Electrified public transit

Hydro-Québec and its subsidiaries are taking part in feasibility studies and pilot projects to precisely determine the infrastructure needed to develop electrified public transit. The company’s goal is to evaluate its level of investment in the electrical component of this infrastructure.

Since 2016, Hydro-Québec has been collaborating with the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec Infra on the Réseau express métropolitain light rail train project for Montréal.

Pilot projects

All-electric school bus with motor TM4– Autobus Lion
All-electric bus with slow charging – Société de transport de Laval and Société de transport de l’Outaouais
All-electric with charging at the end of the line – City Mobility in association with the Société de transport de Montréal
Electric vehicle carpooling – Project CLIC, in association with the Société de transport de Laval and the Agence métropolitaine de transport

Feasibility studies

Streetcar – Ville de Montréal, Réseau de transport de la Capitale and Société de transport de Lévis
Trolleybus – Société de transport de Montréal and Société de transport de Laval
Commuter train electrification – Agence métropolitaine de transport
Aérotrain rail shuttle – Aéroports de Montréal

Understanding the different modes of electrified public transit

Electrical infrastructure

Hydro-Québec provides a source of clean, renewable hydropower.

Hydro-Québec is currently participating in feasibility studies conducted by various public transit authorities to determine exactly what electrical infrastructure is needed and what Hydro-Québec's level of investment might be in this infrastructure.

ATransformer: lowers AC voltage from 25,000 volts to 600 or 750 volts.
BRectifier: convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
CCatenary: overhead line that follows the path of an electric mass transit vehicle and supplies it with power. Common catenary voltages for a trolleybus are 600 and 750 volts DC.

Public transit vehicle

DTrolleybus: has rubber tires, like a bus, but is powered by an electric motor.
ETrolley pole: draws electricity from the catenary to power the trolleybus. The pole must be able to move vertically and laterally to accommodate the movement of the trolleybus.

Electrical infrastructure

Hydro-Québec provides a source of clean, renewable hydropower.

ATransformer: lowers AC voltage from 25,000 volts to 600 or 750 volts.
BRectifier: convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
CCatenary: overhead line that follows the path of an electric mass transit vehicle and supplies it with power. Common catenary coltages for a streetcar are 600 and 750 volts DC.

Public transit vehicle

DStreetcar: runs on flat rails embedded in the street.
EPantograph: draws electricity from the catenary to power the streetcar. The pantograph is articulated but can move up and down only, depending on the height of the catenary.

Electrical infrastructure

Hydro-Québec provides a source of clean, renewable hydropower.

ACatenary: overhead line that follows the path of an electric mass transit vehicle and supplies it with power. Common catenary voltage for a commuter train is 25,000 volts AC.

Public transit vehicle

BPantograph: draws electricity from the catenary to power the commuter train. The pantograph is articulated but can move up and down only, depending on the height of the catenary.
CCommuter train: runs between suburbs and a city centre on tracks that may or may not be reserved for commuter train. Some locomotives can switch from diesel mode to electric mode.