Quebec will ban gas engines in cars starting in 2035 – or sooner?
Quebec, Canada’s second-largest province, passed a bill this week banning the sale of gasoline-powered light-duty vehicle starting in the 2035 model year – a timeline in line with the rest of the country’s ban, but the specifics of Quebec’s are even stronger.
In 2022, Canada unveiled a new emissions reduction plan with a mandate requiring scaling EV sales through 2035, at which point all new cars sold must be zero-emission vehicles.
That rule includes an exemption to allow the sale of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which still have an internal combustion engine, as long as the PHEV meets minimum requirements.
But Quebec decided to do one better, and passed a new bill this week which goes even further. It still has a 2035 target, but it also bans the sale of hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Quebec is currently leading the rest of the Canada in new EV registrations, making up roughly half of the entire country’s EV sales despite only being a fifth of the country’s population. EVs hold about a 33% market share of new vehicle sales in the province, which is even more than California’s EV market share (Quebec and California share similar environmental philosophies – and even have a cross-border carbon cap-and-trade market).
Part of Quebec’s EV success is due to heavy government incentives through the Roulez vert (“green wheels”) program, though the government recently announced a temporary suspension of that program, and incentives will be cut in 2025 and eliminated in 2027.
It also competes for the cleanest electricity in Canada, with 94% hydropower and 5% wind power (Manitoba and Prince Edward Island also have ~99% renewable electricity grids).
So it’s a great place for an EV – and Quebec’s new bill recognizes that and turns it into law.
The specifics are that, as of Jan 31, 2034, Quebec will disallow the advertisement or sale of any model year 2035 light-duty vehicle with a combustion engine.
The ban also applies to used vehicles past model year 2035, thus disallowing import of cars from other provinces that might have more lax requirements than Quebec’s. This used car requirement not only protects Quebec’s law from the possibility of more lax laws in other provinces, but also from potential meddling by Canada’s federal government.
While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s long-running Liberal government has made climate change a priority, a potential future conservative government (which seems likely to come in the next year) might work to sabotage those efforts at improving the environment. If that does happen, Quebec’s provincial law would still apply.
Then later, on Dec 31, 2025, the sale or lease of new vehicles of model year 2034 or earlier would be banned. This later timeline will help allow dealerships to clear out inventory of older model vehicles.
It even applies to combustion engines themselves – you won’t even be able to sell the engines, unless it’s to replace an engine in a vehicle that’s already on the road.
The new law only applies to light-duty vehicles, not to medium/heavy duty vehicles or off-road vehicles like ATVs and snowmobiles (which are often run on two-stroke engines and are extremely noisy and high-polluting).
Quebec’s left-wing party, Quebec Solidaire, had requested that the timeline be set to 2030, rather than 2035 (something we’ve called for before, asking “why not sooner?” about California and Europe’s 2035 target). But the government was worried that not enough EVs would be available to supply Quebec’s market by that time.
However, there will be a chance to adjust this timeline. The bill directs the provincial government to analyze the market in 2026 and 2030, and potentially adjust the timeline for 2035 compliance. It’s possible that, if Quebec is way ahead of schedule, a 2035 timeline could be moved forward (after all, Norway came within shouting distance of its goal 3 years early). Maybe this is wishful thinking from this EV publication, but we’ll have our fingers crossed at least.
If, however, you don’t live in Quebec and therefore don’t have some of the cleanest electricity in the world like they do, you should consider charging your electric vehicle at home using rooftop solar panels. Find a reliable and competitively priced solar installer near you on EnergySage, for free. They have pre-vetted installers competing for your business, ensuring high-quality solutions and 20-30% savings. It’s free, with no sales calls until you choose an installer. Compare personalized solar quotes online and receive guidance from unbiased Energy Advisers. Get started here. – ad*
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On today’s energizing episode of Quick Charge, judges rule that Montana’s companies owe their kids a cleaner future, the Dacia Sandero looks set to overtake the Tesla Model Y in the European sales race, and a bunch of other stuff.
We’ve also got two brand-new, zero-emission Honda EVs set to debut at the CES show in January, a new and better way to recycle electric car batteries developed by BMW, and a massive new solar project being bankrolled by Walmart.
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Toyota just got a $4.5 million boost from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to make EV batteries more sustainable.
The funding comes from ARPA-E’s CIRCULAR program, which focuses on creating a sustainable, domestic supply chain for EV batteries.
The project, led by Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA), aims to tackle one of the EV industry’s biggest challenges: What do we do with old batteries?
Right now, disassembling battery packs and figuring out which parts can be reused or recycled is a slow, manual, and costly process. Toyota, teaming up with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Baker Hughes’ Waygate Technologies, is working to change that.
Building the battery recycling center of the future
The project will focus on resolving the primary bottlenecks in the battery supply chain cycle, which are automating battery pack disassembly, data-driven battery classification, and addressing cell degradation. Think of it as a high-tech recycling center where every part of a used battery is carefully evaluated.
This approach could extend the life of valuable battery materials, reducing waste and the need to mine new resources. The ultimate goal? A blueprint for what Toyota calls a “3R facility of the future” – a place to reduce, reuse, and recycle batteries on an industrial scale.
Nik Singh, principal scientist at TRINA and principal investigator on this project, says the project could reshape how the industry approaches battery recycling:
This project and program will highlight avenues for everyone to rethink their approach to battery circularity, and help prioritize the extension of battery life, facilitate battery reuse, and reduce battery waste.
Tech innovations to close the loop
The team’s plan includes:
- Automated battery pack disassembly to speed up the recycling process.
- Advanced diagnostic tools to assess the condition of battery cells and modules.
- Refabrication methods to turn old cells into new energy systems.
The payoff? Batteries that are reused and refurbished first – recycling becomes the last resort.
Marm Dixit, leading ORNL’s contributions, points out the environmental benefits. “By extending the life of the battery components, we reduce their total emissions per mile. That’s a big deal for the role EVs can play in the energy transition,” Dixit said.
NREL’s role will involve cutting-edge tech like machine learning and imaging using nano computed tomography to analyze the health and lifespan of batteries quickly. Baker Hughes’ Waygate Technologies will bring its expertise in non-destructive testing with advanced imaging systems.
Toyota’s Battery Lifecycle Solutions (BLS) team plans to take these innovations from the lab to real-world applications. “By applying the innovations established from this project, we aim to create a framework that not only reduces battery waste but also enhances the circularity of our battery supply chain,” said Sarah Kennedy, BLS manager, who is leading the technology to market deployment.
Read more: EV batteries may last up to 40% longer than expected – Stanford
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Ampion Renewable Energy has brought five community solar farms in Maine online, adding nearly 25 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to the grid annually and generating over 28 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.
Located in Franklin (main photo), Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington Counties, these solar farms serve customers in Versant Power and Central Maine Power territories. Residential households and businesses that subscribe will save up to 15% on their electricity bills while supporting Maine’s transition to clean energy.
Nate Owen, CEO of Ampion, grew up in Maine and founded Ampion in Bar Harbor in 2014. “Community solar is an invaluable state program that provides Mainers with many benefits,” Owen said. “It bolsters the local economy, improves grid resilience, and is available to all types of electricity consumers.”
Ampion has signed 1,700 households and 70 businesses to these new community solar projects. The company will also handle billing and customer care for the next 20 years. Ampion manages subscriptions for 48 community solar projects in Maine, amounting to over 215 MW. The company is growing its Maine workforce to support this expansion, with about 10% of its employees already based in the state.
Ampion is also partnering with local organizations, like The Highlands, a senior living community in Topsham. “We feel good about supporting local jobs and helping to make more clean energy available to the grid, all while helping our community members save money on electricity,” said Troy Chapman, operations director at The Highlands.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, as of Q3 2024, Maine had 1415 MW of solar installed and has a growth projection of 1581 MW of solar over the next five years.
Read more: Walmart and Nexamp are rolling out 31 solar farms in 5 states
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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