Horizons Partagés, a pilot project for rechargeable hybrid cars developed by the Conseil régional de l'environnement et du développement durable de l'Outaouais (CREDDO) in partnership with a group of partners and the municipalities of Chelsea and La Pêche, is a fine example of sustainable mobility.
Chelsea residents can now take advantage of this service by using the Communauto platform to locate the vehicle best suited to their needs and the EvDuty app to locate the nearest charging station. Some cars are at City Hall, while others are in various real estate developments across town.
A $75,000 investment in line with the Municipality's environmental targets
Chelsea supports this project with a $75,000 investment alongside partners committed to greener mobility. Aligned with municipal commitments*, the Horizons Partagés project is part of the Municipality's drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Chelsea set ambitious targets, including a 45% reduction in institutional emissions and a 10% reduction in collective emissions by 2030, with a vision of carbon neutrality by 2050. Chelsea's greenhouse gas inventory (2019) shows that the primary sources of GHGs are associated with transportation (79%) in the community.
This investment will have financial repercussions for the Municipality since every year, it is necessary to rent vehicles for essential journeys made by members of the municipal team. With this carsharing program available to municipal departments, the Municipality is committed to using Horizons Partagés' fleet of vehicles. This will reduce the need to lease or purchase vehicles and reduce GHGs from municipal travel since the team will now use hybrid cars.
*Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) and 2040 Strategic Plan
Objectives and benefits of carsharing
The first initiative of its kind in a rural setting, Horizons Partagés' aim is to encourage people to reconsider their use of cars. Under the right conditions, carsharing can effectively contribute to the fight against climate change, even beyond major urban centers. Moreover, this practise reduces the number of vehicles on the road, frees up parking spaces and reduces the number of kilometres travelled per person by around 38% or 2,900 km per year. 1
Future phases
This spring, the charging stations will be installed at City Hall. The snowmelt is essential before the concrete slabs can be poured and the connections made. Some vehicles are already on the territory, but additional vehicles will be added for a total of twelve. Details will be announced when the cars arrive.
For more information on the project, visit the Horizons Partagés Web page. (French only)
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