Bill 81 sets out a credit system that will encourage manufacturers to sell more electric heavy-duty trucks in Quebec

The Quebec government is proposing a bill requiring truck manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles each year. 

Tabled last week by Quebec’s environment minister, Benoit Charette, Bill 81 encourages the sale of electric trucks in the province.

The bill includes a credit system, under which manufacturers earn credits for each zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle sold. Manufacturers must accumulate a specific number of credits for each model year.

(The number of credits amassed will be determined by a calculation based on the automakers’ sales.)

The proposed legislation applies to companies selling or leasing more than 50 heavy-duty vehicles annually. Meanwhile, manufacturers of buses and minibuses are exempt from the legislation.

Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers that fail to provide the required information or meet the government’s annual deadline to calculate how many credits they have earned could face fines up to $3 million.

Curbing transport emissions

Part of Bill 81 (titled An Act to amend various provisions relating to the environment) seeks to change certain environmental laws in Quebec to help curb the province’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Quebec already has legislation in place requiring light-duty automobile manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) each year.

Bill 81 builds on this framework by wanting to expand zero-emission regulations to include heavy-duty trucks.

In Quebec, road transportation is the largest source of emissions, contributing 34 per cent of the province’s total. Within this, heavy-duty trucks stand out as one of the most polluting vehicle types.

Introducing Bill 81 is part of Quebec’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

“With this new bill, we are giving ourselves new means to accelerate the transition to a greener, more sustainable and more prosperous Quebec, while reaffirming our leadership role, particularly in environmental assessment,” says Charette in a press release.

Bill 81 is set to move next to special consultations in the Quebec National Assembly. The government has not yet announced the date for these consultations.