Electric transportation cocktail in Plessisville
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Project overview: progressive electrification of municipal vehicles |
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Year of implementation: 2016 Number of electric vehicles: 5 |
Project history and implementation
In Plessisville, a municipality with a population of 7,000, the trend towards electrification of transportation is quite strong, and has been for a long time. The town's director general, who was in office from 2013 to 2020, made sustainable development his priority. Under his leadership, Plessisville was one of the first municipalities to apply for a grant to be part of the SAUVéR electric vehicle (EV) carsharing project. A true ambassador for EVs, this DG was a positive leader, convincing elected officials to move forward in this area. After his departure, electric transport remained a priority, and the municipality now has the practice of analyzing the electric offer before acquiring any new vehicle.
Today, Plessisville has six electric vehicles: a Ford F-150 converted to electric power, three official cars, a bike-scooter and an ice resurfacer, also known as a "Zamboni", for the municipal arena. This number will undoubtedly grow over the coming years.
Rethinking mobility
In Plessisville, the use of an EV goes beyond car travel. For example, from spring to November, employees in the urban planning department use the electric bike-scooter daily for home inspections. The horticultural technician and cultural coordinator also use it from time to time.
Since 2016, through the SAUVéR Project, Plessisville has also made two EVs available to citizens. These are cars used by the municipality during the day, and available in the evenings and on weekends for residents. Over the past seven years, this carsharing service has grown in popularity, and last year was a real success.
Moreover, in 2019, the municipality replaced its gas-powered resurfacer with an electric model. In addition to the obvious advantages in terms of air quality, the vehicle's performance is perfectly suited to the arena's needs. Maintenance is also simpler and less costly.
Tips for diversifying your EV fleet
Plessisville offers a few tips for any municipality wanting to start electrifying its vehicle fleet:
- One step at a time: start with small steps, test and participate in pilot projects, appeal to positive leaders so that the electrification trend takes off.
- Now is the right time: the various levels of government offer a wide range of financial assistance. It's time to take advantage of existing subsidies and the current momentum.
- Plan ahead: don't underestimate the time needed to, among other things, seek financing, analyze the electric offer on the market and manage the carsharing platform.