The province's first Electric Vehicle Incentive Program was launched in 2010 and provided incentives for the purchase of 4,800 electric vehicles and about 1,100 home chargers. The original scheme offered incentives ranging from $5,000-$8,500.

The new scheme now offers $6,000-$10,000 with buyers also able to receive an additional $3,000 incentive for vehicles with larger battery capacities and an extra $1,000 for vehicles with five or more seats.

However, incentives for vehicles priced between $75,000 and $150,000 are capped at $3,000.

The scheme also offers up to $1,000 for the purchase and installation of chargers for home and business use.

Last December also saw the province announce that an additional $20m from its Green Investment Fund will go toward creating a network of fast-charging public EV charging stations.

The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA) welcomed the latest news.

“With this announcement, Ontario is taking another important step to providing support for consumer adoption of plug-in electric vehicles,” said Mark Nantais, CVMA president. “Plug-in electric vehicles are still an expensive and evolving technology, but one which, over time, will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as more of these vehicles enter the on-road fleet.”