Eleven new electric vehicle charging stations in Coaticook area

Jacques Madore, Prefect of the Coaticook MRC, France Lampron, Hydro-Québec’s Director of Transportation Electrification, Saint-François MNA Guy Hardy, Bertrand Lamoureux, Mayor of Coaticook, and Alexandre Sanschagrin, Sales Manager at Nissan Sherbrooke.

The Electric Circuit, the Regional County Municipality of Coaticook and the Town of Coaticook announced today the rollout of 11 new plug-in terminals for electric vehicles (EVs), including a fast-charge station in the town. This expansion of the Electric Circuit has made the magnificent Vallée de la Coaticook accessible to EV drivers.

The aim of the initiative, spearheaded by Coaticook RCM and the Town of Coaticook, is to support the ever-increasing number of EVs on the road. The project was made possible by the financial assistance of Coaticook RCM, the Town of Coaticook and Hydro-Québec. Now Saint-Venant-de-Paquette, Saint-Malo, Waterville, Barnston-Ouest, East Hereford and Compton each has a charging station, and there are five in Coaticook, including a fast charger and two regular stations in the parking lot behind the Pavillon des arts et de la culture. The exact location of every charging station can be found using the Electric Circuit Web site or mobile app.

“For Québec, transportation electrification is an excellent way to increase residents’ well-being and develop a new, diversified, low-carbon economy,” said Guy Hardy, MNA for Saint-François. “That was the spirit in which the Québec government unveiled its 2015–2020 transportation electrification action plan last October. The ambitious goal we hope to achieve through this blueprint for our society is to have 100,000 electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids on Québec roads by 2020.”

“By rolling out a solid network of plug-in terminals throughout the area, Coaticook Regional County Municipality is ensuring that it will continue to be a prime destination for visitors, while residents benefit at the same time,” said Jacques Madore, reeve of Coaticook RCM. These facilities are proof that our municipalities are always willing to move with the times and seize opportunities to improve our living environment. The thing to remember is that EV drivers are welcome in Coaticook Regional County Municipality and that we will be delighted to receive them.”

“The Town of Coaticook is very pleased to be joining Hydro-Québec’s Electric Circuit,” said mayor Bertrand Lamoureux. “For the municipal council, it’s one more step to preserve the environment by encouraging green transportation. Furthermore, given our strategic location, the installation of a fast-charge station enables American visitors to top up their batteries before continuing on their way through Québec or homeward, and vice versa for Canadians going to the States.”

“The Electric Circuit wishes to highlight the leadership of the Town and RCM of Coaticook in completing this important project that contributes to transportation electrification in Québec,” said France Lampron, Hydro-Québec’s Director – Transportation Electrification. “We’d like to thank all the project partners for their trust in the Electric Circuit and we applaud the investment they are making to offer electric vehicle drivers a fast-charge network in the region.”

About the Electric Circuit

The Electric Circuit is the largest public charging network in Québec. It is a major initiative in the implementation of the infrastructure required to support the adoption of plug-in electric cars in Québec, It comprises over 730 public charging stations, including 55 fast-charge stations, operating across 16 Québec regions. Since its launch in March 2012, 155 private and institutional partners have joined the Electric Circuit, and the network now has over 9,500 members.

Electric Circuit users have access to a 24/7 telephone help line run by CAA-Québec, as well as a charging-station locator service. The Electric Circuit Web site, theelectriccircuit.com, and the mobile app for iOS and Android are updated as new stations are commissioned. The Electric Circuit card also allows users to access the 150 Québec charging stations of the FLO network (formerly the VERnetwork).

Information

Louis-Olivier Batty
Press Officer
Hydro-Québec, for The Electric Circuit
514-289-4214

Martine Lebel
Regional Development Officer
Coaticook Regional County Municipality
819-849-7083, ext. 241
projet@mrcdecoaticook.qc.ca

Shirley Lavertu
Media Relations Officer
Town of Coaticook
819-849-2721, ext. 256
s.lavertu@coaticook.ca

Pierre Grégoire
Political Attaché
Office of the MNA for Saint-François
819-565-3667
pierre.gregoire@assnat.qc.ca