Quebec unveils plan to expand electric-car network

Quebec is making a big push to go electric.

The provincial government will make an official announcement on Friday, detailing how it plans to spend $420 million over the next five years on its new vehicle-electrification plan.

The plan comes two years after the formerParti Qubcoisgovernmentmade a similar, but more generous, commitment.The PQ had promised$516 million to bolster the electric-vehicle movementover three years.

The Liberal government's program is called "Propulser le Qubec parl'lectricit" or,Driving Quebec with Electricity and rests onpromoting electric transportation and the industry supportingit.

Documents obtained by Radio-Canada show that thegovernment expects more than 100,000 electric and hybrid gas-electric cars to hit the roads in the next five years.

In order to encourage motorists to chooseelectric over gas-powered cars, the government plansto install 785 public-access charging stations and 60 or so quick-charging stations. It will also askbusinesses to install charging units for employees.

Electric car? No tolls for you

Government documents show that the Couillard government will also maintain the rebate system introduced by the Liberals during Jean Charest's tenure. Under that program,people buying or leasingelectric or hybrid vehiclesqualify for rebates of up to $8,000.

The government said the plan willseegreenhouse gases decreaseby150,000 tonnes per year, beginning in 2020.It also said the plan would create 5,000 jobs and more than$500 million in private investment.

To set an example, the government promisesto introduce1,000 electric cars to its owncar pool by 2020.

The government said it also wants to give electric-car drivers permission to drive inreserved car lanes and permit them to use toll bridges and roads for free, starting Jan. 1, 2016.