Ontario offers $75k incentive for electric semi trucks

The province will provide rebates for up to 50 percent of the cost difference between electric vehicles and traditional fuel alternatives.

Ontario has introduced a new incentive program that could help businesses buy the Tesla Semi and other zero- or low-emissions commercial vehicles.

The province will provide rebates for up to 50 percent of the cost difference between an electric vehicle and an equivalent traditional-fuel vehicle, up to $75,000.

The program also offers a lesser rebate of up to 30 percent of the difference for a natural-gas vehicle, with a cap of $30,000.

"We hope the program will encourage more businesses to make the switch to low-carbon vehicles that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions," says Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca.

The program will be available for purchases made on or after September 1, 2017, with applications opening early next year. Purchases made on or before March 31, 2018, will be eligible for an extra 10-percent rebate for up to 10 vehicles.