Five charging stations now available in five municipalities around Lac Saint-Jean in partnership with Rio Tinto and the Electric Circuit

SAINT-FÉLICIEN, QC, Sept. 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Electric Circuit and Rio Tinto, along with Dolbeau-Mistassini,  Saint-Félicien, Saint-Prime, Roberval and Alma, are pleased to announce the commissioning of five public charging stations for electric vehicles around Lac Saint-Jean. Thanks to this initiative, local and visiting electric vehicle drivers will be able to charge their cars while discovering each municipality's tourist attractions.

The charging stations are available at the following locations:

• Dolbeau-Mistassini: City hall – 1100, boulevard Wallberg
• Saint-Félicien: City hall – 1209, boulevard du Sacré-Cœur
• Saint-Prime: City hall – 599, rue Principale
• Roberval: City hall – 851, boulevard St-Joseph
• Alma: Municipal library – 500, rue Collard Ouest

"Through the installation of electric charging stations, we are pleased to support the development of a clean energy source, to encourage the use of green vehicles and, thanks to the Rio Tinto program, to promote a trip around the lake as an ecological tourism destination," stated Richard Hébert, Mayor of Dolbeau-Mistassini.

"This new network of electric vehicle charging stations bolsters our credibility and our appeal as an innovative region, active in promoting green energy," said Saint-Félicien Mayor, Gilles Potvin.

"As the elected officials of Saint-Prime, we are proud to be on board with this new sustainability initiative," commented Lucien Boivin, Mayor of Saint-Prime.

"The city of Roberval is pleased to be part of the new group of electric charging stations installed around Lac Saint-Jean. Be it through changes to the city's public lighting system, its participation in this public charging network or its other measures, the city of Roberval continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and encourages its current and future residents to do the same," stated Roberval Mayor, Guy Larouche.

"Given the growing popularity of hybrid and electric vehicles, it is essential for Alma, the city of hospitality, to offer this service to its citizens and visitors. That is why we are collaborating on this project, in partnership with Hydro-Québec, Rio Tinto and the other cities around Lac Saint-Jean. In addition, the city of Alma is working on its sustainability strategy and providing a charging station for electric vehicles is one of the many measures implemented by the municipality to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Marc Asselin, Mayor of Alma.

"Rio Tinto is proud to concretely support sustainable technologies by contributing $35,000 for the acquisition of electric charging stations made of aluminium," said Gilles Grenon, Rio Tinto Aluminium's Director of the Office of Regional Economic Development, Primary Metal, Québec. "For Rio Tinto, making it possible for electric vehicle to drive around the lake reflects our ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable development. With this partnership, we are taking another step towards the increased use of renewable energy and are helping to generate positive spinoffs for our region and the environment."

"We are delighted to welcome these five Lac-Saint-Jean municipalities to the Electric Circuit. We thank the mayors for their initiative and Rio Tinto, our partner for this project. By choosing to offer a charging service to their residents and electric vehicle drivers passing through the area, these five municipalities have made it possible to circle the lake in an electric vehicle," said France Lampron, Director – Transportation Electrification at Hydro-Québec on behalf of the partners of the Electric Circuit.

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 vehicles in Québec. The network comprises nearly 475 public charging stations, including 17 fast-charge stations, in operation across 16 Québec regions. Since its launch in March 2012, 119 private and institutional partners have joined the Electric Circuit, and the network now has over 5,000 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 VERnetwork's 150 Québec charging stations.

SOURCE Electric Circuit

Louis-Olivier Batty, Hydro-Québec, for the Electric Circuit, 514 289-4214, [email protected]; Xuan-Lan Vu, Media relations, Rio Tinto Aluminium, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, 418 699-4005, [email protected]