The subsidy program for those purchasing an electric vehicle in Quebec will be suspended next year.
On Monday, the Environment Minister announced reductions to “Go Green” (Roulez vert) subsidies starting in 2025 and added that those wanting to take advantage of the subsidy will have to do so in January.
“Due to the significant demand managed by Roulez vert in recent months, the program will be temporarily suspended as of February 1,” the ministry wrote.
The ministry told CTV News that the program will resume on April 1 after the next provincial budget.
The release adds that e-vehicles made up over 30 per cent of the market share in the third quarter of 2024 making Quebec the top region in North America.
In 2025, subsidies will be reduced across the spectrum.
Subsidies for fully electric vehicles will go from $7,000 (2024) to $4,000 (2025) before dropping to $2,000 (2026) and then nothing in 2027 when the program ends.
“The financial assistance offered under the Roulez vert program was designed to provide the necessary impetus to the emerging electric vehicle market and support its transformation,” the ministry said.
Quebec says there are around 335,000 e-vehicles on the roads, making up 33 per cent of electric vehicles in Canada.
Reductions to other subsidies are as follows:
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Hybrid vehicle (from 8 to 15 kWh): $2,500 (2024); $1,000 (2025); $500 (2026) -
Hybrid vehicle (more than 15 kWh): $5,000 (2024); $2,000 (2025); $1,000 (2026) -
Used fully electric vehicle: $3,500 (2024); $2,000 (2025); $1,000 (2026) -
Electric motorcycle: $2,000 (2024); $1,000 (2025); $500 (2026) -
Electric limited speed motorcycle: $500 (2024); no further subsides.
The news about the subsidies comes the same day that Quebec passed a bill that would ban gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035.
The Global Automakers of Canada (GAC) said its members were concerned over the announcement.
“We have always said that incentives do not need to be in place forever, but they do need to be in place until price parity is more or less achieved, and this is definitely not the case today with AutoTrader indicating that EVs are at least $11,000 more expensive than ICE vehicles,” said GAC president and CEO David Adams. “This does not bode well for continued EV adoption in Quebec where survey after survey has revealed that vehicle affordability is the single biggest barrier to adoption of electric vehicles.”
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