B.C. Hydro has excluded Tesla products from its electric vehicle charger rebate program in response to U.S. tariffs.
The rebate program allows British Columbians to get up to $350 to purchase and install an EV charger in their homes.
As of March 12, Tesla chargers, energy storage batteries and inverters are not eligible for rebates, according to B.C. Hydro. Those who have purchased or received pre-approval for their Tesla products before March 12 can still qualify for rebates.
Amid the U.S.-Canada trade war, the provincial Crown corporation said it’s working to include Canadian goods in its rebate programs and exclude American products whenever possible.
The growing opposition to Elon Musk’s politics and his role in the U.S. government has Tesla owners caught in the middle, with some saying they’re embarrassed to be seen supporting a Musk brand.
This is the latest attempt to bolster the made-in-Canada movement in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has previously suggested placing harsher restrictions on Tesla, vowing in February to slap a 100 per cent trade tax on all Tesla products if his party formed government in the next election.
CBC News has asked BC Hydro if more Tesla products will be excluded from its other rebate programs but have not yet heard back. The province offers up to $4,000 for eligible residents to buy or lease a new EV.