in eco-friendly transportation and save money in the process.

Program Name: Scrap-it

Incentive Type: Post-purchase rebate with vehicle trade-in

Incentive Amount: $500 province-wide

Details: The Scrap-it program in Alberta offers a post-purchase rebate of $500 for electric bikes. To be eligible for the rebate, applicants must follow the three-step process, which includes applying, scrapping their car, and receiving the rebate. This program is a great way for residents to upgrade to an eco-friendly mode of transportation and receive a financial incentive in the process.

Nova Scotia

Program Name: Electrify Nova Scotia
Incentive Type: Point-of-sale discount
Incentive Amount: 500 CAD
Details: The Electrify Rebate Program in Nova Scotia offers a $500 rebate for the purchase of qualifying e-bikes from dealerships and retailers located in Nova Scotia on or after February 24, 2021. The e-bikes must have a retail price of $1,200 or over and the rebate must be applied at the time of purchase from the dealership. The program does not apply to used e-bikes or e-bikes purchased from third-party online retailers, e-bike makers, or individual private sellers.

Ontario

Program Name: Toronto E-Bike Tax Incentive
Incentive Type: Tax Liability Credit
Incentive Amount: Not yet announced
Details: The Toronto E-Bike Tax Incentive is a financial incentive program for purchasing e-bikes and other non-carbon vehicles that are approved for use on City of Toronto roadways and cycling infrastructure. The exact amount for the incentive has not been announced yet, as it is still in the planning stages. The program will provide tax liability credits to eligible buyers, which will reduce the amount of tax they owe to the city. Further details will be provided as they become available.

Prince Edward Island

Program Name: Prince Edward Island E-Bike Incentive
Incentive Type: Point-of-sale discount OR Post-purchase rebate
Incentive Amount: 500 CAD
Details: The Government of Prince Edward Island is offering eligible Islanders and organizations a $500 rebate for those who purchase an e-Bike (Power Assisted Bicycle). Island residents are eligible for one e-Bike rebate per calendar year, while non-profits, businesses, public agencies, or any entity operating or registered in PEI (including Island municipalities, First Nations, Indigenous Organizations, and organizations that support Indigenous Peoples, but excluding provincial, crown, and federal government agencies) are eligible for up to five e-Bike rebates per calendar year. Eligible e-Bikes must retail for $1,200 (inclusive of sales and discounts, but exclusive of taxes and delivery fees) or more, have a maximum speed of 32 km/h, an electric motor of 500 watts or less, two or three wheels that touch the ground, a maximum weight of 120kg, and meet all other regulations as set out by the Highway Safety Act. Some retailers in Prince Edward Island will be offering a Point-of-Sale Incentive for e-Bikes, which automatically subtracts the $500 rebate from the total cost of the bike. Island residents and organizations can also purchase their e-Bike online or from a different retailer, and apply for the rebate after the purchase.

Quebec

Program Name: Transport Green
Incentive Type: Rebate/Subsidy
Incentive Amount: 2,000 CAD
Details: The government of Quebec is offering a rebate of up to 2,000 CAD for the purchase or lease of an electric bike through their Transport Green program. The rebate is available to individuals, businesses, and organizations across the province and applies to new electric bikes that meet specific criteria. The eligible electric bikes must have a maximum speed of 32 km/h, a motor of 500 watts or less, and be equipped with pedals. The rebate amount is based on the battery capacity of the electric bike, ranging from 200 CAD for bikes with a battery capacity of less than 100 Wh to the maximum of 2,000 CAD for bikes with a battery capacity of 500 Wh or more.

Yukon

Program Name: Clean-energy rebates
Incentive Type: Point-of-sale discount OR Post-purchase rebate
Incentive Amount: 750 CAD
Details: The Yukon Government is offering a rebate of 25% of the cost of a new electric bicycle, up to a maximum of 750 CAD, through their Clean-energy rebates program. The rebate is also available for electric cargo bicycles, with a maximum rebate of 1,500 CAD. Yukon residents are eligible for up to two rebates per calendar year, while businesses and organizations registered in Yukon can receive up to ten rebates per calendar year. The rebate is calculated based on the cost of the bicycle only and excludes costs such as accessories, shipping, and assembly. The rebate can be applied for directly from the Yukon Government or from Yukon vendors.

Source: https://ridereview.com/