Quebec City is losing money with its charging stations and wants to remedy the situation; motorists should expect to pay more in the coming years.
During the study of the 2026 budget, the Department of Transport and Intelligent Mobility, Marc des Rivières, indicated that the City of Quebec “subsidizes” motorists who recharge their electric vehicles at municipal terminals.
The director of the Transportation and Sustainable Mobility Department of the City of Quebec, Marc des Rivières
Photo Stéphanie Martin
In 2025, drivers paid $1.50 an hour. In 2026, this rate will increase to $2. This is still insufficient to cover the costs of these terminals, including the cost of energy, installation, maintenance and repair, as well as the fee to Hydro-Québec. This cost is $2.59.
The City will gradually increase its rate, indicated Mr. des Rivières. “We want to get closer to what it really costs. To avoid having to indirectly subsidize motorists who have an electric vehicle to the detriment of those who have a fossil fuel vehicle,” he argued.
Rates
Ideally, the rate should be $2.59 per hour to cover costs. To make a certain profit, it should be $3, emphasized Mr. des Rivières.
The director was not able to quantify the overall amount that the City must pay to offer the service, since it varies depending on use.
Users should therefore expect to pay more. “The cost will increase,” confirms Marc des Rivières. “But at the same time we want to have a better developed, better adapted network to meet needs.” The City will focus its efforts on the city center.
There are more than 200 terminals in Quebec. Of this number, “17 or 18” are first generation and were installed a decade ago. They will soon need to be replaced. Installing a terminal costs on average $75,000.
Tramway
Furthermore, Marc des Rivières indicated that phase two of the arterial manager is underway. This system, which allows traffic lights to be adjusted in real time, will have to integrate the tram which will run in the city from 2033, to coordinate the lights.
The City wants to use artificial intelligence to do this. “The City, without collaboration from Google, would ultimately like to be autonomous in terms of artificial intelligence. To be able to collect information, to have the algorithms to analyze it.”
For the moment, the necessary amounts are not included in the investment plan, since the City is awaiting the results of its call to the market to find the required technology.
In the 2026 budget, the City will invest $73.6 million to “diversify transportation options,” according to a press release published Wednesday.
These amounts will be used, among other things, for school corridors and senior zones, as well as various street improvement projects, including the first intervention of the Action Plan to improve mobility in the North Crown, on rue de la Faune.
3rd lien
As for the third link, Mr. des Rivières affirmed that “there are discussions taking place, but we are at a very, very, very preliminary level. It is too early to say whether we are being listened to or not.”
