Quebec has become the first Canadian province to adopt a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate similar to the one in effect in California. Quebec’s National Assembly passed the regulation by a unanimous vote of 112 to 0.

Starting with the 2018 model year, automakers will be required to generate ZEV credits equivalent to 3.5 percent of their sales in Quebec (four times the current market share for all plug-in vehicles), and the threshold will rise quickly, to 15.5 percent of sales by 2025.

The Quebec government already offers EV purchase rebates of up to $8,000, as well as grants for the purchase and installation of charging stations. The province has set a goal of having 100,000 plug-in vehicles on its roads by 2020.

“We have just adopted one of the toughest bills in North America, and we did so unanimously,” said David Heurtel, Quebec’s Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change. “This act is fully in line with our vision of a Quebec that has fast-tracked into the economy of the 21st century – a modern, prosperous and low-carbon economy. Promoting transportation electrification means investing in the future of our businesses and our children’s future.”

“The energy policy we unveiled last spring focuses on concrete actions to foster the transition to a low-carbon footprint economy. Today’s announcement, combined with other measures already underway, such as the Drive Electric and Plug at Work programs, the deployment of a charging station network across Quebec and the implementation of a multi-fuel service station pilot project, proves that our government wants to provide itself with the means to achieve this transition,” added the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Pierre Arcand.

A draft regulation will be tabled shortly for public consultation. The law may yet be amended in response to automaker input, but Green Car Reports notes that car companies have been surprisingly positive in their public responses to the bill so far.

Source: Province of Quebec via Green Car Reports