The Québec government is rolling back its Roulez vert program beginning February 1, 2025. The program provides financial incentives to those interested in purchasing new or used electric vehicles (EVs). The government program will be suspended until March 31 due to increased demand and lack of funds from Fonds d’électrification et de changements climatiques.
According to Statistics Canada, electric vehicles accounted for 189,780 registrations across Canada during the first three-quarters of 2024. Québec led Canada by far with 98,150 registrations, followed by Ontario with 41,349, and British Columbia with 34,981.
The Québec government explained that “1,335,278 electric vehicles were registered in Québec, including 332,419 light vehicles. Financial assistance under the program has awarded 318,972 of these light electric vehicles as of September 30, 2024.”
The Roulez vert program began in 2012 as part of the Québec government’s larger strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop a more sustainable infrastructure for green vehicles. Part of the initiative is dedicated to helping achieve 1.6 million electric vehicles registered and on the road in Québec by 2030.
Provided all the program’s conditions are met, financial assistance is available to help participants in the program help offset the initial costs of buying a low- or no-emission vehicle. Québécers and businesses situated in the province are eligible to utilize the program and can purchase a new or used EV and a variety of charging stations with rebates varying between $1,000 and $4,000.
As the provincial program begins winding down, individuals interested in EVs will now have to seek out other incentives to offset purchase costs.
The federal government also announced that the iZEV (Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles) Program had been paused on January 12, removing another incentive for those on the fence about investing in an EV.
Transport Canada stated that the program was “scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2025, or when the allocated funds were fully exhausted. Due to the popularity and increased demand for the Program in recent years, the funds allocated to support the iZEV Program have been completely committed ahead of schedule.”
Regional EV developments
Brownsburg-Chatham’s Directeur général Jean-François Brunet stated that the municipality had purchased two electric trucks in 2024 and that the change in the Roulez vert program will “have little effect on our network of charging infrastructure since we have already installed 10 around our municipal buildings.”
On January 14 in neighbouring Lachute, it was announced that two new 180 kW charging stations were installed and are now fully operational at parc de la Halte-Routière, at the intersection of rue Principale and route 329. The stations are part of the Hydro-Québec Circuit Electrique and will allow two EVs to be charged simultaneously.
The Roulez vert program is scheduled to end on December 31, 2026.
