Quebec could withdraw its subsidy for electric F-150s from companies

The Quebec government plans to modify the list of electric vehicles that can receive subsidies for purchase by businesses. Among the models at the center of consideration is the electric Ford F-150 pickup truck, which has eaten up almost half of the envelope in the last year.

Between April 2023 and September 2024, when the Ecocamionnage program was suspended, 1,743 heavy vehicles benefited from a government subsidy. Among them were 752 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks, or 43 percent of the total.

A business can receive $10,000 in grant funding for the purchase of this model, but the van must be used for commercial, not personal, use.

According to our information, doubts have emerged in Quebec as to whether the beneficiaries will respect this principle. However, the government does not officially confirm this.

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The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility specifies that to be eligible for the subsidy, the applicant must be a business. The vehicle must be registered with a plate Fthat is to say for mainly commercial use.

The Ecocamionnage program aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the road transportation of goods and service vehicles industry.

The ministry had invoked a exceptional enthusiasm to explain the suspension of the program in September 2024. A new version should see the light of day in April 2025.

The office of Minister Geneviève Guilbault points out that using a commercial vehicle for personal purposes constitutes a violation of tax rules.

Initially, the F-150s had been included [au programme Écocamionnage] because there was a view that was intended to be inclusive of the reality of small and medium-sized businessesexplains Geneviève Tremblay, Strategic Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

The entire program is being revised, it will include the types of vehicles that are eligible, then we will take a look at the F-150s.

The cabinet is unable to say whether the F-150 subsidy will be maintained or not, but it is obvious that we are going to have discussions for all vehicles, with our environmental colleagues, to ensure that what remains in the new version of the program will continue to achieve the objectives that we have. with this programadds Geneviève Tremblay.

In the office of the Minister of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, we are told that the reduction of GES East the first criterion for this program.

In this regard, the ministry calculated the reduction of GES by truck and van which can benefit from the program. It concludes that a dollar of subsidy for the purchase of a van reduces more GES than a dollar for a heavy truck.

Typical Class 8 truck (heavy truck):

• Cost (diesel model): $179,000

• Cost (electric model): $600 to $800,000

• Subvention (maximale): 175 000 $

• Consumption and mileage: 105,000 km/year at 34.7 liters/100 km

• Factor for diesel: 0.0028 tonnes of CO₂/litre

• GES total (in tonnes of CO equivalent₂) : 105 000 x (34,7 / 100) x 0,0028 x 9 = 918

• $/tonne: 175 000 $ / 918 tonnes = 191 $/tonne

Typical Class 2B truck (F150 vs F Lightning) :

• Cost (example F-150): $73,000

• Coût (F-150 Lightning) : 86 000 $

• Subvention (max) : 10 000 $

• Consumption and mileage: 16,000 km/year at 18.1 liters/100 km

• Factor for gasoline: 0.0024 tonnes of CO₂/litre

• Total GHG (in tonnes of CO equivalent₂) : 16 000 x (18,1 / 100) x 0,0024 x 13 = 90

• $/tonne : 10 000 $ / 90 tonnes = 111 $/tonne