Nova Bus recently welcomed Québec Premier Jean Charest as he announced the launch of an electric bus project.

Québec is investing $30 million in an ambitious $73-million public-private partnership that plans to develop electric buses for the international mass-transportation market. The funding is intended to give the province a leg up over the competition and a chance to become an innovation leader in the burgeoning global electric vehicle industry.

A non-profit organization, Consortium Bus Électrique, has been established to lead the three-year projects. The group plans to produce two different sized electric bus models.

Of the $30 million being invested by the province, $27 million has been earmarked for the design and manufacture of a 40-foot electric bus to be developed by Nova Bus, Bathium Canada, TM4, Giro, René Matériaux Composites and Précicad. The other $3 million will fund the design and manufacture of a 25-foot aluminum electric micro-bus that will be developed by Infodev, STYL&TECH and Structures CPI.

The Quebec government's 2011-2020 action plan concerning electric vehicles is focused on developing products for the electric vehicle industry so that Québec can become an important player in this new global market. The government is planning to invest $250 million in coming years to help deploy and promote the use of electric vehicles in the province.