Ontario introduces new rules that will make it easier for condo residents to charge electric cars
The Ontario government says it is going to make it easier for electric vehicle owners to install chargers in condo buildings by reducing the requirements needed to get installation approval from their buildings.
New changes that will come into effect on May 1 will also prevent condo boards from rejecting an owner’s application to install electric vehicle chargers, as long as the owner met certain conditions.
“These new rules to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging systems will remove barriers to condo residents who own electric vehicles, or are thinking about purchasing on, by enabling them to charge their vehicles where they live,” the government said in a statement released Monday.
Ontario’s Minister of Government and Consumer Services Tracy MacCharles said one of the largest factors that discourages people from purchasing electric vehicle is concerns about charging.
“Through these new laws, we will increase opportunities to install charging systems at condo properties in order to support residents who own or wish to purchase an electric vehicle,” MacCharles said in a statement.
The government had initially unveiled proposed changes to the Condominium Act in December that it hoped would spur electric vehicle adoption.
The province has embarked on several initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, a tenant of its Climate Change Action Plan aimed at reducing green house gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
In March, the government expanded its Electric Vehicle Incentive Program, which provides electric vehicle buyers a rebate of up to $14,000, to include hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. As well, incentives for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will now be determined based on vehicles all-electric range and seating capacity. Incentives will not be provided for BEVs or PHEVs that cost more than $75,000.
Ontario had hoped that by 2020, electric vehicles would represent five per cent of all vehicle sales in Ontario. However, analysts have said that isn’t feasible.
With files from the Canadian Press