The City of Montreal: a key player in the energy transition
In its Green Fleet Policy 2016-2020, the City of Montreal made electromobility its priority, notably planning to replace 250 vehicles at the end of their useful life with 100% electric vehicles. We spoke with Philippe Saint-Vil about this energy conversion and about how the City intends to position itself as a North American leader in transport electrification.
Philippe Saint-Vil is Division Chief – Planning and Operations Support within the Fleet and Workshops Service of the Deputy General Directorate for Institutional Services of the City of Montreal.
With 2020 at our doorstep, where does the City stand in reaching its goal?
Since the adoption of our last policy in 2016, 210 fully electric vehicles have been acquired, representing a conversion rate of 84% relative to the target set. At a rate of 20 additional vehicles per year in 2019 and 2020, the objective will likely be reached, even exceeded by the end of 2020. Excluding vehicles from the Montreal Police Service (SPVM), ultimately one third of the City's subcompact car fleet will be replaced.
What are the issues surrounding the energy conversion of the City of Montreal's vehicle fleet?
Given the impact of climate change and the necessary ecological transition, the issues are first and foremost environmental. The transport sector alone accounts for 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, so energy conversion is therefore a credible solution. The challenges are also infrastructural, such as the installation of charging stations in certain boroughs that rent their administrative offices from real estate companies. Since the land does not belong to the City, the installation of stations presents particularities that must be taken into account. Other challenges are technological, notably with the arrival in the territory of the City of Montreal of fast-charging stations. Finally, they are economic and social, because a genuine electrification sector is developing in Quebec.
What difficulties did you encounter when integrating fully electric vehicles into your vehicle fleet?
The most frequent difficulty was related to the range of electric vehicles and to the way City employees perceived them. For example, our usage data showed that 95% of municipal subcompact cars had an average mileage of 23 kilometres per day, with the exception of parking enforcement vehicles. With a range of 120 kilometres at the time, even in very cold conditions (where range loss is between 40 and 50%), it was unlikely that a 100% electric vehicle would not meet operational needs. Nevertheless, we had to set up pilot projects to overcome some resistance among clients and users. Change management was therefore at the heart of our approach, and from the very beginning. It should also be noted that the electrification strategy was never imposed on the different business units so as not to compromise their operational needs. When a project proved unsuccessful for a given service or presented potential risks, we decided not to pursue it.
Tell me about the agreement between the City of Montreal and the City of New York regarding Montreal's loan of three 100% electric prototypes. What are the objectives of this agreement, and what benefits are anticipated?
The City of Montreal aims to be a model in North America in terms of transport electrification. In this perspective, we continuously share our experiences and best practices with cities that, like us, have committed to this transition. But we want to go further, notably in our collaborative efforts, by lending fully electric prototypes to other North American cities. Moreover, one cannot ignore the question of the economic and social fallouts of the energy conversion. Quebec is increasingly positioning itself as an indispensable player. Lending prototypes designed and developed in Quebec to the City of New York offers an exceptional showcase for local companies.
By way of example, the company Madvac, located in Longueuil, designed and developed a 100% electric vacuum-sweeper cart, the first in North America. When we approached the City of New York, the interest was immediate. We are currently completing the final break-in tests, and plan to put it into service next May. The idea is to position the two cities as leaders in transport electrification and to promote their collaboration. The vehicles will also feature a common visual signature. If the City of New York proves interested, this could strengthen Madvac's expansion and contribute to the creation of new jobs, which would constitute an important economic benefit for the Montreal metropolitan region.
Because the climate challenge is everyone's concern, we want to influence other cities to embrace electrification.
Beyond subcompact cars, what other types of municipal vehicles could be targeted by electromobility?
The Fleet and Workshops Service, which is responsible for vehicle management for the City of Montreal, conducts strategic monitoring across the board. But we also seek to encourage the development of new products based on needs. We therefore sometimes solicit suppliers, subcontractors, research centres, or university institutions. Beyond the vacuum-sweeper carts already mentioned, we will soon have 100% electric park carts, as well as bicycles as part of a pilot project with the SPVM. We are also considering the possibility of acquiring tractors and snowmobiles for the Major Parks, Mount Royal and Sports Service. Five projects of this type are currently under study.
How do you assess this transport electrification project? And what are the prospects for the future?
As you have seen, the assessment, which is already very positive, looks promising for the years to come. With the Green Fleet Policy 2016-2020 soon coming to an end, over the coming months we will propose the main outlines of the new 2021-2025 policy, although the final orientations still need to be approved by our elected officials. We obviously wish to continue electrifying the City of Montreal's municipal fleet, but also to monitor vehicles and equipment that can be powered by other types of energy. An important file to follow, then.
