August 17, 2022
Dianne Russel
An electric car is easier to drive, economical and ecological in the long run. However, the initial investment is sometimes heavy, especially the purchase and installation of a charging station. Fortunately, the Quebec government currently offers subsidies for this type of project. Let's talk about it!
An electric car is powered by an electric motor which is supplied by a battery. Contrary to popular belief, its origin goes back a long way. Indeed, it is in 1831 that the first electric vehicle was built. It was then a model train.
As for the first "electric car" itself, it was made in 1880. But it was after the presentation of a model designed by the French engineer, Gustave Trouvé, at the International Exhibition of Electricity that its development began.
Today, more than 140 years later, electric cars are very popular because of the many benefits they offer, especially for the environment. For their part, manufacturers continue to innovate in terms of features and performance to meet the ever-changing needs of the public.
First and foremost, an electric car is easier to drive because it does not have a gearbox. In other words, there is no clutch. You simply press the gas pedal to activate the circuit and move the vehicle forward.
Also, an electric car is much more economical in the long run. On the one hand, it generally consumes less fuel than diesel or gasoline vehicles. On the other hand, electricity costs less than fuel.
Finally, an electric car is said to be "clean". Indeed, it does not release CO2 or any other pollutant during its operation, hence its ecological character. This is one of the reasons why many governments are encouraging the use of this type of vehicle today.
Of course, you have to recharge the electric car when its battery is flat. For this, you have two options:
- Connect the vehicle to the mains using an adapter supplied by the manufacturer.
- Use a charging station, public or at home.
Ideally, we always recommend the charging station, specially designed for electric cars. It is both faster and safer. In fact, charging can sometimes take more than 10 hours on the mains as opposed to 5 to 8 hours on a charging station.
In addition, there are 2 types of charging stations:
- Direct current (DC) charging stations: they offer a particularly high charging speed, but cost more.
- AC charging stations: These are the most common on the market due to their relatively affordable prices, but sometimes offer slow charging speeds, depending on the power of the charger and the output power of the station.
In Quebec, the subsidies offered for the installation of electric car charging stations can amount to several hundred, even thousands of dollars. Let's take a look.
Go Green" program to benefit from government subsidies
The Quebec government offers grants to individuals and businesses for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
The assistance offered can be up to $600 if you meet the eligibility criteria. Among other things, you must be the official owner of the electric vehicle, or its long-term lessee. The charging station must also be new and suitable for a Level 2.
This grant is for multi-unit building owners who wish to purchase or lease a 240V charging station(s). They can receive one of the following grants for purchase and installation:
- Up to $5,000 per wireless terminal;
- Up to $5,000 per connector;
- Up to 50% on eligible expenses.
The proposed aids for a rental and installation are :
- Up to $500 per wireless terminal;
- Up to $500 per connector;
- Up to 50% of the cost of the installation work.
Note that there are limits of $10,000 to $25,000, depending on the number of units in the building, if the applicant (owner or manager) does not own an electric car.
Businesses that plan to purchase and install charging stations for their employees can receive a grant of up to 50% of eligible expenses. However, grant amounts cannot exceed $5,000 per wireless station and $5,000 per connector.
Here are the aids available for a rental:
- Up to $500 per wireless terminal;
- Up to $500 per connector;
- Up to 50% of the cost of the installation work.
This financial assistance is intended for individual electric/hybrid car owners or business owners who wish to install new DC fast charging stations. Grants vary depending on the power output of the equipment. Here are the details:
- 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $15,000, for power between 20 and 49.9 kW.
- 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $60,000, for a capacity of 50 kW or more.
Between the price of the equipment and the cost of its installation, as well as any modifications to the electrical panel or infrastructure, the expenses associated with the purchase and installation of a new electric car charging station can amount to over $2,000. If you live in Quebec, you can apply for a grant for your project. Grants range from $600 to $60,000 depending on the type of device you wish to install.
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