Latest news with #ManitobaElectricVehicleAssociation
Winnipeg Free Press
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba to regulate EV charge stations
The province is preparing to regulate electric vehicle charging services as costs vary widely across Manitoba — including one motorist who recently received a $680 bill for less than two hours of plugging in. Dauphin resident John Kolisnyk said he was shocked when he received a bill for $681.36 after he charged his 2025 Dodge Equinox for one hour and 53 minutes at Redline Dodge Chrysler in Swan River earlier this year. He was in the community for a medical appointment. '(The dealership) refuses to adjust the bill and said they can charge any price they want,' the upset 70-year-old said Thursday. SUPPLIED John Kolisnyk is questioning why a Dodge Chrysler dealership charged him $681.36 for plugging in his vehicle for one hour and 53 minutes. 'I cannot find any stations in Manitoba that are even remotely close to this rate. This is highway robbery.' James Hart, president of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, said the organization is aware of the much higher than average prices at the Swan River dealership, as well as another one in Portage la Prairie. 'It is true that they are able to charge what they want,' Hart said. 'Manitoba EV is against these outrageous fees for charging. We are actively talking with different parties to get the Swan River and Portage la Prairie dealerships to reevaluate their costs. 'But I think most of it is because they didn't want to put it in.' Hart said the normal fee for a full charge, at a commercial charging station, is about $20 per hour. He said there are about 10,000 EVs in Manitoba, which represent about 10 per cent of annual vehicle sales. 'The best we can do now is tell people not to use it and that it is cheaper to get a hotel and stay there than it is to use the dealership,' he said. Finance Minister Adrien Sala confirmed in an interview the province is moving to regulate electric charging stations. 'It is certainly concerning to hear about this instance,' Sala said, noting the government wants to continue to see Manitobans shift towards EVs. 'That's why we are moving forward with regulation to help ensure when it comes to the resale of power, that Manitobans are protected and we are keeping their costs low when they go to buy electricity to charge their vehicle from a private re-seller.' Kolisnyk said he doesn't understand why the dealership is charging the exorbitant costs — so much so that it would've been cheaper to spend three nights at an area hotel, which has a vehicle charge included in the room rate. 'Nobody will use the charger if they charge that,' he said. Greg Ashauer, the owner of Redline Dodge Chrysler, says that's really the point. 'I don't want people to use it,' Ashauer said, noting it cost him $86,000 for the charger. Every time someone uses it, he said it costs him more. NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS An EV charger at the Centre of Canada park near Lorette on Hwy 1 pictured Tuesday afternoon. 240723 - Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Reporter: 'I was forced to buy this EV charger by the manufacturer and we sell zero EVs in our marketplace… For most businesses, you want a return on your investment — it is going to take me 10 lifetimes to get a return on this investment.' Ashauer said Kolisnyk called twice before coming to Swan River and was told in advance how much the charge would cost. 'We made it very clear this is what it costs to charge,' he said. 'He knew exactly what he was signing up for. 'It also says right on the machine what the price is per minute and it says right on the app what the price is per minute — there is no way he couldn't have known.' Ashauer said only four people have charged their vehicles in the 10 months it has been installed and he's earned a total of $4.12 during the first three months of this year. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'They forced all the dealers to put them in, but a lot of dealers told them to pound sand,' he said. 'I put it in, but I regret it every day. As far as I'm concerned, it's an $86,000 paperweight sitting out there.' Jacqueline Wasney, a board member of the Consumers' Association of Canada's Manitoba branch said she urges the vehicle owner and others to call the consumer protection office about pricing issues at charging stations. 'This is frustrating,' Wasney said. 'Government and other agencies are working so hard to make this available and to do this is a bit frustrating. 'This really flies in the face of encouraging these vehicles.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
'A necessary evil': EV association doesn't like, but understands, Manitoba excluding Tesla from rebate program
Social Sharing The head of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association won't go as far as supporting the provice's decision to remove Teslas and China-made electric vehicles from the EV rebate program, but he understands it. "I think it's almost a necessary evil. I don't necessarily like it, but it's meant to send a message down south — and I think it will do that," said James Hart. "It sounds like it is basically just falling in line with what B.C. is doing also, which is cancelling any rebates on Tesla or Tesla products." Under Manitoba's rebate program, rolled out last year, any resident who buys an electric or plug-in hybrid EV in the province with a manufacturer's suggested list price below $70,000 can apply for a refund of up to $4,000. The rebate rises to $2,500 for a used EV, while those leasing one could be eligible for $1,000–$4,000 return. All rebates are subject to the vehicle being on the list of eligible EVs. The program officially began in July 2024 but was made retroactive to Aug. 1, 2023. Kicking out Teslas and Chinese EVs is part of "Trump-proofing our economy," Finance Minister Adrien Sala said in Thursday's announcement, part of the provincial budget. Trump has hit Canada with 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum with plans to implement additional levies on April 2. In anothr development, China has imposed a 100 per cent levy on Canadian canola oil and meal, plus a 25 per cent duty on seafood and pork. Manitoba's decision could spur other EV manufacturers to bring in more vehicles for buyers who are now "looking at the other choices that are out there," Hart said, highlighting a potential upside. Lots of choices It would have been worse for Manitoba consumers a few years ago when Teslas were one of the few available EVs, he said. "Right now we have so many other choices that I don't know if it's going to impact us as much — and I get why they're doing it." However, buyers looking for a sedan similar to the Tesla Model 3 won't find anything comparable, Hart said. And if someone really likes the technology incorporated into a Tesla, "there's not a whole lot of other choices out there that are really good." "I guess my one personal disappointment is the Chinese vehicles being taken off, also," Hart said. "I don't know how far they're going with that. Technically, Volvo is owned by a Chinese company so … it will be interesting to see if they're taken off or left on, as the ones we're getting aren't necessarily made in China but are owned by a Chinese company." Many people buy Volvos for their safety record, which has routinely been ranked highly by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. "So they want that for their family car and all that and unfortunately, if they're taken off the list … it might be that difference between getting [an EV] and not getting one," Hart said.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Manitoba has approved $9.7M in electric vehicle rebates since provincial program launched
Manitoba has already paid out almost $10 million in rebates for people buying or leasing electric vehicles, under a program the province launched just last summer. The province says it's approved 2,529 claims since the program began in July 2024, totalling just under $9.69 million. The program officially began on July 2, 2024, but was made retroactive for anyone who purchased an EV in Manitoba since Aug. 1, 2023. The program is set to end in March 2026, or when the total $25 million set aside for it runs out. Environment Minister Mike Moyes said on Tuesday he expects the demand to stay high, but that he isn't concerned. "We're really happy … that Manitobans are making that switch, because the sooner that they make the switch, the sooner that we're going to see reductions in the carbon footprint," the minister said. "This is a good news story." Under the provincial program, any Manitoba resident who buys or leases an electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a manufacturer's suggested list price below $70,000 in the province can apply for a rebate of up to $4,000. For a used electric vehicle, the rebate is up to $2,500. More than two-thirds of the claims approved in Manitoba — 1,947 — were for the purchase of new vehicles, which are eligible for the full rebate. A federal government rebate that offered Canadians $5,000 toward an EV purchase was abruptly put on pause earlier this month, with the federal government saying funds were running out due to surge in interest. James Hart, president of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, said that's led to another rush, with some manufacturers deciding to match the federal rebate temporarily. "We've had a lot of people asking a lot more questions about them," he said in an interview on CBC's Radio Noon. "It's hard to say how many have gone through with the purchase because of incentives, because it's usually incentives piled on top of other stuff, and especially right now … with the federal incentive going away." Moyes said the provincial government will continue to assess the program as it goes.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Manitoba has approved $9.7M in electric vehicle rebates since provincial program launched
Manitoba has already paid out almost $10 million in rebates for people buying or leasing electric vehicles, under a program the province launched just last summer. The province says it's approved 2,529 claims since the program began in July 2024, totalling just under $9.69 million. The program officially began on July 2, 2024, but was made retroactive for anyone who purchased an EV in Manitoba since Aug. 1, 2023. The program is set to end in March 2026, or when the total $25 million set aside for it runs out. Environment Minister Mike Moyes said on Tuesday he expects the demand to stay high, but that he isn't concerned. "We're really happy … that Manitobans are making that switch, because the sooner that they make the switch, the sooner that we're going to see reductions in the carbon footprint," the minister said. "This is a good news story." Under the provincial program, any Manitoba resident who buys or leases an electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a manufacturer's suggested list price below $70,000 in the province can apply for a rebate of up to $4,000. For a used electric vehicle, the rebate is up to $2,500. More than two-thirds of the claims approved in Manitoba — 1,947 — were for the purchase of new vehicles, which are eligible for the full rebate. A federal government rebate that offered Canadians $5,000 toward an EV purchase was abruptly put on pause earlier this month, with the federal government saying funds were running out due to surge in interest. James Hart, president of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, said that's led to another rush, with some manufacturers deciding to match the federal rebate temporarily. "We've had a lot of people asking a lot more questions about them," he said in an interview on CBC's Radio Noon. "It's hard to say how many have gone through with the purchase because of incentives, because it's usually incentives piled on top of other stuff, and especially right now … with the federal incentive going away." Moyes said the provincial government will continue to assess the program as it goes.
CBC
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Manitoba has approved $9.7M in electric vehicle rebates since provincial program launched
Manitoba has already paid out almost $10 million in rebates for people buying or leasing electric vehicles, under a program the province launched just last summer. The province says it's approved 2,529 claims since the program began in July 2024, totalling just under $9.69 million. The program officially began on July 2, 2024, but was made retroactive for anyone who purchased an EV in Manitoba since Aug. 1, 2023. The program is set to end in March 2026, or when the total $25 million set aside for it runs out. Environment Minister Mike Moyes said on Tuesday he expects the demand to stay high, but that he isn't concerned. "We're really happy … that Manitobans are making that switch, because the sooner that they make the switch, the sooner that we're going to see reductions in the carbon footprint," the minister said. "This is a good news story." Under the provincial program, any Manitoba resident who buys or leases an electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a manufacturer's suggested list price below $70,000 in the province can apply for a rebate of up to $4,000. For a used electric vehicle, the rebate is up to $2,500. More than two-thirds of the claims approved in Manitoba — 1,947 — were for the purchase of new vehicles, which are eligible for the full rebate. A federal government rebate that offered Canadians $5,000 toward an EV purchase was abruptly put on pause earlier this month, with the federal government saying funds were running out due to surge in interest. James Hart, president of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, said that's led to another rush, with some manufacturers deciding to match the federal rebate temporarily. "We've had a lot of people asking a lot more questions about them," he said in an interview on CBC's Radio Noon. "It's hard to say how many have gone through with the purchase because of incentives, because it's usually incentives piled on top of other stuff, and especially right now … with the federal incentive going away."
