Quebec’s government has announced the temporary suspension of its popular “Roulez vert” electric vehicle (EV) rebate program. This decision, effective February 1 to April 1, 2025, comes amid budget constraints that were originally going to see the rebate phased out completely by 2027.
The Roulez vert program has long been a cornerstone of Quebec’s environmental strategy, offering financial incentives of up to $7,000 for EV buyers and $600 for residential charging station installations. However, the program’s popularity has drained available funds, leaving the government no choice but to pause subsidies.
Environment Minister Benoit Charette assured stakeholders that the suspension is temporary, with plans to resume after the 2025 budget announcement.
The federal $5,000 iZEV rebate for EV purchases remains available.
The suspension of the Roulez vert program follows a government announcement earlier this year to gradually phase out EV subsidies. Incentives were set to reduce from $7,000 to $4,000 starting January 1, 2025, and further to $2,000 in 2026, with a complete end slated for 2027. These measures aim to balance the program’s costs with the growing demand for EVs, which accounted for 34.6% of new vehicle sales in Quebec by late 2024.
Despite these plans, the unexpected pause has left buyers in confusion, as those awaiting vehicle deliveries may delay finalizing purchases until subsidies are reinstated.
The suspension complicates Quebec’s ambitious goal to have 2 million EVs on the road by 2030. With 335,000 EVs already registered in the province, representing 33% of Canada’s total EV population, Quebec leads the nation in adoption rates.
Despite these setbacks, Quebec remains committed to its broader environmental goals. The government plans to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035.
