Frequently Asked Questions

Electricity will play an increasingly important role in bothc public and personal transportation. And Hydro-Québec has what it takes to assist in this transition: clean, renewable energy; a reliable grid; recognized expertise and promising technologies.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the electrification of personal transportation, which is an essential complement to mass transit.

1. What demonstration projects is Hydro-Québec involved in?

In keeping with its Strategic Plan 2009–2013, Hydro-Québec is running demonstration projects of plug-in electric vehicles with several automakers. The main goal of the projects is to test electric vehicle (EV) reliability in Québec's climate, find out about drivers' charging habits and gather data on charging needs. Each of these initiatives is described briefly below.

Ford
Hydro-Québec is testing two prototypes of the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid as part of a three-year North American trial being conducted by Ford and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). We are the only Canadian power utility taking part in this program.

Mitsubishi
Hydro-Québec is conducting the biggest demonstration project of all-electric vehicles in Canada: testing of 30 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs in field conditions in Boucherville, with the cooperation of the city of Boucherville and local businesses. Hydro-Québec provided the charging infrastructure needed for the project.

Nissan
Hydro-Québec is working with Nissan and Communauto to facilitate the addition of 50 Nissan LEAFs to the Communauto fleet. Twenty-five LEAFs have already been made available to members in the greater Montréal and Québec areas. It is the biggest all-electric car-sharing fleet in Canada. Hydro-Québec provided the charging infrastructure needed for the project.

Chevrolet
By spring 2012, Hydro-Québec will have added some twenty Chevrolet Volts to its fleet. The Volt is an extended range EV.

Toyota
Hydro-Québec took part in the testing of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, in conjunction with Université Laval and the Québec government. The testing campaign, which also included trials in urban centres outside Québec, ended in September 2011.

Hydro-Québec, along with the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT), is also involved in the Société de transport de Laval's CLIC car-pooling program. For the program, launched in October 2011, 10 groups of four people living in the same neighborhood were formed. Each group has a Volt to drive to a metro station or an electric commuter train station serving Deux-Montagnes. Hydro-Québec provided the charging infrastructure needed for the project.

2. What are the charging options for electric vehicles?

The same standard connectors and other charging equipment will apply throughout North America, so you don't need to worry when you travel, whether in Québec or elsewhere.

You can charge your car at home, at work or in a public place so there are actually three charging options.

Regular 120-V outlets
You simply plug the charging cable provided with all electric vehicles into an ordinary outlet.

It typically takes 7 hours to fully charge a hybrid and 13 hours for an all-electric vehicle.

240-V charging stations
For a quicker charge, you can plug into a 240-V station, either at home or in a public place. A full charge generally takes three to four hours for a hybrid and six to eight hours for an all-electric vehicle.

High-power DC fast-charge stations
There are also fast chargers (over 400 V), which allow you to charge your vehicle in under 30 minutes. Stations of this type will be introduced once they have been approved in Canada.

3. How will the charging needs of EV drivers be met?

Together, we are going discover a whole new way of filling up. Every morning, our cars will be fully charged with clean energy.

Eighty percent of our charging needs should be met at home, at work or in a parking lot used on the job.

For occasional needs, while running errands on the weekend or on longer drives for instance, The Electric Circuit partners will offer a public charging service. Hydro-Québec will supply the clean energy to run clean cars.

4. Will Hydro-Québec's grid be able to support the arrival of electric vehicles?

Of course. Hydro-Québec would already be able to supply power for a million plug-in EVs, or 25% of the cars now on Québec roads, without having to make a major investment in the grid. The amount of electricity used in Québec would increase by about 3 billion kWh per year. That's equivalent to the annual output of a midsize generating station like Eastmain-1.

As an indication, the annual consumption of a single EV that travels 18,000 km per year is equivalent to that of a 40-gal. (180-L) water heater.

5. How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle at home?

Running a car on gas is about nine times more expensive than it would be to run it on electricity.

In fact, the cost of energy per 100 km is $1.24* for an EV, compared with $10.58** for a conventional compact sedan like a Honda Civic (8.2 L/100 km).

* For a car that uses 16 kWh/100 km, charged at home at the residential rate (Rate D) in force on April 1, 2011, taxes included, assuming annual consumption of 12,000 kWh for all purposes.

** At the October 2011 average price of regular gas in Québec: $1.29/L, taxes included.

6. What is The Electric Circuit? And what is Hydro-Québec's role in it?

Hydro-Québec set up the first network of public charging stations in Québec and Canada: The Electric Circuit. This initiative is the fruit of a partnership with RONA, St-Hubert Restaurants, METRO and the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT).

In spring 2012, there will be approximately one hundred charging stations in parking lots on our partners' premises and at AMT park-and-ride facilities. Charging will cost a flat fee of $2.50.

Initially, The Electric Circuit will consist of 240-V charging stations. Then, at the end of the year, fast-charge stations should be installed along some main roads.

EV drivers will be able to travel worry free, knowing they can top up their batteries at easy-to-use Electric Circuit stations located in commercial spaces open to the public.

7. How many stations will be installed by Electric Circuit partners?

In spring 2012, nearly one hundred 240-V charging stations available on Electric Circuit partners' premises. The network will be rolled out gradually, as more EVs arrive on the Québec market.

Fast chargers should be introduced in late 2012 along some main roads, once they have been approved in Canada. Hydro-Québec will test them first to make sure they are reliable in our climate.

8. What's the timetable for rolling out Electric Circuit stations?

The greater Montréal and Québec areas will be the starting point for the public system, which will be rolled out gradually, as more electric vehicles hit the road.

9. Is there a map showing where Electric Circuit stations are located?

Yes. A map of charging stations can be viewed at www.theelectriccircuit.com.

In addition to the online station-finding service, Electric Circuit users will have access to a 24/7 telephone help line run by CAA-Québec.

The first charging stations will be installed on the premises of the founding partners of The Electric Circuit: RONA, St-Hubert Restaurants, METRO and the Agence métropolitaine de transport.

10. Are there many charging station suppliers?

A number of North American and European companies sell EV charging stations. Hydro-Québec has had the opportunity to test various models and does business with several companies. One of our suppliers, AddÉnergie of Québec, is involved in the Boucherville demonstration project being carried out in partnership with Mitsubishi. Its stations are also being used by the Communauto car-sharing organization, under a partnership with Hydro-Québec, to recharge its Nissan LEAFs.

11. As the technology is new, are there any financial incentives for purchasing electric vehicles?

In April 2011, the Québec government released an EV action plan for 2011–2020. It includes several incentives. Among other things, there will be a rebate on the purchase or lease of a new electric vehicle as of January 1, 2012.

Rebate amount per vehicle type

	2012	2013	2014	2015
All-electrics (all-electrics) and hybrids with minimum 4-kWh battery (e.g., Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Volt)	$5,000 – $8,000	$4,500 – $8,000	$3,000 – $4,000	$2,000 – $3,000
Hybrids (e.g., Toyota Prius, Honda Civic)	$1,000	$500	—	—

As an indication, the rebate will be $5,000 in 2012 for an EV with a minimum 4-kWh battery. Each extra kilowatthour will lead to a greater rebate, up to a ceiling of $8,000.

There will also be a rebate on charging stations. It will be equal to 50% of the total cost of purchasing and installing a plug-in station, up to a ceiling of $1,000 in 2012 and 2013. The ceiling will be lowered to $800 in 2014 and to $600 in 2015.

For more information, visit www.vehiculeselectriques.gouv.qc.ca.

12. Is Hydro-Québec planning to integrate electric vehicles to its fleet?

Hydro-Québec employs a variety of means to cut the energy consumption of its auto fleet, including using a growing number of hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles.

In recent years, we have also tested many experimental chargeable vehicles (such as Ford's Escape hybrid), to determine how they handle in various conditions or to incorporate components we have developed.

Several of the big automakers now offer mass-production electric cars. Hydro-Québec has already added some twenty Chevrolet Volts to its fleet and bought a dozen Mitsubishi i-MiEVs for the Boucherville project.

In partnership with the Québec government, municipalities and private companies, Hydro-Québec will participate in a call for tenders for the procurement of EVs to be issued this year.

13. How are Hydro-Québec's advanced technologies contributing to the development of electric vehicles?

The scientists at Hydro-Québec's research institute (IREQ) are globally renowned for their work on high-tech materials for more efficient EV batteries, such as lithium iron phosphate, ionic liquid (molten salts) and nanotitanates, which are both time safe and environmentally friendly. Large North American, European and Asian companies produce and market materials developed in IREQ labs.

In addition, Hydro-Québec subsidiary TM4 markets electric motor systems now used by various automakers.

14. How many tonnes of greenhouse gases could be avoided thanks to electric cars?

Transportation is the main source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Québec. Electrification of transportation will therefore have a considerable positive impact on our environment.

Depending on how much it is used, an EV prevents the emission of approximately 3 t per year of GHGs. If a million gas-fueled cars in Québec, or 25% of those now in operation, were replaced with electric cars, GHG emissions would be slashed by some 3.4 million t per year.

By 2020, the Québec government aims to reduce GHG emissions by 20% as compared to 1990 levels.