The Quebec government has made a significant move towards a greener future with its announcement of a $60 million investment to install 367 new DC fast charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). This will bring the total number of charging stations in the province to over 1,200.
As per the Environment Minister Benoit Charette, the 367 new charging stations will have a capacity of 100 kilowatts (kW) or more, and will be added to Hydro-Québec’s Circuit électrique network at 131 locations across the province. The move is in line with the government’s Plan for a Green Economy 2030 (PEV 2030), which aims to register 1.6 million electric vehicles by 2030.
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The Quebec government’s latest investment will account for 40% of all public DC fast chargers currently available in Canada, according to a government statement. Charette called it a “further step” towards the government’s upcoming strategy on electric vehicle charging.
In addition to the charging stations, the Quebec government has awarded a $6 million grant to FLO (formerly known as AddÉnergie) to support the development of a new generation of high-powered rapid charging stations, along with a new platform of Level 2 charging stations for EVs. The $23.8 million development will see FLO ultra charging stations offer up to 320-kilowatt hours of power, enabling electric vehicles to be charged to 80% in just 15 minutes.
See also: Canada Invests $15 Million for More Than 2,350 EV Chargers in Ontario
The move has been praised by Charette as an example of the support for innovation provided for in Quebec’s Plan for a Green Economy (PEV), stating that it “will allow the company to develop its production capacity, but also allow Quebec to reach its greenhouse gas reduction targets.”
With Quebec making significant moves towards a more sustainable future, the rest of the country will no doubt be keeping a close eye on its progress.
