Nissan and Hydro-Québec partner to expand the Electric Circuit public charging network in Quebec

The partnership agreement is part of a new phase of development of the Electric Circuit, which targets up to 50 sites in high-traffic, major road corridors and large urban centres.

“With record sales for the Nissan LEAF, more Canadians are embracing electric mobility and this growth will continue as public charging infrastructure continues to expand, making longer distance drives even easier,” said Christian Meunier, president of Nissan Canada Inc. “This is the next phase of Nissan’s commitment to supporting electric mobility in Canada and we understand that charging infrastructure should support all electric vehicles to make maximum impact. Hydro-Québec has demonstrated considerable leadership in developing public charging infrastructure and we’re very happy to support the expansion of the Electric Circuit.”

Québec City-based AddÉnergie will supply the chargers which will be manufactured at AddÉnergie’s plant in Shawinigan. Equipped with both CHAdeMO and SAE Combo plugs, the DC Fast Chargers will accommodate charging the Nissan LEAF and most electric vehicles. In under 30 minutes a fully depleted Nissan LEAF battery can be charged to 80 per cent, getting drivers back on the road quickly.

“Nissan has been at the forefront of promoting electric mobility globally with the launch of the Nissan LEAF, which has changed the perception of what driving electric really means,” said Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Vice-President, Public and Government Affairs at Hydro-Québec. “With Nissan’s important support of the next phase of the Electric Circuit, we’ll ensure even more EV drivers have the convenience of fast charging while continuing the deployment of level 2 chargers throughout the province.”

The agreement aims to help finance the commissioning of 20 fast charging sites for the Electric Circuit in 2015, with five more planned for in 2016. Targeted sites will coincide with short stops like restaurant chains, and convenience stores, making their use simple and convenient. The roll-out plan targets a number of roads such as:

• Highway 20
• Highway 10
• Highway 15
• Highway 50
• Highway 35 towards Vermont

The first DC Fast Charging sites are already confirmed for:

Drummondville (Highway 20)
Rôtisserie St-Hubert – 2875, boulevard Saint-Joseph

Lévis (Highway 20)
Carrefour Saint-Romuald, intersection of road 132 and 175

Magog (Highway 10)
Espace Santé Globale, 2381-2389, rue Principale Ouest (road 112)

St-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Highway 35)
Centre commercial St-Luc/St-Jean – 170-174, boulevard Saint-Luc