Can I begin working on my project before applying to the Program?
No. Applicants must apply and be approved for Program rebates before any costs are incurred. Additionally, any costs incurred before approval will not be eligible for any rebates, except for cost of a project pre-assessment. Project pre-assessment costs incurred prior to pre-approval are considered eligible project costs. No rebates would be given for project pre-assessment if the project is not pre-approved.
Note: GST/PST and other taxes are not eligible costs under this program.
After I am approved, is there a deadline to complete my project?
Yes. Once you receive approval, you will have 18 months to complete projects and submit final documentation.
How do I know if I am eligible for the Program?
To be eligible for the Program, an applicant must:
- Be the current site owner or have approval (in writing) from the site owner to install the charging infrastructure for a minimum ten-year period; and,
- Be a business, not-for-profit, local government, Indigenous community, utility or public sector organization located and operating in B.C. (excluding core government entities, i.e. Provincial Ministries, but including non-core entities, e.g. utilities, health authorities, school districts, universities, crown corporations, etc.)
What are the site requirements for the installation?
To be eligible for the Program, a project’s charger installation site must be:
- Located within B.C.;
- Publicly accessible 24 hours per day, 365 days per year; and,
- Accessible by those using mobility aids (wheelchairs, canes, etc.), including:
- A space of at least 1.2 m between any protective bollards in front of the charger, such that they do not obstruct interface (i.e. screen and/or controls);
- A rise not exceeding 9 cm above grade for any concrete footing;
- Fonts that are clear and easy to read on any signage;
- A parking space that is:
- Not less than 2 400 mm wide and provided on one side with an access aisle not less than 1 500 mm wide;
- Located on a paved level surface; and
- All projects must include at least one accessible charging space. Along with the requirements listed above, to be considered accessible, the charging space must:
- For stalls: Not be less than 2.4 m wide and provided on one side with an access aisle not less than 1.5 m wide; and
- For pull-through sites: Not be less than 3.9 m wide and the charging cable must be able to charge vehicles positioned at least 1.5 m away.
- Pull-through sites must:
- Have adequate ingress and egress space to accommodate larger electric vehicles and trailers
Are there equipment requirements for the Program? If so, what are they?
To be eligible for the Program, all equipment must be:
- Be new, and purchased after program launch date;
- Remain operational by the original owner for a minimum of five years, or be replaced with a charger of equal or higher output that remains operational for five years from the date of the original project installation. Changes in equipment ownership within the five year period may be considered in extenuating circumstances (e.g. due to sale of a business) and must be approved to maintain Program funding;
- Contain appropriate certification marks (CSA, cUL, cETL, etc.) for use in B.C.;
- Have charging port holsters and the top of interface not exceeding 1.2 m above grade;
- Remain accessible to the public for use 24 hours per day, 365 days per year;
- Include an Operating and Maintenance Plan;
- Not replace an existing charger;
- Prospective installation locations greater than 500m from the nearest public charger (Level 2 or DCFC) will be required to install at least two ports per site: either tandem DCFC stations, a DCFC and Level 2, or two Level 2 stations meeting requirements in section 3.2.1 (minimum 32 A; higher power preferred) to provide redundancy to the site. Installation of both multiple DCFCs and one or more Level 2s per site will also be supported. A multi-port station on its own does not fulfill this requirement.
- If payment is required, the charging station must provide a contactless payment method on-site that accepts major credit and debit cards. Payment must also be accepted through either an automated toll-free phone number or a short message/messaging system (SMS) that provides the EV charging customer with the option to initiate a charging session and submit payment. Payment methods must be accessible to persons with disabilities, not require a membership, and not affect the power flow to vehicles.
To be eligible for the Program DCFC equipment must:
- Have a minimum of one Combined Charging System (CCS) Combo plug connector per site;
- Have a minimum of one CHAdeMO plug connector per site only if the charging site is located more than 50km driving distance from the nearest public CHAdeMO DCFC. The distance to the nearest DCFC with a CHAdeMO plug will be determined using https://PlugShare.com.
- Be networked and be OCPP compatible by the date of installation; and
- Have a minimum power output of 20 kW.
To be eligible for the Program Level 2 equipment must:
- Have a J-1772 port;
- Have input power at 208 or 240 volts;
- Have a minimum power output of 32 amps; and
- Be networked and be OCPP compatible by the date of installation.
What are the eligible costs?
Costs eligible for rebates through the Program will be:
- Dual standard DCFC equipment;
- Level 2 stations (co-located with DCFCs only, or meeting requirements in section 3.2.1;
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- Installation costs such as labour and materials, including: o Necessary electrical equipment (e.g. cabling and conduit, transformer)
- Earthworks;
- Paving of one parking space per charger;
- Curb and/or protective bollards around chargers;
- Lighting directly above or adjacent to chargers (within 5 m);
- Network equipment (e.g. cellular booster);
- Way finding and on-site signage pertaining to the chargers (e.g. location, output, time limits, instructions for use);
- Site markings (e.g. pavement painting);
- One security camera per charger;
- Canopy (up to a maximum of $20,000 per application can be claimed as an eligible project cost);
- Project management and engineering design fees;
- Utility provider fees for electrical connection; and,
- Network service provider initial sign-up fees; and,
- Equipment warranty.
Applicants must apply and be approved for Program rebates before any costs are incurred. Any costs incurred before approval will not be eligible for any rebates, except for costs of an EV charging infrastructure assessments. Project assessments costs incurred prior to approval are considered eligible project costs. No rebates would be given for project pre-assessment if the project is not pre-approved.
Note: GST/PST and other taxes are not eligible costs under this program.
What do I need to submit once my project is completed?
To receive rebate funds applicants must submit the following documentation after DCFC and/or Level 2, if applicable equipment is installed and operational:
- Invoice for DCFC equipment and/or Level 2 equipment, if applicable;
- Itemized invoice for DCFC and/or Level 2, if applicable installation;
- Copy of network agreement;
- Photo of installed DCFC and/or Level 2, if applicable equipment;
- Photo of installed contactless credit card payment system; and,
- Proof all eligible equipment, DCFCs and Level 2s, as applicable is/are operational.
Can Indigenous communities receive enhanced rebate funding?
Yes. Indigenous communities will be eligible for higher rebates at each tier, to a maximum of 90% of total project costs. Level 2 chargers installed as part of a funded DCFC project or meeting the requirements in section 3.2.1 of the Program Guide are eligible for a rebate of up to 50% of the additional cost or 90% for Indigenous communities.
How do you define Indigenous communities?
Indigenous communities refer to a First Nation (I.e. Band government) or its wholly owned subsidiaries (e.g. development corporations). To receive an Indigenous community rebate, the Indigenous community must own the equipment; a third party that owns and installs equipment on Indigenous lands is not eligible for the enhanced rebates.
What are some other considerations for my site location?
Prospective installation locations greater than 500 m from the nearest public charger (Level 2 or DCFC) will be required to install at least two ports per site: either tandem DCFC stations, a DCFC and Level 2, or two Level 2 stations meeting requirements in section 3.2.1 (minimum 32 A; higher power preferred) to provide redundancy to the site. Installation of both multiple DCFCs and one or more Level 2s per site will also be supported. A multi-port station on its own does not fulfill this requirement.
Why do I need to complete the operating and maintenance plan?
The applicant will be responsible for ongoing operation and maintenance costs associated with the DCFC and will be required to prepare an Operating and Maintenance plan for its charger(s).
My organization has many sites, is there a rebate cap?
Yes. Rebates may be capped at 10 per organization to reserve funds for other organizations. The Province reserves the right to limit the number of chargers funded per project.
What are the rebates offered?
Applicants are offered three tiers of rebates for DCFC stations with:
1) output of 20kW or greater, but less than 50 kW;
2) output of 50 kW or greater but less than 100 kW, and
3) output of 100 kW or greater.
Rebate amounts are detailed in the Rebates Section above.
I’d like to install a Level 2 station for contingency. What do I need to consider?
To provide contingency charging in the case a station is occupied or not functioning, Level 2 chargers installed in tandem with DCFCs as part of the Program will be eligible for an additional maximum of $5,000 ($7,500 for Indigenous communities) in project funding per Level 2 charger (≥32 A), to a maximum of $10,000 ($15,000 for Indigenous communities) per installation site (percentage caps still apply). The level 2 charger should now be networked and be OCPP compatible by the date of installation
Is there an option to get funding if I only install Level 2 chargers?
This Program is intended to primarily support public fast charging. Public Level 2 stations not required to be co-located with a DCFC station will be supported only in specific instances. Locations must meet the following criteria:
- No public Level 2 stations (without co-located DCFCs) are eligible in Metro Vancouver or the Capital Regional District through this Program, except for any of the Gulf Islands with one or fewer public charging stations or for Indigenous owned stations;
- There must be one or fewer public Level 2 or DCFC within 10 km of the location;
Priority will be given to:
- Strathcona Regional District
- Cariboo Regional District
- Regional District of Mount Waddington
- Central Coast Regional District
- North Coast Regional District (previously known as Skeena – Queen Charlotte Regional District)
- Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine
- Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
- Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
- Peace River Regional District
- Stikine Region
- Northern Rockies Regional Municipality
See maps of B.C.’s regional districts at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/geographic-data-services/land-use/administrative-boundaries/census-boundaries
Can I get more funding if I install a multi-port DCFC?
Tandem and multi-port DCFCs are eligible for one rebate for each vehicle that can charge simultaneously at a given output level. For tandem DCFC stations a 75% funding limit will apply while the combined dollar cap will remain the same. The funding amount of multi-port stations will be based on the maximum simultaneous output level of operating ports.
For example, if the total cost for two tandem 50 kW stations is $180,000, the applicant is eligible for 2 x $50,000 rebates = $100,000.
If the applicant chooses to install a dual-port station with 180 kW, each port offering 90 kW, the applicant is eligible for 2 x $50,000 rebates = $100,000.
Multi-port stations must be accompanied by an additional charging station (DCFC or Level 2) on the same site.
If installing a dual-port Level 2 charger, you will only receive up to $5,000 per port if each port is at least 32 A. A dual-port Level 2 charger with each port at less than 32A per port will only receive up to $5,000.
Are stations with less than 50 kW eligible?
Yes. Stations with less than 50 kW would be eligible under the following conditions:
- In urban centres (i.e. within Census Agglomerations or Census Metropolitan Areas with a population of 100,000 or greater);
- In areas not located on or near primary, secondary highways or major roads, as defined by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure;
- As part of a tandem installation with a ≥50 kW DCFC;
- Where an electrical service extension (and/or service upgrade, as applicable) to accommodate a ≥50 kW station would be cost prohibitive.
Can I submit a pilot project?
Yes. DCFC or Level 2 pilot projects (e.g. for battery storage, off-grid, curbside, and other innovative public charging applications) may be considered through this Program if they are able to demonstrate public benefit. Specific eligibility criteria may be developed for pilot projects.
Pilot projects rebate amounts are detailed in the Rebates Section above.
Where can I find Program information?
You can find information on the Fraser Basin Council’s (FBC) Plug In BC website (https://pluginbc.ca/publiccharger/).
How are applications submitted?
Applications will be submitted online and must receive approval before any work begins.
I’m interested in applying, what steps do I need to take?
- Check the FBC Plug In BC site or email the Public Charger team at publiccharger@pluginbc.ca to confirm the deadline to apply. You’d also need to find out when the next information webinar session will be held.
- Once you’ve attended the webinar, you’ll be contacted by the Public Charger team to submit preliminary information for your project. You’ll also receive a list of required documents.
- You can engage with the Public Charger team to discuss any project or rebate queries you might have.
- Submit your formal application.
If I don’t own the site, can I still apply for the rebate?
Applicants who do not own the site they plan to install a DCFC at will need to include a written agreement demonstrating their right to use the site with their application for a ten-year period.
How often are applications reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed on a minimum three-month cycle, or more frequently depending on application volume. Once a decision has been made, applicants will be notified by email if they have been successful; remaining applications will be retained for future review periods.
EMLI reserves the right to pause application reviews at its discretion for any period of time.
Which applications will be given preference?
Preference will be given to applications that:
- Fill existing DCFC network gaps and/or underserved areas (e.g. Indigenous communities, rural and northern areas, communities with high ZEV uptake, high concentrations of existing multi-unit residential buildings, etc.);
- Are co-located with primary amenities (lighting, washrooms, non-cellular wireless (i.e. WiFi) internet available at all times);
- Are co-located with one or more additional DCFCs;
- Are located near secondary amenities, such as restaurants, shopping and attractions (e.g. parks, libraries, community centres, etc.);
- Include stations ≥75 kW when located on primary and secondary highways, where feasible;
- Include stations able to deliver ≥120 A of electricity, if proposing DCFCs with output ≥50 kW but <100 kW;
- Include Level 2 stations with a higher output than 32 A, if Level 2 stations are proposed;
- Utilize pull-through charger site design;
- Include capability to add of future DCFCs (e.g. space on site, oversized conduit, etc.)
- Agree to provide data on charger usage;
- Include site design drawings; and
How do I apply?
Applications are completed online. The applicant creates an online profile and applies for the number of stations desired, including information on organization type and documentation, site description, proof of site ownership or permission of the landowner, charger type(s) and output(s), capital budget/quotation (including site acquisition/lease (if applicable), permits, design, electrical service extension, site preparation/civil works, electrical equipment, charger, lighting, and signage), and site design drawings (optional). The submission of a completed operations and maintenance calculator and an operations and maintenance plan is required.
Note: Budget quotations should be fully itemized and from a qualified electrical contractor/engineering firm/consultant/an entity qualified to provide quotations related to EV chargers and related infrastructure. The budget quotations and the EV charger specifications are used to calculate and determine the pre-approved rebate amount for approved applications.
What happens after I apply?
After you apply, FBC staff will screen applicants for eligibility and move forward applications that meet mandatory criteria. A vetting process takes place with scoring metrics to determine successful applicants ultimately decided by MEMLI (Provincial) team.
Can you tell me more about the approval process for my application?
In consultation with MEMLI staff, FBC approves applications based on a diversity of geographic and usage types. Applicants then have 18 months for implementation. FBC staff will check in periodically to assess progress.
Projects that may require advance payments to manage the cashflow, might have the option to be funded through an up-front contribution agreement. To be considered for advanced funding, applicants must submit a request in writing including the quote of expenses from a qualified electrical contractor.
A Funding Agreement is completed and signed by FBC once the terms of funding are in agreement with the signatory and host of the project’s stations.
What is required once I’ve completed my project?
Once a project is completed, the Applicant provides a completion report including documentation, photos, financial report and copies of invoices to verify costs. These will be submitted online via the application platform. FBC will reserve the right to make on-site audits for projects if required. An Operating and Maintenance Plan must be submitted at this stage. An Operating and Maintenance report template is available on FBC’s Program website (https://pluginbc.ca/publiccharger/) but an alternative format may be used, as long as it contains the following elements:
Service stability
- Charger up-time targets
- Performance monitoring (e.g. testing, remote, crowdsource, etc.)
- Ensuring access
- Cleaning the interface
- Clearing/plowing the area
- Lighting
- Preventing blocking by vehicles not charging
Regular maintenance/warranty
Staff training
- Customer service (on site/remote)
- Operation/signup walkthrough
- Resetting device
- Nearby charging locations
- Local towing companies
Incident response plan (e.g. for device failure, vehicle impacts, tampering/vandalism, etc.), including:
- Response procedures (e.g. shutdown, fire department, repair/replacement, etc.)
- Service provider and/or warranty service
- Response time targets
- Public notification of failure
- Spare parts supply/inventory
- Graffiti removal
Cost of electricity (including demand charges)
Network fees
Revenue collection strategy (if applicable)
Proof of Insurance
Do I need to provide station utilization data?
Successful applicants are encouraged to provide usage data for DCFCs funded under the Program, for a minimum period of five years from the date of installation. Usage data includes information related to charging sessions (i.e.: start/end time, duration, energy, power per minute, peak power) but excludes personally identifiable data. Successful applicants will work with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation to determine the best tools and methods for data sharing.
For example, successful applicants can send station utilization data in the format of an annual report that includes a record for each charging session during the year, its start and end time, the maximum charging rate (kW), the energy delivered (kWh), and the charging connector type. It should not contain any personally identifiable information of users (names, membership numbers, credit card numbers). Acceptable formats are .xls, .xlsx, and .csv.
Final documentation will also be submitted online. Printable or paper application forms may be requested from FBC in extenuating circumstances. New stations funded under the Program will be entered into charging station databases (e.g. Chargehub, Plugshare, etc.) with a link to the Program webpage.
Are there other programs that support DCFC projects?
Yes. There are two other programs currently in market that offer rebates for DCFCs and can be accessed for B.C. based DCFC projects. The two programs are:
- Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP); and,
- NRCan Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative (EVAFIDI).
Both programs provide maximum federal funding of 50% of total project costs to a maximum of $50,000 per DCFC. Currently MEMLI has partnered with NRCan on both programs to provide additional funding for B.C based DCFC projects. Successful applicants completing DCFC projects in B.C. are automatically eligible for B.C. funding. MEMLI funding provides a maximum of $25,000 per DCFC to a max of 25% of the total project costs (on top of the federal $50,000 funding). Any station that receives MEMLI funding through the ZEVIP or EVAFIDI will not be eligible for funding through the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program.
The stacking of provincial funding with ZEVIP, EVAFIDI, and other CleanBC Programs is not permitted. Stacking of funding from other government funding programs with the Public Charger Program will be limited to 75% of eligible project costs, except in the case where the applicant is a local or Indigenous government or their department or agency in which case the stacking limit for government funding is 100% of the total project costs. Funding from other sources will be allowed as long as funding amounts do not exceed total project costs. Reporting of application for other government funding for the use toward a project funded under the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program is mandatory.
Are there other programs that support DCFC projects?
Yes. There are two other programs currently in market that offer rebates for DCFCs and can be accessed for B.C. based DCFC projects. The two programs are:
- Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP); and,
- NRCan Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative (EVAFIDI).
Both programs provide maximum federal funding of 50% of total project costs to a maximum of $50,000 per DCFC. Currently MEMLI has partnered with NRCan on both programs to provide additional funding for B.C based DCFC projects. Successful applicants completing DCFC projects in B.C. are automatically eligible for B.C. funding. MEMLI funding provides a maximum of $25,000 per DCFC to a max of 25% of the total project costs (on top of the federal $50,000 funding). Any station that receives MEMLI funding through the ZEVIP or EVAFIDI will not be eligible for funding through the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program.
The stacking of provincial funding with ZEVIP, EVAFIDI, and other CleanBC Programs is not permitted. Stacking of funding from other government funding programs with the Public Charger Program will be limited to 75% of eligible project costs, except in the case where the applicant is a local or Indigenous government or their department or agency in which case the stacking limit for government funding is 100% of the total project costs. Funding from other sources will be allowed as long as funding amounts do not exceed total project costs. Reporting of application for other government funding for the use toward a project funded under the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program is mandatory.
