Making the Most of Home Charging: How to Take Advantage of Cash Back Through Carbon Credits?

• The Concept: Making Fuel Manufacturers Pay
• 5 Popular Programs
• Comparison Chart
• A Host of Other Programs
• 5 Things to Know Before Taking the Plunge

The concept: making fuel manufacturers pay

To understand where this money comes from, we need to look to the federal government and its Clean Fuels Regulations (CFR).

The principle is pretty simple: companies that produce or import fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel) must reduce the carbon footprint of their products. To meet the targets, they must purchase “offset” carbon credits . The electricity used to charge an EV is considered clean energy that generates these so-called offset credits (which vary from province to province).

Companies known as “aggregators” compile charging data from thousands of users. They sell the credits to major polluters and redistribute a portion of the profits to you in the form of a cash rebate (the remainder must be reinvested in the development of the charging network).

⚡️ This reward system benefiting EV drivers is perfectly legitimate because EVs ultimately result in a real reduction in transportation emissions. For every kWh used by an EV, that’s liters of gasoline or diesel that aren’t sold and burned by vehicles.

5 Popular Programs

If you own a smart charging station or a connected vehicle, you’re likely already eligible for one of these programs. Here’s an overview and estimated rebates:

A true pioneer in Quebec’s electric mobility ecosystem, Roulez Électrique has made carbon credits more accessible to individuals through its dedicated portal, The Roulez électrique Club. It is open to residents of all Canadian provinces. Several brands of smart charging stations are eligible.

• How it works: To sign up, you must either have purchased your charging station directly from Roulez Électrique or receive an invitation from an ambassador member. When registering on the platform, you’ll need to select your charging station brand and then link your vehicle. For each eligible charging session, points are credited to your Roulez Électrique account.
  Compensation payments are made annually via bank transfer before September of the following year (for example, between June and September 2027 for credits accumulated in 2026).
• Estimated Rebate: Rebates from the Roulez Électrique Club vary by province. The “greener” your province’s electricity is, the greater the CO2 savings it generates. For example, in Quebec, depending on the brand of smart charging station you have, you’ll receive between 13 and 18 points per kW. Each point is equivalent to 1 cent upon conversion.
  For the average electric vehicle driver in Quebec, the rebate could range from $500 to $700 (based on 20,000 km/year, with an average consumption of 20 kWh/100 km).

The ChargeLab rebate program is open to residents of most Canadian provinces. Several brands of smart charging stations are eligible.

• How it works: Once you’ve registered and connected your charging station, the system automatically tracks your charging sessions. Rebates are paid every 4 months in the form of gift cards (with a dozen options to choose from).
• Estimated Rebate: The ChargeLab program’s rebate rate is $0.10/kWh, regardless of your province of residence. For the average electric vehicle owner in Quebec, the rebate could be around $400. (Based on 20,000 km/year, with an average consumption of 20 kWh/100 km.).

The Grizzl-E Club is open to residents of all Canadian provinces who own a Grizzl-E smart charging station.
If you own a Grizzl-E charging station, you can upgrade your current station to make it eligible for cash rewards or get one of their charging stations for free with a refundable deposit—which will also be eligible for rewards.

• How it works: A progressive reward rate structure based on energy consumption—the more kWh you consume over time, the higher the cashback amount per kWh will be.
  If you choose to get a free charging station, the cashback per kWh will be lower to offset the cost of the station. In the long run, it may be more advantageous to purchase the charging station yourself and earn more per kWh.
  You can redeem your rewards at any time once they reach $10, with no maximum limit.
• Estimated Rebate: Between $0.03 and $0.10 per kWh, depending on the type of charging station and the number of kWh you consume. Club Grizzl-E rebates are the same for all Canadian provinces.
  For the average electric vehicle driver in Quebec, the rebate could range from $120 to $400 (based on 20,000 km/year, with an average consumption of 20 kWh/100 km).

The WattsApp rewards program is open to Tesla account holders residing in all Canadian provinces. This program is currently limited to Tesla Wall Gen 3 and Tesla Wall Universal chargers, but may be expanded to include more brands in the future.

• How it works: Once you’ve signed up and connected your Tesla charger, the system automatically tracks your charging sessions. The system is directly linked to your Tesla ID.
  Several other rewards are also available to choose from, such as free “Supercharge” sessions and contests.
  You can start redeeming your points for rewards as soon as you’ve accumulated at least 10,000 points ($100). Rewards are paid out once a year in the first quarter.
• Estimated Rebate: You earn 21 points for every kWh of energy during a charging session (see terms and conditions, such as selecting the “Triple Play” option for “+3 points/kWh”). Each 100-point increment is worth $1, so 1 point equals 1 cent upon conversion.
  For the average electric vehicle driver in Quebec, the rebate could be around $800. (Based on 20,000 km/year, with an average consumption of 20 kWh/100 km).

TechnoVÉ’s EcoWatt rebate program is reserved for TechnoVÉ-brand smart charging stations. The program is open to residents of Quebec. It is managed by the carbon credit company Solution Novyra.

• How it works: Once you’ve registered and connected your TechnoVÉ charging station, the system automatically records your charging sessions.
  Reimbursements are paid once a year, by check, between July and August
• Estimated Rebate: The reimbursement rate for the EcoWatt program is advertised as variable. It is revised once a year, in July. This rate may increase or decrease depending on market conditions. For 2026, it is estimated at $0.12/kWh (though the website notes that this rate is indicative).
  For the average electric vehicle owner in Quebec, the rebate could be around $500. (Based on 20,000 km/year, with an average consumption of 20 kWh/100 km).

A host of other programs

Several other programs exist and may be launched in the coming months given the popularity of these rewards. Some programs are limited to a single Canadian province.

Visit the ChargeClub page for a comprehensive list of available programs: https://chargeclub.ca/en

5 Things to Know Before Taking the Plunge

Before you sign up and start racking up discounts, keep these points in mind:

1. Exclusivity is mandatory: You can’t claim carbon credits for the same electricity in two different places. You must choose just one program.
2. Read the fine print: It’s important to read the program rules before signing up. You likely won’t be able to switch programs if a better one comes along before you’ve met a certain participation period or duration.
3. Data sharing: To receive this money, you agree to share your charging habits (time, amount of energy, location) with the company.
4. Eligible charging stations: Your charging station must be smart, or you must have a connected vehicle, to be able to transmit your charging data.
5. Rewards vary: Rewards vary based on your electricity consumption and the charging station brands. If you drive 20,000 km per year, you can expect to receive between $120 and $840 per year, depending on the program. Many programs pay out rewards annually, so there’s no need to rush to get the money.
6. Eligible charging stations: If your charging station isn’t eligible or isn’t a smart station, you might want to consider upgrading. If you drive a lot of kilometers each year, this can become very financially beneficial.

Given that electricity costs about $0.12/kWh in Quebec, these programs literally cover all or part of your electricity bill for driving. On top of that, you can get discounts if you charge your car during off-peak hours through programs like Hilo.

Electric cars are more economical than ever!