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Check out the various initiatives organized by municipalities, public transit authorities and businesses all across Quebec. This section lists only the major projects and is by no means exhaustive.
This section also provides references to help bring you up to date on the latest developments in the area of transportation electrification in Quebec.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Electrification projects targeting electric public transit in Quebec.
City Mobility : Electric buses using rapid conductive charging technology in MontrealThe STM’s objective is to replace its fleet of some 1,799 diesel buses with hybrid electric vehicles over the next few years and to begin switching to fully electric buses starting in 2025.
One of the electric bus technologies proposed by the industry is known as “opportunity charging.” Under this system, the bus is rapidly charged at regular intervals along its route and at its end stations. The batteries required for this type of charging are much smaller and lighter, making them less expensive. The vehicle is also immobilized for shorter periods during charging, which can even be done at red lights and during passenger embarking and disembarking.
The City Mobility initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the Volvo Group, is a pilot project using all-electric buses. The Société de transport de Montréal acquired three buses designed by Nova Bus that use opportunity charging technology. These vehicles have been on the road since the summer of 2017 (on the 36 Monk line) and will be monitored over a period of three years.
eLion electric school busesSince 2015, eLion 100% electric buses manufactured by the Lion Electric Company in St. Jérôme have been busing children to and from school in several regions of Quebec (Laval, Lanaudière, Montérégie, Estrie, Chaudière-Appalaches). The electrification of school buses is growing, thanks in part to an incentive of up to $105,000 offered by the Quebec government for each electric school bus purchased. Lion expanded its offerings in the spring of 2018 with the launch of its electric minibus. And that’s not the only good news: the company is also planning to unveil a new complete line of fully electric urban trucks in 2019.
For more information.
The Société de transport de Laval (STL) added electric buses manufactured by DesignLine to its fleet after conducting tests in 2013. The STL was the first public transit authority in North America to test an electric bus. In 2015, a second model of electric bus made by BYD was tested. In 2017, the STL launched a call for tenders for the acquisition of 10 electric buses with the aim of establishing its first fully electric bus line by 2020. Starting in 2023, the STL plans to purchase only electric buses in order to achieve a 100% electric bus fleet by 2035-2040!
For more information.
The City of St. Jérôme, a pioneer in the electrification of transportation in Quebec, introduced a free electric shuttle bus service in 2016. The fully electric bus, manufactured by the Lion Electric Company, will offer citizens free shuttle service to downtown. Starting in September 2018, the City of St. Jérôme will also introduce an electric minibus built by the same company converted into a mobile library.
For more information.
Starting in spring 2018, residents of the Urbanova neighbourhood in Terrebonne will be able to ride autonomous electric shuttle buses developed by Navya, thanks to a year-long pilot project in collaboration with Keolis that will test the vehicle in winter driving conditions. Similar projects are planned in the coming months.
For more information.
VEHICLE FLEETS
Electrification initiatives targeting the vehicle fleets of organizations in Quebec.
Taxi COOP of LavalAs part of a three-year pilot project, Coop taxi owners in Laval will acquire a fleet of 30 electric cars in 2018, including eight Teslas. Twenty-five electric charging stations to power the taxis will also be installed in the city. This project will cut CO2 emissions by close to 1,224 tonnes. If the results of the pilot project are conclusive, the Laval-based taxi company plans to replace the remaining 183 vehicles in its fleet with electric and hybrid vehicles.
For more information.
The Innovative Vehicle Institute’s (IVI) Rechargeable Fleet project offers businesses the opportunity to try out a fleet of all-electric cars at absolutely no cost for a period of three weeks. The immersive experience includes: 5 to 9 electric vehicles, charging stations (1 rapid and 8 level-2 stations), training and a test report. Companies such as Cascades, Bell Canada and Optel Group have already tried the experience: why not sign up your company ?
For more information and to enrol.
In Quebec, Communauto’s Auto-Mobile program offers users access to over 1,000 station-based vehicles with a reservation and a self-service option with 600 vehicles available without a reservation. This service is available in Gatineau, Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Quebec City, Lévis and Sherbrooke. Communauto is the largest electric car-sharing service in Canada, with hundreds of electric (120) and hybrid cars. In Montreal, the Auto-Mobile program proposes a fleet composed of 86% hybrid vehicles and 14% electric vehicles.
For more information.
The City of St. Jérôme has over 20 electric and hybrid vehicles in its municipal fleet that are used regularly by the city’s employees. It recently purchased six new Nissan Leafs as part of a plan to gradually replace its gas-powered vehicles. The city has been named a “City-lab for Electric Vehicle Experimentation in Quebec” for its participation in several electric vehicle pilot projects involving electric vehicles.
For more information.
Six municipalities in Quebec (Plessiville, Bromont, Nicolet, Rivière-du-Loup, Sainte-Julienne, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac) launched a pilot project that offers a regional car-sharing service for electric vehicles, to offset the lack of a public transportation system in their municipalities. Since 2015, electric vehicles have been integrated in municipal fleets, in addition to being offered on a car-sharing basis to citizens, community organizations and social services. The pilot project is based on three objectives: to integrate electric vehicles in municipal fleets, to optimize their use by developing car sharing, and to promote the development of a green electric highway. The project has been so successful that 10 new municipalities in Quebec have expressed interest in joining, including Saint-Siméon in the spring of 2018.
For more information.
As part of its continuing effort to add electric vehicles to its municipal flee, the City of Montreal is planning to acquire 100 new 2018 Nissan Leafs, as announced by Mayor Valérie Plante in April 2018. With this purchase, the municipal vehicle fleet will have a total of 229 electric vehicles at the end of the year. This decision is in keeping with the City of Montreal’s objective of reducing its GHG emissions by 30% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. And, in other good news, the City aims to have installed a total of 1,000 charging stations across all Montreal neighbourhoods by 2020.
For more information.
The City of Laval continues to build on its reputation as a leader in the electrification of transportation. Its municipal fleet currently has 14 hybrid cars and utility vehicles and three electric cars, and Laval has no intention of stopping there. At the 2018 edition of the Montreal Electric Vehicle Show, the city announced it would offer a rebate of $2,000 to Laval citizens who purchase a fully electric car. In anticipation of the potential increase in the number of electric vehicles, it has also pledged to install 29 regular charging stations and 7 fast-charging stations by the end of 2019.
In the light passenger transport sector, Laval and the STL have put in place an electric bike-sharing service as part of a pilot projet to offer 300 self-service electric bikes by 2021. Implementation of the project began in spring 2018 around the Concorde, Cartier and Montmorency metro stations and in downtown Laval. In keeping with its strong belief in the potential of electric bikes, the City of Laval also offers its citizens a rebate of up to $400 for the purchase of an electrically assisted bike.
For more information.
At the start of 2018, the Téo Taxi fleet had 110 fully electric vehicles, with the main models being the Kia Soul, Nissan Leaf and Tesla. Users can reserve their taxi via an iOS or Android mobile app. The taxi company notably offers service between Pierre-Elliot-Trudeau International Airport and downtown Montreal.
For more information.
St-Hubert restaurants in Quebec City and Montreal were among the first to make the switch to electric delivery vehicles. In addition, Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert has partnered with the Electric Circuit to offer electric charging stations at each of its restaurants. It currently has over 100 charging stations, including 11 fast-charging stations. The St-Hubert outlet in Boucherville saved close $12,000 thanks to the use of its two electric vehicles the first year, in addition to providing access to the first fast-charging station in Quebec.
For more information.
EcoTuned Automobile is a young Montreal-based company created in 2011. The company developed a reusable electric conversion kit for light trucks. The system is catching on; the company recently delivered a refrigerated electric light truck to IGA for use in home deliveries as well as providing Aéroports de Montréal with an electric light truck. The City of Montreal also has an electric light truck in its vehicle fleet.
For more information.
Nordresa, a company based in Laval, develops, manufactures and sells electric propulsion systems for commercial vehicles. Two vehicles are currently available: an electric minivan for urban deliveries or mobile workshops and a cab-over-engine truck.
For more information.
Other Made-in-Quebec modes of electric transportation
Electric bikesIf you want to travel short distances without exerting too much effort, an electric bike might be just the thing for you. Respecting the 32 km/hr speed limit won’t be a problem and no hill will seem too high! There are several manufacturers of electric bikes here in Quebec, including eVox, Velec and Nyx Bikes.
Electric boatsElectrification has also made inroads in the marine sector, where there are now boats that are fully electric. Imagine taking a relaxing boat trip on the St. Lawrence with family and friends, but without the noise and the smell of fuel. The Canadian Electric Boat Company offers several boat models that make this dream possible. The boats are assembled in Sainte-Eustache and 90% of their components are sourced from local suppliers. LTS Marine is another Quebec-based company specialized in the manufacture of fully electric watersport vehicles.
Electric snowmobilesSnowmobiles are making the move to electric as well thanks to companies such as Taiga Motors, founded in 2015 by three students at McGill University. Their snowmobile was unveiled in early 2018 and will be produced in Quebec. Parks Canada has already ordered several of the machines. They’re sure to please thrillseekers and environmentalists alike!
Electric motorcyclesWith the entry of electric motorbikes in the market, motorcycle enthusiasts now also have the option of avoiding gas stations. Some of the models available are made in Quebec, including the SORA, manufactured by Longueuil-based LITO Green Motion. Also worthy of note is the EMUS electric racing motorcycle project led by students at the University of Sherbrooke.
Light electric transportationBiking isn’t the only means of light electric transportation. The hoverboard, skateboard, self-balancing unicycle, and the personal transporter are just a few examples of ways of getting around that can be powered by electricity. There’s also the electric scooter, such as the model offered by the Quebec-French company GeeBee. Made in Sherbrooke, this vehicle is meant to be practical, fun and customizable. Yet another new option for an eco-friendly weekend outing!
INFORMATION AND NEWS PORTALS
Useful references to find the latest news on electric vehicles.
Quebec Electric Vehicle Association(AVÉQ)The AVÉQ website offers the latest news and information available on electric vehicles. AVÉQ’s mission is to raise public awareness about the advantages of electric vehicles, to improve the charging infrastructure in Quebec, to promote electric tourism and to facilitate links between new and future owners of electric cars. The website also offers practical information such as a buying guide for electric vehicles and charging stations, an installation manual for charging stations, advice on winter driving with an electric car, blogs on the different models of electric cars and a wealth of other useful information.
For more information.
CAA-Québec offers a reference portal aimed at all Canadians interested in learning more about hybrid and electric vehicles. The website contains a wealth of information, including a map of charging stations across the country, the different hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle models available in Canada, government incentives available in each province and a calculator comparing the costs of owning a conventional vehicle versus a hybrid or electric vehicle.
For more information.
The Innovative Vehicle Institute’s mission is to support the development of technological solutions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint left by transportation. In addition to its focus on the electrification of transportation, it develops projects to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles, to reduce harmful emissions and GHG, and to promote renewal energy sources in the transportation sector. The IVI has participated in numerous initiatives, including the technical aspects of Téo Taxi and the development of the eLion electric school bus.
For more information.
Hydro-Québec is a major player in the electrification of transportation, particularly thanks to its generation of clean, renewable energy. The Crown corporation is also actively involved in the development of technologies for batteries and electric vehicle motors, as well as for the Electric Circuit network of charging stations.
For more information.
The Quebec government has adopted an ambitious plan for transportation electrification. One of the objectives of the action plan is to increase the number of electric and hybrid vehicles in the Quebec vehicle fleet to 100,000 by 2020. To achieve this goal, the Quebec government has introduced a rebate program for owners of electric vehicles and employers. It also supports numerous public electric transportation initiatives in the province.
For more information.
Roulez Électrique is a Quebec blog dedicated to providing the latest news on electric vehicles and to debunking the myths regarding this mode of transportation. It is also a distributor of home charging stations.
For more information.
