The University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières saw fit to rent two luxurious Ford Mustang Mach-Es to patrol its campus, including one for $92,000 for 8 years.
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In May 2023, UQTR boasted in a press release of having rented the two electric vehicles, “another gesture in our transition to a more sustainable lifestyle”. However, this was without mentioning the cost of the monthly payment, which amounts to the tidy sum of $960 and $776 per vehicle depending on the mileage included. This cost includes maintenance and emergency system, such as emergency lights.
The vehicle is identified by the University logo
Photo provided by a Source
Questioned by our Bureau of Investigation about the need to obtain such expensive vehicles, the University claims to have had to opt for a “robust vehicle” with all-wheel drive to “patrol difficult-to-access roads”, without however be able to specify which ones. In addition, a Quebec policy required it to rent a low-emission vehicle and obtain supplies from the Ministry of Transport (MTQ).
However, when it came time to choose, the diversity of ecological vehicles offered by the MTQ was “overall very limited,” says the university.
“Unfortunately, these models [moins dispendieux] were unavailable or were no longer offered in the vehicle catalog” of the Ministry of Transport, indicated spokesperson Jean-François Hinse.
Public funds
Despite the impressive expense, he assures that the University is “aware that UQTR funds are public funds”.
Photo provided by a Source
Remember that the Laval police department is in the hot seat due to the acquisition of a Mach-E for $94,000 which was driven by its director Pierre Brochet.
Asked to react, the MTQ recognizes that the Mach-E was the only car in the catalog that suited the specific needs of the university, namely a sports utility vehicle (SUV).
“The supply of electric vehicles is [aujourd’hui] more diverse in this category,” assures spokesperson Gilles Payer.
The latter also ensures that the University will save money by opting for an electric SUV rather than a combustion SUV, due to the low price of electricity.
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