Ontario boosts incentives for electric vehicles

Ontario has announced extra incentives for people who buy or lease electric vehicles that could boost available help to as much as $14,000.

Currently, incentives range from $5,000 to $8,500 per vehicle.The province is increasing that to a range of $6,000 to $10,000 for the purchase or lease of eligible plug-in electric vehicles,

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It will also offer an extra $3,000 incentive for electric vehicles that have larger battery capacities and anadditional $1,000 if the vehiclehas at least five seats.

The revised incentive program is primarilyaimed at the cheaper EVs. For vehicles priced at more than $75,000, the incentive will be capped at $3,000.

The new incentives have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of the less expensive electric vehicles. The Chevrolet Spark EV, for example, starts at $31,745.

Ontario says transportation emissions account for 35 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the province thesingle largest source.

There are about 5,800 electric vehicles in Ontario.