Subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles: Quebec has no more money and will suspend its program

Quebec no longer has money in its Roulez vert program due to the explosion in demand for the purchase of electric vehicles, so much so that it will “temporarily” suspend the granting of subsidies next February.

The Roulez vert program subsidy of $7,000 will be reduced to $4,000 in January. However, our parliamentary office has learned that as of February, the government will have to temporarily suspend the program. Those who want to buy an EV next winter will not be entitled to the Quebec subsidy.

The significant demand in recent months for Roulez vert has emptied the program’s budget. Since July, 34.6% of new vehicles sold have been electric.

According to our information, the Ministry of the Environment hopes to resume the program in April 2025, after the next budget and the granting of budgetary appropriations.

If it survives until 2026, the program will be further reduced to $2,000 before disappearing the following year.

The provincial subsidy is currently $7,000 for the purchase of a 100% electric vehicle. Including federal assistance, the rebate is $12,000. With the growth in EV sales, it’s a question of “big money”, recently pointed out the Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, in an interview with Journal.

The Legault government today adopted its regulation which confirms the ban on the purchase of thermal vehicles in 2035.

“From the 1^is January 2034, it will be prohibited to market a light combustion vehicle of model years 2035 and later, new or used, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models,” mentioned the Ministry of the Environment on Monday.

Ban confirmed

From December 31, 2035, the sale and rental of new light combustion vehicles will be prohibited.

Quebec confirms that an evaluation will be carried out in 2026 and 2030 in order to plan the proper implementation of the regulation. Studies on market developments are to be expected, it is reported.

Remember that the Legault government is targeting 2 million electric vehicles on Quebec roads in 2030 and 4.1 million in 2035.

Quebec has chosen not to add an additional tax burden to citizens, refusing to implement a surtax on gasoline vehicles. Minister Benoit Charette prefers to encourage change differently. Rather, it is the car manufacturers who must adapt, otherwise they will have to pay.

With its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standard, Quebec is forcing car manufacturers to offer more electric models and to reach certain sales percentages. Each year, this percentage will increase and must, for example, reach 45% in 2027 and 85% in 2030.