Sale of electric vehicles: Quebec would be two years ahead of its objective

Quebec achieved its transportation electrification objective two years ahead of schedule: sales of new zero-emission vehicles represented 34% of total sales in the third quarter. However, experts fear a slowdown after the disappearance of the Roulez vert subsidy.

This is preliminary data, but our Parliamentary Office has learned that around 34% of new machines sold were electric or plug-in hybrids from July 1 to September 30, 2024.

Statistics Canada should release the official figures soon. Already, the previous quarter had revealed record sales of 28.4% and nearly 34,000 electric vehicles sold in three months.

Thus, sales in Quebec have exploded to the point of exceeding the objectives set in the Legault government’s schedule. In its plan, Quebec was targeting such percentages only in 2026. “We are two years ahead,” reported a source close to the file.

According to polls, between 46% and 54% of people disagree with the ban on the sale of new gasoline vehicles from 2035. Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party is also leading the protest campaign: “My tank, my choice”.

The Minister of the Environment, Benoît Charette, argued last week that the data would prove that Quebecers’ “appetite” for electric vehicles was growing.

“We have figures that we will reveal for the last quarter which demonstrate that, on the contrary, the appetite for Quebec vehicles is stronger than ever,” argued the minister.

End of grant

The more sales increase, the more the government must disburse subsidies from its Roulez vert program. By the end of the program in 2027, Quebec has budgeted approximately $780 million.

However, at this rate, the government could almost empty its kitty this year.

By adding the federal government subsidy, consumers obtain a $12,000 rebate on a new 100% electric vehicle. While the average cost of a gasoline vehicle is around $90,000.

However, from January 2025, Quebec will increase its subsidy from $7,000 to $4,000, then to $2,000 in 2026. It will then disappear.

Slowdown coming?

The general director of the Quebec Electric Vehicle Association, Sébastien Raîche, believes that the sales of the last quarter are good news. However, he maintains that the current increase is due to the end of the upcoming subsidy. He then fears a slowdown.

“It’s certain that there is an effect. With each announcement of an increase or decrease in subsidies, we saw sales increase and subsequently gradually decrease,” he noted, maintaining that the fall in interest rates also had to be taken into account.

According to the organization, it is therefore too early to end subsidies, the absence of affordable vehicles will harm the market. “It’s rare that the price of vehicles drops,” he said.

The Corporation of Quebec Automobile Dealers also speaks of a “phenomenon of swelling”, because people know that the program is ending.

“This is the hypothesis, an effect due to the deadline,” said public affairs director Charles Robert.

Evolution of the percentage of sales of electric vehicles in Quebec

2018 : 2,8%
2019 : 4,6%
2020 : 5,6%
2021: 7,2%
2022 : 10,07%
2023 : 16,2 %
2024: Could exceed 30% (preliminary figures)

​Number of electric vehicles in Quebec as of September 9, 2024:​ 298,848 vehicles registered

(Sources: Statistics Canada, Quebec Electric Vehicle Association and sources)