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The attraction of Quebec consumers for “light trucks” and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) may contribute to the aggravation of environmental crises, the Legault government does not intend to act to reduce the popularity of these vehicles.
The findings of the 2023 edition of the report on the state of energy in Quebec are unequivocal: sales of SUVs, vans and pickup trucks have increased markedly over the years in the province. These have increased by 253% between 1990 and 2021, to the point of representing 71% of sales in the province in 2021.
However, this growing popularity represents a nuisance for the achievement of Quebec’s environmental objectives, including climate targets, underlines the holder of the Chair of Energy Sector Management at HEC Montreal, Pierre-Olivier Pineau. “The proliferation of SUVs is very bad news for urban sprawl and land use, because it encourages less density. It’s also a catastrophe for household and infrastructure costs, because SUVs and roads are very expensive. »
General increase
According to the most recent report from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), in 2022 there were nearly 2.38 million personal vehicles of the “light truck” type, which includes SUVs, vans and pick-up trucks. . In 2017, that number was 1.86 million. This is an increase of 520,000 vehicles.
Note: the upward trend in the number of “light trucks” is a reality in all regions of Quebec. In Montreal, their number has increased from 266,615 in 2017 to 336,158 in 2022, according to the most recent report from the SAAQ. In the Capitale-Nationale region, the number rose from 164,477 to 214,107 during the same period. The increases are also constant in Laval, Lanaudière, Montérégie, Estrie, Centre-du-Québec and the Laurentians.
On the other hand, there is a drop in “automotive” type vehicles in all regions, including in urban areas such as Montreal, Laval or the Capitale-Nationale.
Electrifying SUVs
However, Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette does not intend to act to reverse this trend to acquire larger and more energy-consuming vehicles. “We have passed a law that bans the sale of new gas-powered vehicles from 2035 and we are investing, like no other government before, in public transport projects”, argues his cabinet in a written response to the Duty.
The Legault government adds that the solution for personal vehicles, including SUVs, involves electrification. “Already, 13.2% of 2022 sales are plug-in cars, which puts us on a very good path to meet our greenhouse gas targets. »
According to the data recorded in the last report State of energy in Quebec, electric vehicles now represent just over 5% of vehicles on the road in Québec. And consumers mainly buy electric “trucks”, including SUVs. However, “an electric SUV can consume 50% more energy than an electric car”, specifies Mr. Pineau, which does not bode well for electricity demand in the coming years. Not to mention the demand for renewable resources to produce these vehicles.
The advertising effect
Political analyst and sustainable mobility specialist at Équiterre, Andréanne Brazeau deplores the standardization of large vehicles on our roads. “Manufacturers are pulling small vehicles off the market. This is not surprising, because governments are not putting in place the options to curb this trend,” she argues.
“Advertising plays an extremely important role in this normalization,” she adds. For example, a study published last year by Équiterre showed that light trucks appear in 79% of automobile advertisements in newspapers and magazines. “The industry invests significant sums in it because it works. And large vehicles are often associated with adventure or natural environments. It’s ironic, because vehicles contribute to urban sprawl, and therefore to the destruction of natural environments. »
The proliferation of SUVs is very bad news for urban sprawl and land use, because it encourages less density
While specifying that barely 15% of “light trucks” are registered for commercial purposes in Quebec, Ms.me Brazeau pleads for the imposition of dissuasive measures with regard to the purchase of fuel-intensive and imposing vehicles. She evokes the idea of taxation based on consumption and the weight of vehicles, specifying that the income could be used to finance public and active transport, but also state support for the purchase of electric cars. .
“We must use eco-taxation to reverse the current trend and discourage the purchase of these vehicles, otherwise their popularity will continue to increase. It has become normal to have large vehicles,” sums up the Équiterre specialist.