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Electric cars, charging stations, coming to parking lots near you
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ctvmontreal.ca
MONTREAL — Electric cars are coming, and they'll be able to be plugged in at parking lots across Montreal.
Hydro Quebec has convinced several companies to accept charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles, 100 of which will be ready and operational by next year in Montreal and Quebec City.
The so-called "Electric Circuit," the nation's first public charging network for plug-in cars, will have dedicated space at Rona stores, St. Hubert BBQ, Metro grocery stores and several AMT parking lots.
The utility says drivers will be able to pull up to a spot and plug in their car for $2.
Plug-in drivers will also be able to call Hydro Quebec or CAA-Quebec 24/7 to find a charging station.
Hydro Quebec president Thierry Vandal expects most drivers will want to go electric.
"It costs a normal consumer about a couple thousand dollars a year to buy gas at a service station these days," said Vandal. "With electricity... it's going to cost you $200 to do the same kilometres a year."
Hydro Quebec will issue tenders for developers this summer, and hopes the first 240V stations will be fully operational in early 2012, while quick-charging, 400V stations will be installed next year.
The project will spread from the province's two large cities across the province,
People who use the plug-in stations will not have to actually be shopping at the store where they have parked.
Only two cars currently on the market, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf, can use a 400V power station, but those vehicles can charge much quicker than other plug-ins.
According to Hydro Quebec, the standard 240V charger provides 25 km of travel for an hour's charge. The quick-charging vehicles can get enough juice in 10 minutes to travel 50 km, and will be at 80 percent of battery capacity in half an hour.
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