Charging stations on main roads in Bas-Saint-Laurent

MONTREAL, Quebec - - Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert, RONA, METRO, the Agence métropolitaine de transport AMT and Hydro-Québec, the founding partners of the Electric Circuit, a major initiative in the rollout of charging infrastructure needed to support the arrival of plug-in vehicles in 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, electric vehicle 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", Desgagné added.

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. 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.