The Electric Circuit now in Abitibi-Témiscamingue - Rouyn-Noranda becomes the first city in the region to join the extensive public charging system

ROUYN-NORANDA, QC, Sept. 19, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Electric Circuit is pleased to announce that a partnership agreement has been signed with the city of Rouyn-Noranda for the inauguration of two public charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles. The charging stations, located in the municipal parking lots of the Place de la Citoyenneté et de la Coopération (near the Caisse Desjardins) and the Place du Commerce (behind the Brochetterie Grecque), are now available to drivers of plug-in electric vehicles.

Following a lunch conference about the Electric Circuit at the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie in the spring, Mayor Mario Provencher expressed to the Electric Circuit representative, M. Pierre-Luc Desgagné, his strong interest in having Rouyn-Noranda become a partner of the Electric Circuit in order to encourage the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles in the region.

Today, Sylvie Turgeon, acting mayor of Rouyn-Noranda, is delighted with the agreement: "The installation of the charging stations is perfectly in line with the city's decision to "go green" and to support initiatives that help our fellow citizens do their part in protecting the environment."

"More and more Quebecers are taking advantage of rebates on the purchase or lease of electric vehicles offered by the Québec government, especially since this mode of transportation has significant environmental and economic advantages," said Luc Blanchette, MNA for Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue, Minister for Mines and the Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the Nord-du-Québec regions. "We salute this initiative by the city of Rouyn-Noranda, which not only benefits the local community, but also contributes to the success of transportation electrification in Québec."

"We are very pleased to welcome the city of Rouyn-Noranda to the Electric Circuit," noted Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Vice President – Public and Government Affairs at Hydro-Québec, on behalf of the founding partners of the Electric Circuit. "The addition of this new partner is very significant for the Electric Circuit, because it allows us to expand into a new region. During my visit last May, I had the opportunity to make clear that Rouyn-Noranda was a priority in 2014. This priority has now become a reality."

The Electric Circuit
The Electric Circuit is the largest public charging network in Québec. It is a major initiative in providing the charging infrastructure required to support the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles in Québec.

The network comprises a 400-V fast-charge station and close to 300 Level 2 (240 V) charging stations in parking lots of the AMT, RONA stores, Metro grocery stores and St-Hubert restaurants throughout Québec. Since its launch in March 2012, 72 private and institutional partners have joined the Electric Circuit. It continues 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, theelectriccircuit.com, and the mobile application for iOS and Android  are updated as new stations are installed or commissioned.

SOURCE: Electric Circuit

Louis-Olivier Batty, Hydro-Québec, for the Electric Circuit, 514 289-4214, [email protected]; Mayor's Office, 819 797-7110, ext. 7371, [email protected]