Canada Global(Web News)Bassam Mahfoud bought a Tesla last December, following other Canadians who are moving towards zero-emission vehicles.
And while electric vehicle sales in Canada are breaking records every year, Mahfoud said he’s not surprised by the Alberta government’s recent decision to implement an annual electric vehicle tax.
Owners of electric vehicles in the province will need an additional $200 to pay the new fee starting in January 2025.
When Finance Minister Nate Horner presented his first provincial budget on Thursday, he said the tax would be paid when owners register their vehicles and would come in addition to existing registration fees.
According to the province, the money will help account for wear and tear on roads and cover fuel taxes that are not paid by electric vehicle owners. Hybrid vehicles will be exempt from paying the tax.
About 9,350 electric vehicles were registered in Alberta as of March 31 last year, up from 5,680 registered in 2022.
The province saw 43,648 hybrid vehicle registrations last year, up from 35,341 hybrid vehicle registrations in 2022.
Alberta is one of the few provinces that does not offer any incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles. The federal government offers up to $5,000 toward the purchase or lease of light-duty zero-emission vehicles, including electric vehicles.
