The return of Écocamionnage program

The Écocamionnage program has a budget of $145.4 million for 2025 to 2028. Its funding comes mainly from revenues generated by the carbon market.

It is important to note that subsidies for the purchase of commercial electric vehicles under the Écocamionnage program are still added to the federal iVMLZE program, thereby increasing the financial support available to businesses.

This announcement comes at a strategic moment, coinciding with the revision of Quebec's GHG emission reduction targets. Several organizations involved in the electrification of transportation have welcomed this return in public hearings.

The return of the Écocamionnage program raises hopes for the future inclusion of heavy-duty vehicles in Quebec's ZEV Mandate, which will require vehicle manufacturers to increase the market share of rechargeable models.

A revised and corrected program

The Écocamionnage program was suspended on September 6, 2024, due to the exhaustion of its budget. The new 2025 version introduces a better balance of incentives, refocused on heavy-duty vehicles and the needs of the industry.

The main differences are as follows:

A relief awaited by the industry

The 2024 suspension had caused disruption for dealers and businesses. Several electric vehicles that had already been sold could no longer be delivered due to a lack of confirmed subsidies.

The return of the program therefore allows the entire ecosystem—dealerships, transporters, logistics operators, and charging solution providers—to regain momentum. Since 2021, Écocamionnage has already supported 3,700 projects, totaling $105.3 million in financial assistance for electrification and energy efficiency.

Waiting for sales targets in the Quebec's ZEV Mandate.

For the electrification of heavy-duty transportation to become a reality, a strong signal to the industry is now needed: the inclusion of market share targets and the obligation to offer an increasing number of vehicles.

According to the Ministry of the Environment's website, the new regulations are currently being developed. The changes to the law that allow heavy transport to be included in Quebec's ZEV standard were approved on May 28, 2025 (Bill 81), after multiple consultations with industry, environmentalists, and transportation electrification advocates.

It is expected that manufacturers who sell an average of more than 50 new heavy-duty vehicles will be subject to the regulations. The ability to accumulate and trade “credits” and the inclusion of used electric vehicles will give the industry more flexibility in marketing electric vehicles.

The industry remains resistant to any type of sales regulation, as it is for light-duty vehicles. The arguments are always the same: the charging network is awaiting sales targets in the ZEV standard.

Hydro-Québec / Circuit électrique is currently rolling out Quebec's first network of public charging stations for heavy and medium-duty electric vehicles. By 2026, the network will include 1.4 MW (1,400 kW) chargers!

In terms of profitability, IVI's real-world testing program, Flotte rechargeable, has demonstrated through Quebec carriers that the electrification of heavy trucks in Quebec is not only possible, but also economically advantageous in several applications.

Aiming for the decarbonization of our transportation system.

It is important to remember that road transportation accounts for 32% of Quebec's total emissions, one-third of which comes from heavy vehicles (and the rest from our motor vehicles). It is the province's largest source of GHG emissions.

In Canada, road transport is the second largest polluting sector after the oil industry. It accounts for 17.6% of the country's GHG emissions, with heavy vehicles again accounting for one-third of this total. Canadian roads emit roughly the same amount of GHGs as oil and gas extraction and refining operations!

In other words, in Quebec as in Canada, the fight against climate change necessarily involves decarbonizing transportation, both personal transportation and heavy commercial transportation. We are essentially faced with two choices: reduce the number of vehicles on our roads or electrify them.

In any case, we must break our dependence on fossil fuels at all costs. And the Écocamionnage program is part of the solution.