Want to Become a Mechanic? Find Out if Quebec Is Becoming a Leader in Canada’s EV Industry
Electric vehicles (EVs) are surging in popularity. It used to be that EVs were considered inaccessible to the average car buyer and were a privilege reserved for only those with a bigger budget, but that’s all changing now. There are more options than ever on the market, making eco-friendly vehicles more accessible than ever.
Although EV growth is experiencing a slow start throughout Canada, the province of Quebec is one notable exception. EVs are becoming widespread in the province at a much faster rate than the rest of the country. In fact, just north of Montreal in a small town called Bourgeois, Canada’s #1 electric car dealership is selling more EVs than anywhere else in the country. In 2016 the Bourgeois Chevrolet dealership sold almost 400 used and new EVs.
If you’re considering a career as a mechanic, read on to learn more about why Quebec is at the forefront of Canada’s EV movement.
Automotive Maintenance Technicians May Know That Hydro Quebec Is Investing in EV Tech
Hydro Quebec is taking significant steps towards making Quebec a friendlier place for individuals who drive EVs. One of the most impressive investments they’ve made is the installation of 1,000 different EV charging stations across Quebec, and 40 powerful 400-volt stations that are designed to provide a charge on the go. In addition to these investments, Hydro Quebec partnered with Nissan to install 26 more chargers, making it possible to drive from Ottawa to Montreal to Quebec City with enough charging stations to stay up and running for the entire trip.
Other Government Initiatives Are Also Helping to Make Quebec the EV Capital of Canada
In addition to the charging stations Hydro Quebec helped install across the province, the Government of Quebec is also participating in other initiatives to make charging stations more accessible. Quebec will refund $350 for the purchase of a charging station as well as $250 for its installation costs, as long as the charger is installed by a licensed electrician and supplies 240 volts of electricity.
As professionals with an automotive maintenance technician career may know, Quebec also runs the Drive Electric Program, which partly reimburses individuals who purchase certain kinds of eco-friendly vehicles. For example, individuals who purchase the Volkswagen e-Golf can get up to $8,000 back, and those who purchase a hybrid vehicle can get anywhere between $500 to $8,000.
Quebec has also committed to making sure that 3.5 per cent of all vehicles sold are electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen fuel-cells by 2018. This mandate is just another way Quebec’s government is taking leaps towards a greener future. If you want to become a mechanic, you may see an influx in EVs over the course of your career because of these efforts.
Automotive Maintenance Technicians May Know Montreal’s Auto Show Had its First EV Exhibition
Many of the vehicles that are included in Quebec’s Drive Electric Program were featured in the 2017 Montreal Auto Show, which held its first ever EV exhibition! Many popular manufacturers chose the show to debut new hybrid and EV models coming to Canada this year. Some of the most notable were the electric e-Golf, Honda’s plug-in hybrid Clarity, and Hyundai’s Ioniq.
In addition, Nissan brought their charging technology to the showroom to entice sales of the Nissan Leaf, and Toyota began promoting its hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle the Mirai. Given that residents of Quebec purchase about half of all plug-ins sold in Canada, Montreal was the perfect city to host this exciting look into the future of EVs.
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