Sweeping new rules governing vehicle emissions take effect today in Quebec. Auto industry representatives are furious, but consumer advocates and environmental groups are loudly applauding the move. 

The new regulation aims to limit GHG emissions from new vehicles, effectively reducing Quebec’s personal vehicle fleet emissions by about 35% between 2010 and 2016. Transportation comprises about 40% of the province’s total emissions portfolio, and represents a significant reductions opportunity for a jurisdiction that is already among the continent’s greenest.

Quebec will impose a $5,000 penalty on each vehicle sold that exceeds the standard if the fleet of vehicles sold by the company in a year fails to meet the average emissions standard. Critics point out that this cost will simply be passed on to consumers, who will either cross-border shop for dirty vehicles, or who will hold on to older and more environmentally damaging vehicles for longer. Proponents assert that the added cost for dirty cars will encourage people to buy cleaner models, bolster industrial innovation, and will shape the sales strategy of dealers to promote low-GHG vehicles. Also, should cross-border shopping occur, it will be a short-lived phenomenon since similar federal standards will come into force with the 2011 model year.

Renée Cardinal, a spokeswoman for the Montreal auto dealers' association, sees Quebec “heading out on its own” rather than following the rest of North America in setting standards. But the standard meshes with California’s proposed standard, which is shaping the US federal government’s standard as well as Canada’s upcoming national standard.

While the rules will make vehicles more expensive – estimated at about $1,300 per vehicle – fuel savings are expected to offset that cost in about three years.

By Jeff Beyer, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)