Hydro-Québec to help test Mitsubishi i-MiEVs

Hydro-Québec i-MiEV pilot tests up to 50 all-electric vehicles in Boucherville, evaluating winter performance, charging behavior, smart grid integration, fleet use, and driver satisfaction with renewable energy, EV infrastructure, and public utility partnerships.

Hydro-Québec and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. announced the signature of a memorandum of understanding that will lead to the launch of Canada's largest all-electric vehicle pilot project this coming fall.

In collaboration with the city of Boucherville, Hydro-Québec will test the performance of up to 50 all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEVs on the road under a variety of circumstances, notably winter conditions across the region. The project, which is evaluated at $4.5 million, is the first of its kind to include the participation of a car manufacturer, a public utility, a municipality and local businesses that will integrate the vehicles into their existing fleets. The trial is designed to study the vehicles' charging behavior, the driving experience and overall driver satisfaction.

"This new pilot project is part of our action plan for the electrification of vehicles and aligns with our largest EV project underway across Québec," noted Thierry Vandal, Hydro-Québec's President and CEO. "It will allow us to advance our knowledge of the technology and its integration into our grid, which in turn, will help us plan the necessary charging infrastructure for homes, offices and public places."

The city of Boucherville was selected as the project's host municipality given its proximity to Hydro-Québec's research institute (IREQ), its role in Hydro-Québec's upcoming interactive smart zone trial and the diversity of its local businesses participating in the trial. The availability of a local Mitsubishi dealership to oversee the i-MiEVs' maintenance was also part of the selection criteria.

"This is a truly exciting project for the city of Boucherville. We hope it will have a positive impact on our industrial sector and we look forward to working with our local businesses to help Hydro-Québec and Mitsubishi gather meaningful data from the i-MiEV trials underway today," said Jean Martel, mayor of Boucherville.

i-MiEV, which stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle, is an all-electric car with highway capability and charge-at-home convenience. Because the battery, the motor and other items are mounted out of the way beneath the floor, the i-MiEV seats four adults and offers surprising interior room and cargo space. Other i-MiEV features include excellent low-speed acceleration and a very low centre of gravity, which contributes to superior handling and stability. Moreover, the i-MiEV is extremely quiet.

"We are very proud to be leading the way to a greener, more sustainable future by developing environment-friendly vehicles fueled by clean, renewable energy," said Koji Soga, President and CEO of MMSCAN. "Mitsubishi is a leader in electric car development and the i-MiEV represents the pinnacle of our green technologies that auto lovers are increasingly excited about today. In the same sense, Hydro-Québec and the city of Boucherville are demonstrating their environmental leadership by participating in this unique initiative."

At the recent Tokyo International Motor Show (2009), as U.S. utilities prepared tests, the i-MiEV won the Japanese Car of the Year award for "Most Advanced Technology."

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