Boucherville, Quebec – Two small right-hand drive electric cars have been crisscrossing La Belle Province since Saturday. Everywhere they go, Sparky and Zippy (as they are called) make heads turn with their near-silent operation and zero-emission performance. This is Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada’s "Clean Across Canada Tour," a 7,500-km adventure that will take the two i-MiEVs from coast to coast in 28 days.
After stops in Riviere-du-Loup and Quebec City, the convoy began a short two-day stint in the Greater Montreal area with a gathering in Boucherville. Mitsubishi Canada President and CEO Koji Soga was greeted by Mayor Jean Martel and Hydro-Quebec Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Government Affairs Pierre-Luc Desgagné for a joint press conference.
"We’re proud to team up with Mitsubishi and Hydro-Quebec for this unique experiment involving the all-electric i-MiEV," the mayor said. "In addition to its cost-saving and environmentally-friendly ways, the i-MiEV will allow the city of Boucherville to assess how electric vehicles (EV) could be integrated to its regular fleet. City employees and businessmen will get the opportunity to try it out and give their feedback."
Before the big test
Martel is excited about the new Hydro-Quebec pilot project scheduled to begin later this year with the help of Mitsubishi Canada. Over the next three years, some fifty i-MiEVs will be put to the test in order to assess their performance in various conditions, including winter, and to study people’s driving habits.
Fleet testing will take place gradually. The first five units will arrive in December, followed by ten others in the spring of 2011 and so on. Tests will be conducted by various government bodies and agencies, including the city of Boucherville. Afterwards, companies and private individuals will get their turn behind the wheel.
"These tests will allow us to determine what type of charging infrastructure is required," explained Desgagné. "Conclusions drawn from all the data we collect will also help Hydro-Quebec make a decision about whether to enter the market of charging stations."
 |
| Mitsubishi Canada’s "Clean Across Canada Tour" stopped in Boucherville, Quebec. President and CEO Koji Soga (center) was greeted by Mayor Jean Martel (right) and Hydro-Quebec Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Government Affairs Pierre-Luc Desgagné (left). (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
After stops in Riviere-du-Loup and Quebec City, the convoy began a short two-day stint in the Greater Montreal area with a gathering in Boucherville. Mitsubishi Canada President and CEO Koji Soga was greeted by Mayor Jean Martel and Hydro-Quebec Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Government Affairs Pierre-Luc Desgagné for a joint press conference.
"We’re proud to team up with Mitsubishi and Hydro-Quebec for this unique experiment involving the all-electric i-MiEV," the mayor said. "In addition to its cost-saving and environmentally-friendly ways, the i-MiEV will allow the city of Boucherville to assess how electric vehicles (EV) could be integrated to its regular fleet. City employees and businessmen will get the opportunity to try it out and give their feedback."
Before the big test
Martel is excited about the new Hydro-Quebec pilot project scheduled to begin later this year with the help of Mitsubishi Canada. Over the next three years, some fifty i-MiEVs will be put to the test in order to assess their performance in various conditions, including winter, and to study people’s driving habits.
Fleet testing will take place gradually. The first five units will arrive in December, followed by ten others in the spring of 2011 and so on. Tests will be conducted by various government bodies and agencies, including the city of Boucherville. Afterwards, companies and private individuals will get their turn behind the wheel.
"These tests will allow us to determine what type of charging infrastructure is required," explained Desgagné. "Conclusions drawn from all the data we collect will also help Hydro-Quebec make a decision about whether to enter the market of charging stations."
 |
| In December, five of the 50 experimental i-MiEVs will be delivered to Hydro-Quebec for a three-year pilot project. The city of Boucherville will take part in those tests. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |