First phase of rollout of the Electric Circuit in eastern Québec - Charging stations on main roads in Bas-Saint-Laurent

MONTREAL, July 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - 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 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, including highways 132 and 185, EV drivers will be able to travel worry free, knowing they can recharge their batteries with clean, renewable energy at an Electric Circuit station whenever they need to. Furthermore, one of the founding partners, Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert, will be adding two more charging stations to the network.

"The news was welcomed very enthusiastically and the City of Rimouski was pleased to sign on to the expansion project," said the mayor of Rimouski, Éric Forest. "There will be more and more electric cars on the roads and providing a charging station agrees with one of the fundamental principles dear to everyone in Rimouski: sustainable development. The expansion of the Electric Circuit into our region also offers added value to residents, visitors to the area and tourists who have chosen this environmentally friendly method of transportation, because they'll be able to charge their batteries in downtown Rimouski," added Mr. Forest.

"As the Electric Circuit expands to the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, we're delighted to welcome Québecers to our restaurants in Rimouski and Rivière-du-loup, where they can enjoy a meal while charging their vehicles, either as part of their regular travels or while on vacation," said Richard Scofield, Vice-president, Restaurants at Rôtisseries St-Hubert.

"The installation of several plug-in stations in eastern Québec will definitely give a little push to everyone who would like an electric car, but has been waiting for public charging stations to become available. The City applauds all the Electric Circuit initiatives to expand the network. They'll be warmly welcomed by EV drivers," said Jacques Minville, Rivière-du-Loup municipal councillor.

"We're proud to be part of this process, which will give the people of Trois-Pistoles and tourists passing through access to a plug-in station to recharge their electric cars. Trois-Pistoles respects the values of sustainable development, as we have demonstrated," said Mayor Jean-Pierre Rioux.

"All the tourists and day-trippers who come to recharge their mental batteries by visiting our gardens will at the same time be able to recharge their electric cars so they can continue to discover our region and its attractions. For some years, we've been working to become the greenest garden in North America. This is another step in that direction," said Alexander Reford, director of the Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis).

"We're proud to be involved in the electrification of transportation by offering an Electric Circuit plug-in station. It's in line with our social enterprise vision and our sustainable development approach. It's excellent news that the number of charging stations in the Bas-Saint-Laurent is increasing thanks to the five new partners," said Yann Daigneault, founder and manager of the Témiscouata International Hostel.

"After the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, Aquarium du Québec, Station touristique Duchesnay and the parcs nationaux des Îles-de-Boucherville, d'Oka and du Mont-Saint-Bruno, the Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata is very pleased to join The Electric Circuit. By facilitating EV access to its institutions, Sépaq is fulfilling its mission beautifully," said Denis Ouellet, manager of the Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata.

Expanding our network in eastern Québec was one of our top priorities this year. We salute the enthusiasm and collaboration of our many partners in the Bas-Saint-Laurent who have decided to join the Electric Circuit, enabling us to offer public charging stations in this large region," said Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Hydro-Québec's Vice-President - Public and Government Affairs, on behalf of the Electric Circuit partners. "In addition to meeting the occasional needs of the Bas-Saint-Laurent residents who own electric cars, the new plug-in stations will support a cheaper and more environmentally friendly mode of transportation for visitors to the region."

Public charging stations soon to be available in Bas-Saint-Laurent as part of extensive network
The Electric Circuit public charging system in the Bas-Saint-Laurent will expand gradually as more electric vehicles arrive in the region, and as more potential private and institutional partners become interested. These are the initial partners:

• Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert: 1 station, Rimouski restaurant, 395 boul. Arthur-Buies Est, Rimouski, and 1 station, Rivière-du-Loup restaurant, 80 boul. Cartier, Rivière-du-Loup
• Ville de Rivière-du-Loup: 1 station, city hall, 65, rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, Rivière-du-Loup
• Témiscouata International Hostel: 1 station, 788, rue Commerciale Nord, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac
• Sépaq: 2 stations, Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata, 400, chemin de la Vieille-Route, Squatec
• Ville de Trois-Pistoles: 1 station, Bertrand Lepage Arena, 104, rue Roy, Trois-Pistoles
• Ville de Rimouski: 1 station, tourist information office, 50, rue Saint-Germain Ouest, Rimouski
• Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis: 1 station, 200, Highway 132, Grand-Métis

The plug-in station at the Témiscouata International Hostel, the very first partner in eastern Québec, has been in operation since last December, while the one in Rivière-du-Loup will be inaugurated this afternoon. The gradual commissioning of the other stations will be completed by the fall.

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. The Electric Circuit Web site, www.theelectriccircuit.com, is updated as new stations are installed or commissioned. 

SOURCE: Electric Circuit

Nathalie Vachon
Hydro-Québec, for The Electric Circuit
514 2441-289
[email protected]

Léa Béland
Ville de Rimouski
418 724-3157
[email protected]

Lucie Boulianne
Sépaq
418 380-5875, ext. 2326
[email protected]

Geneviève Pigeon
Ville de Rivière-du-Loup
418 867-6665
[email protected]
Communications Department Ville de Rivière-du-Loup
418 867-6706

Yann Daigneault
Témiscouata International Hostel
1 888 688-1149
[email protected]

Sara Amélie Bellavance, Manager, Arts and
Communications, Ville de Trois-Pistoles
418 851-1995, ext. 230
[email protected]

Alexander Reford
Director, Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis)
418 775-2222, ext. 222
[email protected]/[email protected]