Canada's New EV Rebate Program: Everything You Need to Know

This week on True North EV, host James dives deep into Canada's brand new Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) - the biggest change to EV incentives in years.

Starting February 16, 2026, Canadians can access:

• Up to $5,000 in rebates for battery-electric and fuel cell vehicles
• Up to $2,500 for plug-in hybrid vehicles
• Point-of-sale incentives (applied immediately at the dealership)
• No price cap for Canadian-made EVs
• $50,000 transaction price limit for imported EVs from free-trade countries

In This Episode:

✅ The EVAP Program Explained - Who qualifies, how the pricing works, and which 35 vehicles are currently eligible

✅ Infrastructure Investment - Breaking down the $84 million investment that will bring 8,000 new charging ports across Canada

✅ The Chinese EV Question - A balanced look at why Chinese EVs are excluded and why that might actually be okay

✅ Manitoba's Next Move - James's proposal for the province to pivot its rebate program to focus on used EVs without age restrictions

✅ Host's Perspective - After a week of TV, radio, and newspaper interviews, James shares his honest take on why this is a great program (and where it could be improved)

Key Takeaways:

• The $50,000 price cap is realistic for today's market
• Excluding freight, PDI, taxes, and warranties from the price calculation gives manufacturers flexibility
• Pairing purchase incentives with charging infrastructure addresses both major barriers to EV adoption
• This could spark creative pricing and packaging from manufacturers competing to hit the $50K threshold

Whether you're considering your first EV, already driving electric, or just curious about Canada's automotive future, this episode breaks down everything you need to know about the EVAP program and what it means for drivers across the country.

Connect with True North EV:

• Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association: Manitobaev.ca
• Email: [email protected]