The CleanBC Go Electric Program is intended to encourage and accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in British Columbia (B.C.) for both their environmental and economic benefits.

The CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program is a sub-program of the CleanBC Go Electric Program and is intended to increase the number of public Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) stations throughout B.C. to support the growing number of ZEVs on the road.

The CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program is currently prioritizing applications for projects that fill geographic gaps* or that are located in rural, northern, and Indigenous communities. Applications in urban communities with high ZEV uptake, high concentrations of multi-unit residential buildings, or other rationale for requiring more fast charging will also be considered, though applicants are encouraged to provide detailed reasoning for applications in those types of sites.

*Outstanding geographic gaps to enable an electric vehicle to travel across all of B.C.’s primary and secondary highways and major roads are outlined in the  British Columbia Public Light-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Study (2021).

The Program aims to fill current gaps in the public DCFC network in B.C. such as Indigenous communities, rural and northern areas, and city centers experiencing long queues for DCFCs due to high ZEV uptake.

Please review the most recent webinar, below, for important program information.

Applications will be reviewed in cycles through the year. The next submission deadline is Friday, June 2nd, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST.

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.

Program Update

The CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger program guide has been updated. The current version is available to download from the link below.

Rebates

Rebate amounts range from up to $20,000 per <50 kW DCFC, to $130,000 per >100 kW DCFC (for Indigenous communities). Additional funding is available for Level 2 chargers. Exact amounts for different charger outputs are shown in the table below.

Maximum Rebate Amount
$20,000

for ≥20 kW, but <50 kW DCFCs

(up to 50% of project costs, or 75% for tandem installations*)

$50,000

≥50 kW, but <100 kW DCFCs

(up to 50% of project costs, or 75% for tandem installations)

$80,000

≥100 kW DCFCs

(up to 50% of project costs, or 75% for tandem installations)

$5,000

Level 2**: ≥32 amps

(up to 50% of costs)

Maximum Rebate Amount for Indigenous Communities
$50,000

≥20 kW, but <50 kW DCFCs

(up to 90% of project costs)

$100,000

≥50 kW, but <100 kW DCFC

(up to 90% of project costs)

$130,000

≥100 kW DCFC

(up to 90% of project costs)

$7,500

Level 2**: ≥32 amps

(up to 90% of costs)

*tandem installations are two or more new DCFCs at the same site;

**208/240 V – only eligible as part of an approved DCFC installation or in special circumstances noted in the program guide.

Pilot Projects

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 are eligible for the following funding amounts:

Maximum rebate amount per charging port
$80,000

DCFC: ≥20 kW*

(up to 50% of project costs)

$5,000

Level 2: ≥32 amps

(up to 50% of costs)

Maximum rebate amount per charging port for Indigenous Communities
$130,000

DCFC: ≥20 kW*

(up to 90% of project costs)

$7,500

Level 2: ≥32 amps

(up to 90% of costs)

*Pilot project rebate amounts are not solely based on power output, however a minimum output of 20 kW is required to access DCFC rebate amounts.

Eligibility

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must apply and be approved for Program rebate(s) before any costs are incurred. Any costs incurred before approval was received will not be eligible for a rebate(s) and cannot be counted toward eligible expense totals. After approval is received, applicants will have 18 months to complete projects and submit final documentation.

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.).

Application Process

Applications will be submitted online and must receive approval before any work begins. If any costs are incurred before approval has been received, they will not be eligible for rebate(s). Applicants who do not own the site they plan to install a DCFC at will need to include a written agreement demonstrating right to use the site with their application.

FAQ

Resources

Successful Applicants

The map below shows the locations of successfully completed public EV charger projects which received funding from the CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger program. You can click on the locations to find more about them.

Project List

Funded projects are listed below and updated as new projects are approved. Follow the links for PlugShare listings to see project status if available.

Respectful communications and Zero-Tolerance Policy

Plug In BC takes all incidents of abusive, aggressive, or violent treatment against our staff very seriously. Our staff will always treat our clients with utmost respect. In turn, our staff have the right to a safe and respectful work environment.

Plug In BC has a Zero Tolerance policy against abusive, aggressive, or violent behaviour. This policy extends to any interaction with a staff member whether in-person, on the phone, via letter, e-mail, or through our website.

Unacceptable behaviour includes:

  • verbal abuse or the use of disrespectful language towards our staff
  • persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress to staff
  • racist and sexist comments
  • breach of personal boundaries
  • physical aggression towards any staff

A breach of the Zero Tolerance policy will lead to termination of services.

The CleanBC Go Electric Public Charger Program is one of a suite of programs offered under the Province of BC’s CleanBC Go Electric Program. The program is funded through the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and is administered by the Fraser Basin Council Society.

For more information, please contact PublicCharger@pluginbc.ca