Another big brand in Québec joins the Electric Circuit: DeSerres stores become the 29th partner

The founding partners of the Electric Circuit–Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert, RONA, Metro, the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) and Hydro-Québec–are pleased to announce the signing of a partnership agreement with DeSerres to install two public charging stations for electric vehicles. The charging stations will be installed in parking lots of the DeSerres stores located on boulevard Taschereau, in Longueuil, and at the Galeries de la Capitale, in Québec.

With the addition of DeSerres, there are now 29 partners of the Electric Circuit, a continuously growing network.

Marc DeSerres, president of the company said, "DeSerres is proud to actively participate in the development of the Electric Circuit. Our new partnership with Hydro-Québec, a socially responsible Québec company, is perfectly in line with our sustainable development policy. In addition to serving our customers and the general public, we hope that these new charging stations can help build a greener future for Québec."

"By welcoming DeSerres, a family-owned business for over one hundred years and shining example of Québec entrepreneurship, the Electric Circuit continues its expansion by encouraging electric mobility. We are proud to welcome DeSerres to our network, as it will diversify our service offering to benefit our members and Québec drivers," said Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Senior Director – Strategic Planning at Hydro-Québec, on behalf of the founding partners of the Electric Circuit.

The Electric Circuit

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

The Electric Circuit offers nearly one hundred fifty 240-volt charging stations in parking lots of the AMT, as well as those of many RONA hardware stores, Metro grocery stores and St-Hubert Restaurants throughout Québec. Since its launch in March 2012, 24 private and institutional partners have joined the Electric Circuit. It will continue to expand in order to offer the greatest geographical coverage and serve the largest number of electric vehicles (EV) drivers in many Québec regions.

While EV owners do most of their charging at home and at work, drivers can travel worry-free, knowing they can top up their batteries on the road if they need to. Electric Circuit users also 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.

About DeSerres

For more than 100 years, DeSerres has made every effort to nurture people's creative spirit. As a "must" destination, DeSerres is the leading Canadian retailer of arts and crafts supplies, creative toys and games, framing and decorative items. An extensive network of international suppliers and a selection of 30,000 products help position the company as one of the industry leaders. Each store is a veritable treasure trove, offering a unique shopping experience that encourages customers to learn, discover and share their passions. A driving force of creativity in Canada, DeSerres continues to expand across the country and now has a total of 30 stores, in addition to its virtual store at DESERRES.CA.

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