Plan for a Green Economy 2030: Transportation electrification

The Quebec government unveiled its Plan for a Green Economy 2030 on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Electric Mobility Canada (EMC) has reviewed the plan and identified actions related to the electrification of transportation.

The plan’s goals, in relation to transportation electrification, are:

  • To have 1.6 million electric vehicles on the road in Quebec by 2030 (upward adjustment of 100,000 from the previous target).
  • No sales of new gasoline or diesel vehicles by 2035.
  • 55% of city buses and 65% of school buses electrified by 2030.
  • Government fleet electrification : 100% of cars, SUVs, vans and minivans and 25% of pickup trucks electrified by 2030.

EMC Comments:

  • EMC congratulates the government on the upward adjustment of the target number of electric vehicles in Quebec and hopes that the tightening of its ZEV mandate will take this adjustment into account.
  • EMC also highlights the leadership shown by the government in rapidly electrifying its fleet.
  • EMC notes that almost 40% of the money allocated to climate change mitigation and 33% of the total investments in the plan are related to the electrification of transportation. In total, $2.36 billion over 5 years will be dedicated to advancing the electrification of transportation.

Summary of measures included in the plan:

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

  • Increasing the target to 1.6 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030.
  • Investing a total of $1,058.9 million over five years to maintain rebates for the purchase of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and for the installation of private charging stations

PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS

  • 50 million is being provided to private sector companies to enable the installation of 250 additional public fast charging stations near homes and workplaces.
  • Funding for 30 additional fast charging stations in the Electricity Circuit
  • Improvements will be made in the short term to the financial assistance programs for charging stations (Roulez Vert and Transportez Vert) in order to maximize the use of installed charging stations and take into account new market realities.
  • The government will propose a strategy for electric vehicle charging by 2023. This strategy will address issues such as the complementarity of charging networks, the coordination of government initiatives, regulations, the role of the private sector and municipalities, and the impact on the electrical grid. A charging deployment plan will also be developed to better align the needs and supply of charging for all customers.
  • A specific action on the deployment of on-street charging stations, complementary to the program launched in May 2021 by Hydro-Québec to support municipalities in the deployment of curbside charging stations

ECOBUS

  • New Écobus program (buses, minibuses, vans): $73.4 million over five years

ECOTRUCKING

  • Budget allocation of $246.3 million over five years, an increase of $46.4 million.
  • The program now allows (as of January 2022) for the funding of new vehicle categories, including commercial trucks and vans.

URBAN TRANSPORTATION

  • Additional investment of $114.5 million to support the electrification of transit buses (total of $524.6 million over five years).
  • Starting in 2025, all new vehicles acquired by transit authorities and receiving government subsidies will be electric vehicles.

GOVERNMENT VEHICLE FLEET

  • Implemented the new Government Electric Vehicle Procurement Policy, which calls for the electrification of 100% of light-duty vehicles (cars, vans, sport utility vehicles and minivans) and 25% of light-duty trucks in the departmental and agency fleet by 2030.
  • All departments and agencies wishing to acquire a vehicle will now be required to purchase one with electric propulsion. To date, there are just over 1,700 electric vehicles in the government fleet of approximately 21,000 light-duty vehicles, trucks and buses.

INDUSTRY

  • Foster the development of innovative products in the electric vehicle industry: $24.8M over five years
  • Develop an electric vehicle roadmap to foster the development of innovative products in the electric vehicle industry.

BATTERY RECYCLING

  • Supporting the development of a battery recycling industry: 16.8M over five years