Regional Electric Car-Sharing System (SAUVéR) Pilot Project

Société d’Innovation en Environnement (SIE), in partnership with six municipalities, is coordinating a pilot project to introduce a regional electric car-sharing system (SAUVéR) in the six municipalities: Plessisville, Nicolet, Bromont, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Rivière-du-Loup and Sainte-Julienne. This project follows a technical and financial feasibility study completed by the Quebec National Advanced Transportation Centre (CNTA) and the municipalities of Plessisville, Nicolet, Amqui and Deux-Montagnes on acquisition of electric vehicles (GMF 13039). The pilot project will test the technical and economic viability of adding electric vehicles to the participating municipalities’ fleet to be used in a community car-sharing system by the municipality, one or more partners and third-party users (the public, local businesses, etc.). These small municipalities find it difficult to maintain financially viable public transit. A community car-sharing system is a modal change that can reduce the number of gas-powered vehicles in circulation. This project is supported by the participating municipalities’ plans to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly in transportation and by the public. The citizens completed a survey about their travel habits and related interest beforehand. Four municipalities are also members of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. SIE plans to purchase a total of 10 electric vehicles and 13 charging stations. The vehicles will be adapted to optimize them for the car-sharing service. The project will last two years to allow for sound planning and effective introduction of electric vehicle use and the car-sharing service. A car-sharing software and log will collect data, including the distance travelled by users, trip duration and frequency of use. The pilot project will also add a new indicator, the number of vehicles per community (NVC), to quantify the reduction in the number of vehicles, especially gas vehicles. SIE will be responsible for the software, for administering contracts between the municipalities and users, and for follow-up. From an environmental standpoint, the pilot project will prevent the emission of 3.1 tonnes of greenhouse gas per 10,000 vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT). This is a 99.7% reduction compared to the use of conventional cars. Reduced energy consumption, income generated by the car-sharing service, and improved quality of life constitute social and economic benefits for the populations of the participating municipalities. The final project report will discuss the financial and technical feasibility and the pilot project’s environmental impacts. If the results are conclusive, the participating municipalities plan to add electric vehicles to their fleets and promote their use by the public. In addition, if conclusive, SIE plans to expand the program to increase the number of participating municipalities. Knowledge value lies in local replication of sustainable transportation concepts that are mainly used in large urban areas: car sharing and electric vehicles. The lessons learned about transportation electrification from pilot projects like SAUVéR will therefore be useful to many communities. Public availability of municipal vehicles outside regular business hours is another innovation that will maximize electric-vehicle use. (Project description from original funding application)