Following several studies with specialists in the field, it appears that organizations that acquire electric vehicles for the purpose of commercial application are entitled to government subsidies from Quebec.
The Subsidy
First of all, the vehicles must either be used for the carriage of passengers with the presence of a captain on board or the carriage of goods for commercial purposes. The subsidy could reach up to 65% of the investment, based on the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) during the first year. This grant may vary depending on the client and the type of use made with the boats. In general, the markdown is $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 per ton of GHG. This equates to $ 225 to $ 450 for every 100 liters of fuel consumed during the first year.
Government of Quebec program link:
https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/aide-finan/programmes-aide/Pages/Programme-aide-amelioration-efficacite-maritime-aerien-ferroviaire.aspx
Example
As an example, a merchant operating a boat with a 9.9 HP gasoline engine for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, 25 weeks a year, will represent an annual consumption of 5,600 liters of gasoline. Therefore, an electric propulsion substitution, such as the one used in the Fantail 217, will represent an annual saving of 13 tons of GHGs. If the application permits, a markdown of $ 1,000 per ton will be applied, for a rebate of $ 13,000 to a maximum of $ 26,000.
This subsidy program will remain in effect until March 2018. The application does not require any commitment or expense for the client. We will be happy to provide you the contact of the company in charge of submitting these government requests. Similar programs are currently in place in different parts of the world. Please inquire with your local government and contact us. We will be more than happy to assist you and guide you through this process.
