In the eastern region of Quebec, a rural transit authority is capitalizing on the chance to drastically reduce its emissions by 98 percent. The Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine area, comprising five regional county municipalities on the Gaspé peninsula and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is committed to the complete electrification of its public bus fleet.
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The Régie intermunicipale de transport Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (RÉGÎM) operates a fleet of buses across 18 routes, varying in length from 15 to 105 kilometers. With a financial boost of $1.75 million from the Green Municipal Fund, RÉGÎM aims to acquire 21 electric buses, including 10 paratransit shuttles, and install 12 charging stations throughout its service area.
Quebec
The envisioned outcome of transitioning to a fully electric public transit fleet is staggering — a potential 98 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 72 percent decrease in energy consumption, and a 64 percent cut in energy costs.
The Green Municipal Fund (GMF), a $1.6-billion initiative managed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and supported by the federal government, plays a pivotal role in financing such sustainable projects. GMF is dedicated to advancing the quality of life in Canada by expediting the transformation toward resilient, net-zero communities through grants, loans, innovative financing, leveraged investments, capacity building, and strategic support.
RÉGÎM embarked on the journey to electrify its public transit fleet back in 2018, initially estimating a project cost of $7 million. However, the fleet’s ineligibility for Quebec’s funding, which covers up to 95 percent of electric bus costs, stems from the fact that the region does not own its vehicles. Instead, the buses are subcontracted to RÉGÎM by six private companies.
Although the GMF website hints at the full electrification of RÉGÎM’s fleet, no detailed explanation has been provided regarding the substantial reduction in project costs from $7 million to $1.75 million, and there is currently no specified timeline for completion.
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