The Province of Québec and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV)

I'm in Québec proposing NEVs for use in the Island of Montreal (population 3.8M). I have addressed the Mayor of Montreal, Gérald Tremblay, and the Mayor of Plateau - Mont-Royal borough, Luc Ferrandez. Both Mayors have replied, and I am in direct communications wih their respective Transport Directors and committees.

Currently, one type of NEV, the NEMO, is approved for use along city streets, in accordance with an agreement signed by the 'ministere des Transports du Quebec' and 'Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec' (SAAQ) authorizing a three-year pilot project.

The committee responsible for following up on the pilot project has just completed a questionnaire, which will be sent to users of test vehicles shortly. Then, an evaluation report will be completed before the end of the pilot project, scheduled for July 2011. The pilot project originally planned for a three-year period could be extended by two years, or until 2013.

Approximately 23 NEVs are being tested in Québec, including six in Montréal (two NEMOs in the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough; two ZENNs in the Saint-Laurent borough; pne NEMO in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough; and one NEMO in the Ville-Marie borough.)

In June 2008, the government of the province of Quebec announced it was commencing a pilot project to study the viability of NEVs.

Beginning July 17, 2008, it is permissible to operate NEVs of two specific types in the province on roads, both of which are produced in the province: ZENN (no longer in production) and NEMO.

The rules for the vehicles are presented (in French only) on the Transportation Ministry's Web site. [1]

The project will run for 3 to 5 years and is intended to gather data regarding the suitability of the vehicles for low speed missions in Quebec, and help refine the technology produced by company building the NEMO in Quebec. The NEVs are permitted to operate on any road in the province with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h or less.

[1] Quebec Ministry of Transportation - http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/Librairie/Publications/fr/salle_presse/2008/20080617_veh_basse_vites/projet_pilote_vbv.pdf