Quebec Enters Era of Widely Accessible Electric Car
Communauto, Hydro-Québec and Nissan Canada today proudly announced the introduction of North America’s largest fully electric self-service vehicle fleet – the first initiative of this type in Quebec. The full complement of 50 Nissan LEAFs – 15 of them available starting today – will be rolled out by early 2012.
“This project is Communauto’s way of reaffirming the innovative nature of carsharing, as well as our ability to offer Quebecers a new way of achieving auto self-sufficiency while benefiting from the most advanced environmental technologies,” asserted Benoît Robert, President and CEO of Communauto. “Starting with our almost 25,000 members, everyone living in or near Quebec City and Montreal will enjoy access to a personal electric conveyance for only $37 yearly, even if they don’t have a space in which to park and charge the vehicle. Another benefit of the self-service automobile!”
The support of a number of partners made this achievement possible. By expressing their commitment to electric mobility and signing a memorandum of understanding with Nissan, the Quebec government and Hydro-Québec paved the way for priority delivery of LEAF cars in Quebec. The Quebec government also allocated credits and grants for vehicle purchases to this project. Hydro-Québec provides economic and technical support for setting up the network of charging docks.
“We are taking a major step forward today in transport electrification and in making our Electric Vehicles 2011-2020 Action Plan, launched last April, a reality. I am proud of the leadership we have shown in creating conditions propitious to the roll-out of electric vehicles here in Quebec. Since 98% of our electricity comes from a clean, renewable source, setting up a fleet of these vehicles translates to a number of benefits for Quebec. The appearance of these vehicles at Communauto is an additional step that confirms Quebec’s leadership from an energy and environmental standpoint,” stressed MNA Raymond Bernier, speaking on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife.
“Hydro-Québec has been working with Communauto and Nissan for more than a year to make this ecologically responsible initiative possible. We are very pleased to be associated with this undertaking, which will contribute significantly to the wider acceptance of electric vehicles in Quebec while offering users our clean, renewable fuel. Through carsharing, a large number of drivers will appreciate vehicles that run on electricity,” pointed out Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Senior Director – Strategic Planning and Government Affairs, Hydro-Québec.
A number of organizations have worked jointly on this initiative, taking part in implementation of the service points needed to make these vehicles accessible to the public: the municipalities of Quebec City and Montreal, the Société Parc-Auto du Québec (SPAQ), Desjardins Group, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Stationnement de Montréal, the Monastère du Saint-Sacrement in Montreal, the Société Immobilière du Québec, INRS University, Université de Montréal and the Productive House project.
“Movement Desjardins’ partnership with Communauto is such a natural fit as we have been proposing electric vehicles and carpooling solutions to our members, employees and general public for years. With cycling, free cycling services, carpooling, public transport and now Communauto’s electric vehicles, there’s no reason we can’t reduce our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Pauline D’Amboise of Mouvement Desjardins
The first nine vehicles available in Montreal will be situated in the following parking lots: at the Desjardins complex, at Industrielle Alliance at 1981 McGill, at the City of Montreal lot at the intersection of St-Andre and Belanger, and at Ivanhoe Cambridge at the Centre de Commerce Mondial. In the following weeks, lots at Ivanhoé Cambridge at Place Ville Marie, at 1000 De la Gauchetière, at SIQ at L’Ilot Voyageur, at the Université of Montreal at Garage Louis-Colin and the lot at Maison Productive House will also be added to this list.
Scientific follow-up on this project will be handled by the Centre National du Transport Avancé in Saint-Jérôme. Nissan Canada has agreed to deliver its vehicles on a priority basis and will continue its contribution, in the form of technical support – either directly or through two of its dealers: Nissan Park Avenue in the Montreal area and Nissan Beauport in Quebec City.
“Electricity is establishing itself as the new fuel for vehicles, and motorists are now free to choose a future with no exhaust emissions or fossil fuels,” declared Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada Inc. “This delivery of the first Nissan LEAFs in Quebec is only the beginning of a sustainable mobility movement in Canada, and we are delighted to partner with Communauto, whose carsharing service will give many more Quebecers a chance to drive this truly innovative car.”
U.S.-based AeroVironment, along with AddÉnergie, the producer of Quebec’s first charging station, will provide the charging docks chosen to supply power to the Communauto network. AddÉnergie, a company based in the Quebec City area, will bring away much from this initial experience in rolling out its charging docks.
About Communauto
Communauto, the oldest carsharing service in North America, is a company with an environmental, social and urban mission that makes available a fleet of 1,150 self-service cars to its 25,000 members 24/7, complementing public transit and active transportation modes. Communauto cars can be found in 370 stations located in the Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau and Sherbrooke areas. For more information about Communauto and its service points, visit http://www.communauto.com/index_ENG.html.
About Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity. Its sole shareholder is the Quebec government. Using sources of renewable energy – especially hydropower – primarily, the Company supports development of wind energy through purchases from private producers. It also conducts research and development in energy-related fields, including energy efficiency. For more information about Hydro-Québec, visit http://www.hydroquebec.com/en/index.html. For more details about Hydro-Québec transport electrification projects, visit http://www.hydroquebec.com/transportation-electrification/index.html.
About Nissan Canada Inc.
Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. With offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC), NCI directly employs 250 full-time staff. There are 171 independent Nissan dealerships and 29 Infiniti retailers across Canada. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards.