Electric Bus & Infrastructure Funding Sources

Provincial

1  Clean BC Go Electric Rebates Program (not available for Public School Districts 2024 onwards)

       Buses:

  • Minimum $100,000 for a Type C or D, minimum $75,000 for a Type A.

2. BC Hydro EV Fleet Ready Program (BC Hydro Customers Only) **requires pre-approval**

       Fleet/facility Assessment:

  • 50% of study consultant costs up to a maximum of $10,000 (fleets <150 MD/HD vehicles)
  • Includes fleet and fleet EV suitability assessments, charging plan, electrical capacity assessment and infrastructure plan.

       Infrastructure upgrades:

  • Up to 50% of electrical infrastructure costs (not including chargers)
  • Eligible costs include: Panel(s), branch circuits and conduit, communication infrastructure; electrical design, electrical contractor labour; BC Hydro connection costs if required.
  1. Clean BC Go Electric Fleet Charging Program**requires pre-approval*

    Eligibility for those using Federal funds e.g. ZETF

     

    Public school districts

    Private/Independent Schools

    First Nations Schools

    Level 2 Charging Stations

    •50% of total project costs per charger to a maximum rebate of $4,000. Rebates capped at $50,000 per applicant per year.

    •50% of total costs, up to a maximum of $2,000 per station. Rebates will be capped at $25,000 per applicant per year.

    •75% of total project costs per charger to a maximum rebate of $6,000. Rebates capped at $50,000 per site.

    •Top up to 75% of total project costs per charger, maximum contribution of $4,000. Rebates capped at $50,000 per applicant per year.

    •Top up to 50% of total project costs per charger, maximum contribution of $2,000. Rebates capped at $50,000 per applicant oer year.

    •Top up to 75% of project costs per charger, maximum contribution of $4,000. Rebates capped at $50,000 per site.

    DC Fast Chargers

    •50% of total project costs per charger to a maximum of $20,000 for a 20-49kW DCFC, $50,000 for a 50+kW DCFC, $75,000 for a 100-199kW DCFC.

    •Rebates capped (per project) at $60,000 for a 20-49KW DCFC, $150,000 for 50-99kW DCFC, and $225,000 for 100-199kW DCFC.

    •75% of total project costs per charger up to a maximum of $35,000 for a 20-49kW DCFC, $65,000 for a 50-99kW DCFC and $90,000 for a 100-199kW.

    •Rebates capped (per project) at $60,000 for 20-49Kw, $150,000 for a 50-99kW DCFC, and $225,000 for 100-199kW.

    •Top up to 75% of total project costs per charger, maximum contribution of $20,000 for a 20-49kW DCFC, $50,000 for a 50+kW DCFC and $75,000 for a 100-199kW DCFC.

    •Top up to 75% of total project costs per charger, maximum contribution of $35,000 for a 20-49kW DCFC and $65,000 for a 50-99kW DCFC.

    Infrastructure Upgrades  

    (non-BC Hydro Customers Only)

    •50% of total costs to a maximum rebate of $80,000.

    •Eligible for a maximum of four sites.

    •33% of total costs to a maximum rebate of $20,000.

    •Eligible for a maximum of four sites.

    •75% of total costs to a maximum rebate of $25,000.

    •Top up to 75% of total costs,  maximum contribution of $80,000. Eligible for a maximum of four sites.

    •Top up to 75% of total costs, maximum rebate of $25,000.

    •Eligible for a maximum of four sites.

    •Top up to 75% of total costs, maximum contribution of $25,000.

    Facility Assessments

    (non-BC Hydro Customers Only)

    •75% of the costs up to a maximum of  $50,000.

    •Eligible for separate applications for a maximum of four sites.

    •50% of the costs up to a maximum of $3,000 (simple assessment, no telematics), up to $50,000 (detailed assessment, with telematics).

    •Eligible for separate applications for a maximum of four sites.

    •75% of total costs to a maximum rebate of $3,000 (simple assessment, no telematics), up to $50,000 (detailed assessment, with telematics).

Alternative Provincial Funding

1. Clean BC Commercial Vehicle Pilots Program

  • Will fund up to 33% of total project costs across buses, chargers and infrastructure.
  • Applicants seeking support for on-road weight class 3 and 4 must deploy a minimum of 6 electric vehicles, and for weight class 5 and 6 must deploy a minimum of 3 electric vehicles. (No minimum for weight class 7 and 8).

Federal Funding

1. Zero Emission Transit Fund

  • Will fund up to 50% of total project costs across buses, chargers and infrastructure.
  • Can be stacked with some Provincial Funding programs.

2. Rural Transit Solutions Fund

  • Will fund up to $50,000 in support of community' projects to plan and design new or expanded transit solutions, and up to $10 million to help cover tangible capital assets primarily for public use (e.g. vehicles and supporting infrastructure).
  • Can be stacked with some Provincial Funding programs.
  • The following entities are not eligible to apply: 1) Individuals and private citizens; 2) Private sector entities; 3) Federal entities
  • Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, March 4, 2025 (3:00 p.m. EST). Indigenous applicants can submit their application by Tuesday, April 8, 2025, (3:00 p.m. EST). 

CIB Financing

  • Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is offering up to $100,000 in financing per electric school bus purchased through the ASTSBC’s School Bus Program. The financing is innovative in that repayment is based on bus operating costs (electricity usage and maintenance costs) being at or below expectations. More information can be found here.