The Quebec enters the era of electric car accessible to all
Communauto, Hydro-Québec and Nissan Canada are proud to announce the commissioning of the largest fleet of all electric vehicles available in self-service in North America, the first initiative of its kind in Quebec. The deployment of this park has 50 Nissan LEAF, which will be available from 15 today, will run until early 2012.
"Communauto reaffirmed with this project, the innovative character of carsharing and its ability to offer a new way of Quebecois enter the automotive autonomy while benefiting from the most advanced environmental technologies," stated Mr. Benoit Robert, chairman and ceo of Communauto. "Starting with our almost 25,000 subscribers, all citizens of the regions of Quebec and Montreal will have access to the electric personal mobility for only $ 37 per year, and that, even if they do not have a parking charge the vehicle. Another advantage of the self-service car! "
This achievement was made possible thanks to the support of many partners. The Government of Quebec and Hydro-Quebec have thus opened the way for the priority delivery of the LEAF in Quebec by their commitment to electric mobility and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Nissan. The Quebec government has also allocated to this project credits and grants for the purchase of vehicles. Hydro-Quebec, for its part, economically and technically supports the establishment of the network of charging stations.
"Today we take an important step in the electrification of transportation and the realization of our Action Plan 2011-2020 on electric vehicles launched last April. I am proud of our leadership here to create favorable conditions for the deployment of electric vehicles and conditions. As 98% of our electricity is clean and renewable source, Quebec has several advantages for the implementation of these vehicles. The arrival of these vehicles Communauto is a gesture that further confirms the energetics and environmental leadership Quebec, "said MP Raymond Bernier, on behalf of the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Nathalie Normandeau.
"Hydro-Quebec is working with Communauto and Nissan for more than one year to make this eco-responsible initiative possible. We are very pleased to be associated with this project which will contribute significantly to the development of electric vehicles in Quebec while offering users our clean, renewable fuel. Car sharing will have a large number of drivers to appreciate the PROPELLED vehicles to electricity, "stressed Mr. Pierre-Luc Desgagne, Senior Director - Strategic Planning and Government Affairs, Hydro-Quebec.
Many organizations have collaborated to this project by participating in the implementation of points needed service to make these vehicles accessible to the population of Quebec City and the City of Montreal, Societe Parc-Auto du Quebec, Desjardins Group, Ivanhoe Cambridge Park Montreal, the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament in Montreal, the Quebec Real Estate Company, INRS, Universite de Montreal and the project Maison Productive House.
"It was natural for Desjardins to join Communauto as a partner because this mode of transport in addition to the actions we have been asking for several years to encourage our members, employees and the general public to adopt alternative modes of transport to the car alone. With cycling, self-service bike, carpooling, public transit, and now Communauto and electric cars, there is no reason that prevents us to follow suit and be in motion to reduce otherwise our emissions of greenhouse gas emissions, "to declare the vice-president has the support and cooperation of the General Secretariat Desjardins, Pauline D'Amboise.
The first nine vehicles available in Montreal will be situated in the following parking lots: the Complexe Desjardins, the Industrial Alliance McGill in 1981, the Montreal Parking at the intersection of St-Andre and Belanger, and that of Ivanhoe Cambridge World Trade Center. In the coming weeks also add parking Ivanhoe Cambridge Place Ville Marie and in 1000 De La Gauchetiere, the SIQ has Ilot Voyageur, one of the Universite de Montreal in Garage Louis-Colin and the project Maison Productive House.
Scientific monitoring of this project is provided by the National Center for Transportation Advance St. Jerome. Moreover, in addition to having made a priority shipping its vehicles, Nissan Canada will continue to collaborate with technical support, either directly or through its dealers, Park Avenue Nissan Brossard, in the region of Montreal and Nissan Beauport, Quebec has.
"The electricity is needed as the new fuel for vehicles and motorists now have the freedom to opt for a prepaid exhaust emissions and fossil fuel future," stated Mr. Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada inc. "The delivery of the first Nissan LEAF in Quebec is only the beginning of the sustainable mobility movement in Canada and we are delighted to be associated with Communauto, allowing a greater number of Quebecois have the chance to drive this car truly innovative thanks to its car-sharing service. "
AeroVironment, based in the United States, and AddÉnergie, producer of the first terminal quebecoise, provide terminals selected to power the network Communauto. AddÉnergie, a company in the region of Quebec, will remove a lot of experience of this first deployment of its charging stations.
About Communauto
Communauto, the oldest carsharing service in North America, is a company environmental, social and urban vocation that puts at the disposal of its approximately 25,000 subscribers park 1150 cars offered self-service, 24 hours and 24 7 days 7 to complement public transit and active transportation. Communauto vehicles are available in 370 stations established in the regions of Montreal, Quebec, Gatineau and Sherbrooke. For more information about Communauto and its points of service, please visit www.communauto.com site.
About Hydro-Quebec
Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity. Its sole shareholder is the Government of Quebec. It uses mainly renewable, and more particularly the hydraulic energy, and supports the development of wind energy through purchases from independent power producers. It also conducts research and development in the field of energy, including to Energy Efficiency. For more information on Hydro-Quebec, please visit www.hydroquebec.com. For more information on Hydro-Quebec transport electrification projects matter, please visit www.hydroquebec.com / transportation-electrification.
About Nissan Canada Inc.
Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian subsidiary sales, marketing and distribution of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc., NCI directly employs 250 full-time offices in Vancouver (British Columbia) Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (Quebec). Canada has 171 independent Nissan dealerships and 29 Infiniti retailers. Pioneered zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the launch of the Nissan LEAF, the first fully electric vehicle affordable and markets a large scale. This model has merit several international awards, including the prestigious European Car of the year 2011 and the World Car of the year 2011.
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