By Canadian Press

Electric car sales climb in wake of new $5,000 federal rebate program

Aug 6, 2019 | 1:38 PM

OTTAWA — Transport Canada data shows more than 14,000 electric vehicles were purchased nationwide during the first three months of the federal government’s new rebate program.

On May 1, Ottawa began offering rebates of up to $5,000 on the purchase of some electric vehicles.

The rebate is intended to bring the price of zero-emission vehicles closer to their gas-powered cousins.

Dan Woynillowicz, policy director at Clean Energy Canada, says the rebate is the only thing he can point to as a reason why electric car sales jumped 30 per cent since January.

The increase happened despite a drastic drop in electric car purchases in Ontario in the first three months of the year after the province cancelled its rebate in 2018.

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The Canadian Press