The Prime Minister of Québec Jean Charest and the Ministers of Natural Resources, Transport, Environment and Economic Development revealed today their 2011-2012 Electric Vehicle Action Plan, with the goal of speeding up their implantation. According to their previsions, a total of 300,000 EVs will be travelling on Québec’s roads by 2020, or 5% of the province’s car population
At that time, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will account for 25% of all new vehicle sales, an impressive 118,000 units per year.
A total of 55 million dollars will be injected into the plan. Of the 55 million, 30 is earmarked for automakers and manufacturers of EV and hybrid components in Québec. The remaining 25 million will be used to attract foreign investors, with the aim of pumping an additional 500 million into the economy and in so doing increase the number of EV-related jobs from 1,500 to 5,000.
In addition, the research and development budget, namely for batteries and charging station development, will receive an extra 36 million.
Today’s news comes after a series of measures announced by the Charest government. The most recent, from March 17, concerned a discount on the purchase and lease of electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids offered as of January 1, 2012. The contribution will reach an estimated 50 million dollars by 2015-2016.
These measures are all closely linked to the government’s plans of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, based on 1990 levels. The government of Québec obviously considers that the use of green technologies is essential in reaching that goal.
Citizens and environmentalists are already concerned that the plan puts more emphasis on private rather than public transport.
Sources : La Presse, Le Devoir
At that time, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will account for 25% of all new vehicle sales, an impressive 118,000 units per year.
A total of 55 million dollars will be injected into the plan. Of the 55 million, 30 is earmarked for automakers and manufacturers of EV and hybrid components in Québec. The remaining 25 million will be used to attract foreign investors, with the aim of pumping an additional 500 million into the economy and in so doing increase the number of EV-related jobs from 1,500 to 5,000.
In addition, the research and development budget, namely for batteries and charging station development, will receive an extra 36 million.
Today’s news comes after a series of measures announced by the Charest government. The most recent, from March 17, concerned a discount on the purchase and lease of electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids offered as of January 1, 2012. The contribution will reach an estimated 50 million dollars by 2015-2016.
These measures are all closely linked to the government’s plans of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, based on 1990 levels. The government of Québec obviously considers that the use of green technologies is essential in reaching that goal.
Citizens and environmentalists are already concerned that the plan puts more emphasis on private rather than public transport.
Sources : La Presse, Le Devoir