Draft regulation prescribing certain prohibitions as regards motor vehicles and internal combustion engines

Public consultation from July 10 to August 25, 2024

Among other things, this draft regulation aims to prohibit the sale or lease of certain vehicles with internal combustion engines in Québec, in favour of vehicles propelled solely by electric motors or engines that emit no pollutants. Therefore:

• As of January 1, 2035, the ban would apply to new light-duty road vehicles of model year 2034 or a previous model year, weighing 4,536 kilograms or less while loaded;
• Both new and used light-duty internal combustion engine vehicles of model year 2035 or a subsequent model year would be banned as soon as they are marketed, potentially as early as 2034.

This regulation would apply to any vehicle propelled by a main or auxiliary engine which burns a fuel that emits pollutants during propulsion, such as gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, propane or hydrogen (in the case of an internal combustion engine). The regulation would only authorize zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), meaning fully electric vehicles or vehicles powered by a hydrogen fuel cell or any other zero-emission propulsion technology developed by 2035.

The sale of internal combustion engines on their own would also be prohibited, except to repair a combustion engine vehicle that is already on the road in Québec.

These bans would apply to everyone in the industry, including physical dealerships and online dealers, as well as to the general public.

The government is planning a market maturity assessment for around 2030 in order to make any necessary adjustments for the transition to be a success in 2035.

Reference documents

• Draft regulation prescribing certain prohibitions as regards motor vehicles and internal combustion engines (PDF, 271 KB)
• Regulatory impact analysis (French, PDF, 911 KB)
• Press release (French)

To participate in the public consultation

Anyone who wishes to comment on this draft regulation is requested to submit their comments in writing to Carl Dufour, Director, Direction de l’expertise en décarbonation et efficacité énergétique, before August 25, 2024, either:

• by email to Norme.VZE@environnement.gouv.qc.ca
• or by mail to:
  Bureau de la transition climatique et énergétique
  Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
  Édifice Marie-Guyart, 6^e étage, boite 31
  675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est
  Québec (Québec) G1R 5V7

The comments received will be taken into account when developing the final version of the regulation.

For more information, please write to Norme.VZE@environnement.gouv.qc.ca.