Montréal, July 12, 2013
Press Release
First phase of rollout of the Electric Circuit in eastern QuébecRivière-du-Loup becomes first city in Bas-Saint-Laurent to make public charging available
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 inauguration of the electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Rivière-du-Loup, the first municipality in eastern Québec to join the extensive public charging system. The plug-in station was unveiled this afternoon in the city hall parking lot, confirming today’s earlier announcement of the expansion of the Electric Circuit into eastern Québec.
Reminding listeners that the project is perfectly in line with the philosophy of the city’s integrated sustainable communities plan, launched last April, municipal councillor Jacques Minville said, “It is with great pride that, as the first town in eastern Québec, we commission the electric charging station installed in the city hall parking lot. The station will not only be used to charge vehicles the City may purchase when those in its possession need to be replaced, it will also provide residents with a downtown location to charge the electric cars they plan on buying or already own.”
“We’re very pleased to wind up this important day for the Electric Circuit in Rivière-du-Loup,” said Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Hydro-Québec’s Vice-President – Public and Government Affairs, on behalf of the Electric Circuit partners. “The charging station will be available to all electric car drivers, who will enjoy an extensive public charging system in the Bas-Saint-Laurent by the fall.”
A little earlier today, the Electric Circuit announced the first phase of the expansion of the system into eastern Québec with a considerable number of charging locations in the Bas-Saint-Laurent. With the first nine stations installed along main roads in the region, EV drivers will be able to travel worry free, knowing they can charge their batteries with clean, renewable energy at an Electric Circuit station whenever they need to.
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 now offers over 160 charging stations (240 V) 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 March, 2012, 42 other 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 several regions of Québec.
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. Of course, the Electric Circuit Web site, www.theelectriccircuit.com, is updated as new stations are installed or commissioned.
– 30 –
Contacts
Nathalie Vachon
Hydro-Québec, for The Electric Circuit
514 289-2441
vachon.nathalie@hydro.qc.ca
Geneviève Pigeon
Manager, Environment and Sustainable Development
Ville de Rivière-du-Loup
418 867-6665
genevieve.pigeon@ville.riviere-du-loup.qc.ca
Communications Department
418 867-6706