Government vehicle fleet | Less than 1% is fully electric

Barely a hundred cars are fully electric (VEE) to date among the Quebec government’s fleet, a figure that is still “very shy” compared to the approximately 20,000 cars that make it up, according to experts. However, a “transition” seems to be taking place, with the acquisition of plug-in hybrid vehicles having accelerated in recent years.

“It has to progress much faster. The State has a duty to lead by example,” insists the former Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks Daniel Breton.

According to data obtained from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) through an access to information request, just over 110 of the 19,230 government vehicles currently registered are 100% electric, i.e. less than 1 % of them.

These figures, however, exclude plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, which the authorities officially classify as “electric vehicles”.

To date, the government has at least 1,915 plug-in hybrid cars, according to figures obtained from Propulsion Québec, just over 10% of the fleet.

From 2017 to 2022, the government added 3,669 vehicles to its fleet, of which only 50 are fully electric, SAAQ figures show.

According to the company, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD) has the most electric vehicles, with about a hundred out of a fleet of around 8,100 vehicles.

The second largest owner of all-electric vehicles is the Ministry of the Environment, which aligns 7, or 1.5% of its 449 vehicles.

Gilles Payer also confirms that the MTMD acquired 758 vehicles in 2022. Of this number, “393 were not electrifiable, due to the limited or non-existent market supply: these are vans, trucks, tool vehicles as well as trailers,” he says.

Of the 365 vehicles acquired that are indeed electrifiable, 40 of them were 100% electric and 291 were plug-in hybrids. For the Ministry, “it is currently impossible to electrify all registered vehicles, for example trailers,” admits the spokesperson.

By 2030, the government aims, however, to have electrified 100% of its “light vehicles, sedans, vans, vans, minivans and SUVs”, and 25% of light trucks. Then, by 2040, we aim to electrify 100% of heavy trucks in the government fleet.

“Very shy” portrait

Now president of Electric Mobility Canada, an organization dedicated to promoting electromobility, Daniel Breton nevertheless judges that the government is “very timid” in its acquisitions of electric vehicles. “You have to be more resolute in the will to make the transition,” he says.

The ex-elected welcomes the acquisition of hundreds of plug-in hybrid vehicles, but recalls that “too often”, this type of car “almost always runs on gasoline”.

“The supposed environmental gains of plug-in hybrid vehicles are less, since people do not plug them in, especially when they are fleets. There are also many electrical systems that do not start in the winter. And these plug-in hybrids are the majority of vehicles that have been acquired by the government in recent years, ”he reasons.

Mr. Breton said he called the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) on this subject. “They never recharged the vehicles and ran on gasoline all the time. I went to see people at MAPAQ at the time to tell them it was ridiculous. […] We were told that there was no obligation to install terminals, and that therefore it had not been done, ”sums up the former minister.

A “transition”, but…

At Propulsion Québec, CEO Sarah Houde also recognizes that “the gains are less” with plug-in hybrid vehicles, but recalls that these are still “necessary to begin a transition”.

“Personally, I would rather the government buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle than buy a gasoline vehicle. It is also part of the transformation of habits, of the maintenance skills of the staff, and it also develops expertise in the management of charging,” says Ms.^me Houde, pointing out that the number of charging stations has also “greatly improved” in recent years.

One thing is certain: the state must go “faster and further”, insists Sarah Houde.

“Every fleet is different and every transition scenario needs to be really thought out. We must not go head first into it, ”insists the manager.

Pierre-Olivier Pineau, professor and holder of the Energy Sector Management Chair at HEC Montréal, also believes that the government, like the rest of the population, is dealing with “supply issues”.

“The desired electric vehicles are often not available at dealerships. Otherwise, for operational reasons, electric vehicles are not yet adapted to the government’s mission and practices,” he reasons.