The Premier of Québec, Philippe Couillard, accompanied by Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Montreal region, Robert Poëti and several other ministers, unveiled its new action plan for transportation electrification on October 9.
The Plan d’action en électrification des transports 2015-2020 has a budget of over $ 420 million and has the following objectives:
- increase the number of electric vehicles in Québec’s automobile fleet;
- participate in the fight against climate change, notably by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases;
- reduce energy dependence on oil and improve the trade balance of Quebec;
- contribute to Québec’s economic development by focusing on a future industry and using the electrical energy available in Quebec.
A total of 35 measures are listed in the action plan. This includes measures to encourage the use of electric vehicles, the development of innovative solutions in the freight transportation sector, increased efforts in research and development, and support for commercialization and exportation of innovative Quebec products.
Two pages of the Plan are devoted to freight transportation.
The Plan admits that the efficient movement of goods contributes to the economic performance of companies and that efficiency, convenience and reliability are the main criteria that dictate the choice of transport mode and technology.
The railway sector has an edge over the other sectors already using proven electric technologies for many years
The Plan highlights that in terms of road transport, vehicle electrification is currently more suited to urban deliveries than long distances transport, mainly because of autonomy issues. But the industry is not left out in terms of technologies that reduce fuel consumption and improve energy efficiency of vehicles. Transporters have now access to various technologies, such as electric auxiliary systems for heating, cooling and electrical supply to the cabin as well as equipment to enhance vehicle aerodynamics.
Soon, technological advances in the field of batteries will make it possible to meet the specific needs of the trucking industry.
To achieve its goal, the government intends to spend $ 38.4 million for the implementation of electrification projects in freight transport for the next five years. This sum is divided into two separate measures. In the first place, $ 12.5 million will be used to support measures for demonstration projects. A second batch of $ 25.9 million will be used for electrification incentives under current programs in maritime, air and rail, intermodal transport and Écocamionnage.
In the framework of launching a new vehicle on the market, entrepreneurs have difficulty in concluding their first sales when the vehicle has not been tested in real conditions of use. It is in this perspective that measures will be implemented to support demonstration projects in the trucking and logistics industries as well as in maritime, air and rail transport sectors.
The Ministère des Transports du Québec already has three programs aimed at reducing or avoiding GHG emissions in the transport of goods: > Assistance Program to improve the efficiency of maritime, air and rail (PETMAF); > The Écocamionnage program; > The program for the reduction or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions through the development of intermodal transport (PREGTI).
The plan foresees doubling the amount of the grant provided for projects in transportation electrification in these three programs. An opportunity for designers of potential solutions, fleet managers, truck owners and highway carriers.