Quebec plans to set minimum sale quota on electric cars

The Quebec government wants to be the first Canadian province to set a minimum quota for the number ofelectric or low-emission cars sold.

Radio-Canadais reporting that the quota would be set at 15.5 per cent of all cars sold in the province by 2025.

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The provincial government says it wants Quebec to follow in the footsteps of California, the first U.S. state to set a 15per cent sales quota for electric and low-emission vehicles.

How it will work

The government wants to set up a system with car manufacturers that would see them gain credits or royalties for the number of electric vehicles they lease or sell.

The quota would apply tocar manufacturers that sell more than 5,000 cars a year in the province.

Manufacturers that don't accumulateenough credits will be forced to pay a fine.

The government plans to create a registrythat would keep track of all electric vehicles sold by each car manufacturer and the credits accumulated.

Electric cars up in Quebec

In Quebec, the number of owners of electric cars has doubled every year overthe past four years.

The government has also introduced incentives. Drivers can receive a rebate of up to $8,000 on the purchase of an electric vehicle.

Last October, the government announced it was spending$420 million over the next five years on its new vehicle-electrification plan.

The government plansto install 785 public-access charging stations and 60 or so quick-charging stations. It will also askbusinesses to install charging units for employees.

Hearings into the bill are expected to begin in the fall.