Reducing GHG Emissions – Two Solutions are Within Reach

In 2019, they represent a logical choice for the pocketbook as well as a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Do you share my belief that electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in Quebec? The number of members who contact our Automotive Advisory Services on the subject is growing constantly.  No doubt, their motive is to reduce their dependence on gasoline. But what really seals the deal is when they realize that an EV will eventually cost less to own than a conventional car.

Certain signs don’t mislead. For one, Hydro-Québec will add 1,600 fast-charging stations in the next 10 years. For another, the Montreal Auto Show last January featured “The Generator,” a zone dedicated to electric mobility. And in May, the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Show will be held first in Montreal then in Quebec City.  Moreover, a 2018 CAA-Quebec survey show that two thirds of car shoppers plan to buy an EV or a hybrid.

Number of EVs has doubled

According to SA AQ records, 40,000 EVs are currently registered in Quebec – that’s almost double last year’s amount. In 2015, the Quebec government stated its goal of 100,000 registered plug-in hybrids by 2020. Many of us expressed reservations at the time. But today, some feel that the goal is now within reach, in part thanks to our neighbours in Ontario.

When the newly elected Ontario Conservative government promptly ended its EV rebate program, it effectively shifted those vehicles to Quebec. And the enthusiasm of Quebec consumers does prove one thing: The stakes in the EV world come down to what’s on offer. These vehicles must be abundant in both number and variety.

The Bloomberg Electric Vehicle Outlook 2018* estimates that as battery prices continue to fall, the “upfront cost of EVs will become competitive on an unsubsidized basis starting in 2024.” And better still, by then, battery capacity will be even greater.

Let’s tackle GHGs

Back in 2012, EVs were arguably an ideological option. But now in 2019, they represent a logical choice for the pocketbook as well as a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The reality is that EVs account for barely one percent of some five million cars on our roads and it’s our current fleet of vehicles that’s highly polluting and that will continue to do so for a long time.

So tackling GHGs is the way to proceed. But how do we go about it? The Green Fund, which exists precisely for that purpose, can certainly play a role. It can introduce a RénoVert-style program of financial incentives to better maintain our vehicles. The idea is not to hang on to jalopies at the public’s expense, but rather to avoid gas overconsumption and ensure that vehicles in circulation are in good working order and don’t pollute excessively.

Such a measure requires courage and a concrete commitment to the future. So let’s remember that one-third of GHGs is produced by ICE (internal-combustion-engine) vehicles and that we can have a real impact on the air we breathe. Do we really want to? Are we ready to show initiative? One thing is for sure: It’s high time we put in place the kind of solutions that are within our reach.

^{* Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Electric Vehicles, 2018.}