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Ontario Paves The Way For Electric Vehicles

This is an important part of the government’s vision to have one out of every 20 vehicles driven in Ontario to be electrically powered by 2020. Other measures to support clean and cost-effective battery electric vehicles include:

* Green licence plates, that would allow drivers to use less-congested High Occupancy Vehicle (carpool) lanes, even if there is only one person in the vehicle.

* Future access to public recharging facilities and parking at GO stations and other Ontario government lots.

Application forms and full criteria for the electric vehicle rebate will be available on July 1, 2010 at Ontario.ca/transportation or 1-866-668-8297. To apply for a green licence plate, visit a local issuing office after July 1, 2010.

Today’s announcement is part of the government’s climate change plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint, and keep Ontario at the forefront of the clean, green economy.

* Rebates will only be made available to the first 10,000 applicants who qualify.

* Since 2006, the province has also provided over $24 million in rebates for over 14,000 conventional hybrid vehicles through its Alternative Fuel RST Rebate Program.

* Plug-in electric vehicles reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.

* Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014, and to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

www.news.ontario.ca