The city of Québec joins the Electric Circuit

The city plans to install 18 charging stations for electric vehicles

The mayor of Québec, Régis Labeaume, and the partners of the Electric Circuit announce that the city of Québec is joining the public charging network and will improve the availability of charging for electric vehicles on its territory. Over the next two years, the city will acquire 18 Level 2 (240 V) charging stations, which will be installed off-street, in municipal lots.

“This agreement with the Electric Circuit, powered by Hydro-Québec, is in line with one of the objectives of the city of Québec’s sustainable mobility plan, which includes using hybrid and electric vehicles,” said Mayor Régis Labeaume. “One of the recommendations of this plan is to convene with the Electric Circuit to install charging stations for electric vehicles. I hope this partnership will meet the needs of the growing number of electric vehicle users in our region.”

“We are very proud to have the city of Québec join the Electric Circuit,” said Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Vice President – Public and Government Affairs at Hydro-Québec, on behalf of the founding partners of the Electric Circuit. “It marks a major step in the roll-out of our network. Not only will it allow us to improve charging availability in a region with a high concentration of electric vehicles, but it will also facilitate the Electric Circuit’s expansion eastward.”

The agreement calls for the first 10 charging stations to be in service by the end of this year, and eight more next year. The 240-V charging stations will be installed in indoor and outdoor city parking lots. The initial sites include the following:

• Monique-Corriveau library: 1100, route de l’Église
• Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge borough office: 1130, route de l’Église
• Sainte-Foy sports centre: 930, avenue Rolland-Beaudin
• Giffard sports complex: 3500, rue Cambronne
• ExpoCité: Québec’s multipurpose amphitheatre and Espace K: 250, boul. Wilfrid-Hamel
• City Hall: 2, rue des Jardins
• Marché du Vieux-Port : 160, quai Saint-André
• Chauveau soccer stadium: 7200, boulevard de l’Ormière

The Electric Circuit at the Québec International Auto Show
The Electric Circuit invites members of the public and businesses to visit its stand in the Eco Zone of the Centre de foires to learn more about charging electric vehicles at home, at work and in public places and to find out about quick charging. You can get acquainted with different types of charging stations and discover the Spark 2014, Chevrolet’s new compact vehicle. Visitors will have a chance to test drive electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, an activity organized by CAA Québec in collaboration with the Québec International Auto Show, Québec’s Ministère des Ressources naturelles and the Electric Circuit, powered by Hydro-Québec. Visitors can try one of the 13 electric vehicles available: Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, Chevrolet Volt, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, the Ford Focus Electric, Ford C-MAX Energi and Ford Fusion hybrid.

Charging Stations made in Québec
Since April 2013, the Electric Circuit charging stations deployed have been entirely designed and manufactured in Québec by AddÉnergie Technologies, a company based in the city of Québec. AddÉnergie Technologies won the Electric Circuit's second tender call to supply the network’s charging stations. The Québec product stood out during the strict evaluation process based on the robustness of the charging stations, bid price, user-friendliness and after-sales service.

The Electric Circuit
The Electric Circuit is a major initiative in the rollout of charging infrastructure needed to support the arrival of plug-in vehicles in Québec.

The Electric Circuit is the largest public charging network in Québec, with more than 250 Level 2 (240-V) charging stations and one fast-charge (400-V) station in operation in parking lots of the AMT, RONA stores, Metro grocery stores and St-Hubert restaurants throughout Québec. Since its launch in March 2012, 58 private and institutional partners have joined the Electric Circuit. It will continue to expand in order to offer greater geographical coverage and serve more EV drivers in many regions of Québec.

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, www.theelectriccircuit.com, is updated as new stations are installed or commissioned.

Information:

Nathalie Vachon
Hydro-Québec, for the Electric Circuit
514 289-2441
vachon.nathalie@hydro.qc.ca