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Montreal, September 2, 2025 – Fewer cars. Smaller models. More electrification. With these choices, Quebec could cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ease traffic congestion, and save billions. It would even free up enough energy to help other sectors succeed in their own ecological transition. That’s the conclusion of a new modeling study commissioned by Équiterre and carried out by Coop Carbone.
The report presents three scenarios, each with varying levels of ambition by 2040, combining three key actions:
Reducing the number of vehicles
Reducing vehicle size
Electrifying the vehicle fleet
“The three scenarios are clear: no matter the path we choose, electrification alone won’t be enough to ensure a successful energy transition in Quebec. We must both electrify and reduce the number and size of vehicles. This strategy is what will allow us to tackle not only climate challenges, but also broader societal issues,” explains Blandine Sebileau, sustainable mobility analyst at Équiterre.
“The current waste of energy—whether our vehicles run on gas or electricity—is colossal,” she adds.
Benefits Beyond Climate
These choices would not only benefit the climate, but also improve quality of life for Quebecers. Fewer cars means less congestion, less lost productivity, slower road deterioration, fewer accidents, fewer respiratory illnesses, lower household expenses, and more space for people in our cities.
Cutting the number of vehicles by 30%, combined with a reduction in vehicle size, would also free up to 10.5 TWh/year of electrical capacity by 2040 compared to a growing fleet scenario. This would save taxpayers billions of dollars by avoiding the need to build a new hydroelectric complex equivalent to 1.3 times the size of the La Romaine dam.
Freeing Up Energy
“We often think electrifying cars will require too much electricity. But what we forget is that by reducing car use, we can free up a tremendous amount of power. That energy could then be used to decarbonize other key sectors such as heating our buildings or our agriculture,” says Sebileau.
Among the most striking findings:
Reducing the number of vehicles by 30% and replacing light duty trucks (SUVs, Pick-ups) with smaller cars would cut 82% of GHG emissions from the vehicle fleet compared to 2024— that’s the equivalent to eliminating half of Quebec’s 2022 road transport emissions.
The same strategy would also reduce by 55% the amount of electricity needed to electrify a growing vehicle fleet.
The energy saved could then be used to heat every household in Quebec with clean electricity, or help decarbonize part of the agricultural sector.
Équiterre's offices are located on Indigenous lands that have not been ceded by treaty, which we now call Montreal and Quebec City. We recognize that Indigenous peoples have protected their territories since immemorial times and have used their traditional knowledge to guard the lands and waters. We are grateful to live on these lands and are committed to continuing our efforts to protect them. Read more »
