Gov. Shumlin Announces Initial Implementation of Electric Vehicle Charging Corridor Between Vermont and Quebec

Press Release

Gov. Peter Shumlin and Québec Premier Pauline Marois today unveiled the first sites of the Vermont-Québec Electric Charging Corridor. The corridor is the result of an agreement between Drive Electric Vermont and the Québec-based Electric Circuit.

The corridor will initially link Burlington and Montréal and -- thanks to the more than 20 charging stations installed along the route -- will give electric vehicle drivers assurance that they can charge when needed along the route between Vermont and Québec. The number of charging stations is expected to increase with the signing of new partnership agreements. Construction of the stations is progressing smoothly, and the 138 mile corridor which includes I-89 and Highway A-10, Rte 104 and Rte 133, is expected to open this fall.

"Alternative fuel vehicles lower our reliance on gasoline, helping both our environment and our energy independence. With the number of alternative energy vehicles growing at tremendous rates, these stations, along with websites identifying their location, will support visitors and residents as they use this clean and efficient mode of transportation," said Gov. Shumlin. "Using electricity rather than gasoline will mean clean transportation for the region at a lower cost. I am pleased to join Premier Marois in announcing the significant progress that has been made on the Vermont-Québec Electric Charging Corridor"

"Electrification of transport is a priority of the Government of Québec," said Premier Marois. "The partnership between Vermont and Québec is a long one filled with many issues of common interests. Today's announcement outlining the installation of the electric charging network is a concrete example of our shared leadership in the field of sustainable development and clean energy use."

In addition to announcing the initial corridor, the agreement also envisions continued cooperation towards installing similar corridors on other cross-border routes, including Magog-Sherbrooke-St. Johnsbury.

The initiative is the result of discussions that began at the most recent Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP) and provides a powerful example of what cross-border cooperation can produce. The State of Vermont, Québec, and a group including Hydro-Québec, Green Mountain Power Corporation, the Burlington Electric Department, and Drive Electric Vermont, are currently looking into other ways to bolster public infrastructure for electric cars.
The official opening of the corridor will take place this fall.

Corridor's Recharge Sites

Vermont

St-Albans
· Maplefield's Mobile (2 chargers)
Colchester

· St. Michael's College (2 chargers)
Burlington

· Lakeview Garage (4 chargers)

City Market (1 charger)
Chittenden Superior Court (1 charger)

South Burlington
· Burlington International Airport
· Healthy Living Market and Café (2 chargers)

Waterbury
· Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Visitor Center (2 chargers)

Montpelier
· Lost Nation Theater (2 chargers)
· Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (2 chargers)

Vergennes
· DR Power Equipment (2 chargers)

Middlebury
· Addison County Regional Planning Commission (4 chargers)

South Royalton
· Vermont Law School (4 chargers)

Manchester
· Hand Chevrolet (1 charger)

South Londonderry
· Mountain Energy of Vermont (2 chargers)

Québec

Montréal
Place des Arts (4 chargers)
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (1 charger)
Bell Centre (2 chargers)
Casino de Montréal (2 chargers)
Brossard
AMT Chevrier lot (2 chargers)
RONA Quartier DIX30 (2 chargers)
METRO (2 chargers)
Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert (1 charger)
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
City library (1 charger)
Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert (1 charger)

Partners:

Green Mountain Power:
Green Mountain Power is focused on providing Vermonters with a balance of the most reliable, affordable, smart, and clean electricity possible. They have a long-term vision to help plug-in car owners make the electric system, as well as driving, more efficient. In the near term, they aim to help customers substitute electricity for gasoline to reduce driving costs and pollution.

Burlington Electric:
Burlington Electric Department is the municipal utility for the City of Burlington. BED serves 16,000 residential and 3,600 commercial customers. In 2012, overall electricity usage in Burlington was 5.3 percent lower than in 1989, the year before an energy efficiency bond was passed by Burlington voters. BED's motto is efficiency first, renewable second.

Drive Electric Vermont:
Drive Electric Vermont is a statewide coalition of policy makers, industry leaders, and ordinary citizens dedicated to promoting the spread of electric transportation in the state. It is a project of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation in partnership with the State of Vermont, Project Get Ready, and a broad array of stakeholders advancing electric vehicle technology. More information is available at their website, www.driveelectricvt.com/.

The Electric Circuit
The Electric Circuit is a major initiative in the rollout of charging infrastructure needed to support the arrival of plug-in vehicles in Québec.

The Electric Circuit now offers almost 160 charging stations (240 V) in parking lots of the AMT, as well as those of many RONA hardware stores, Metro grocery stores and St-Hubert restaurants throughout Québec. Since its launch in March 2012, 34 other private and institutional partners have joined the Electric Circuit. It will continue to expand in order to provide greater geographical coverage and serve more EV drivers in several regions of Québec.

While EV owners do most of their charging at home and at work, drivers can travel worry-free, knowing they can top up their batteries on the road if they need to. Electric Circuit users also have access to a 24/7 telephone help line run by CAA-Québec, as well as a charging station locator service. The Electric Circuit Web site, www.theelectriccircuit.com, is updated as new stations are installed or commissioned.

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