Propulsion Quebec’s plan for electrifying the travel corridor to Toronto now has its first charging site

In March, Propulsion Quebec released a study supporting the electrification of the Quebec City-Toronto corridor for heavy-duty trucks. This month, the first step was taken with the opening of an EV charger specifically for heavy transport. 

Located at the Relais Routier Petit truck stop in Sainte-Hélène de Bagot, Que., around 180 kilometres southwest of Quebec City and 80 km northeast of Montreal, the charger is strategically placed to offer a convenient charging point between the two cities on Highway 20. 

Fully laden electric Class 8 trucks can typically get between 160 km and 300 km of range, according to Propulsion Quebec, depending on air temperature, topography and truck model. 

Location is key

Chargepoly, a France-based EV charging company, took care of the equipment and installation. Circuit Électrique, Quebec’s largest charging network, owns and operates the station. 

Sylvain Cabaneros, the director of business development for Chargepoly Canada, says the location was key for this truck-only facility.

“You’ve got restaurants, you’ve got restrooms, truckers already know the place,” he said in an interview with Electric Autonomy Canada. “The layout is made for big trucks and we [have] a pull-through implementation for the charger. 

“Truckers are used to going there to refuel. And now they can go there to recharge.”

Easily scalable

The facility has one 480 kW power cabinet with two “dispensers”, or charge stations, each equipped with a CCS1 cable. One truck can charge up to 400 kW, or two can charge at 240 kW. 

Cabaneros says the system is easily scalable, built on a “daisy chain” system where more charging stations can be installed if needed. 

Megawatt charging could be added in the future, but Cabaneros says Hydro-Québec would have to increase power capabilities to the site. 

“[This] installation is quicker, it’s less demanding on the grid as well. So that’s why we thought that’s a sweet spot in terms of power.”

Inspiration to go electric

Another partner in the project is Nationex, a trucking company based in St-Hubert, Que. The company is using the chargers now for its electric delivery trucks. Cabaneros hopes this new facility will inspire others to go electric.

“Maybe it’s going to change the mentality [of trucking companies], saying, ‘Hey, I can do this because I have that charger.’” 

Looking for partners

The study by Propulsion Quebec found that just seven electric truck charging locations were needed between Quebec City and Toronto.

Currently, there are no other heavy-duty charging sites in the works along the route, but Romain Gayet, the director of zero-emission vehicles sector with Propulsion Quebec, says planning for more stations continues.

“We continue the work of finding good partners and good locations on the west side of Relais Routier Petit … to deploy the coming sites,” he said.

When asked about a budget for the entire charging chain, Gayet said it is “a work in progress.” 

Reservation system

However, he says there are plans to implement a charger reservation system for this and future sites, to ensure truckers aren’t waiting in line as stations get busier. 

For now though, the fact of the facility now operating is encouraging for Gayet. 

“If there’s one thing we’re very excited about, is that the station is one of the first that’s only for trucks,” he said.

“It’s the first real one that’s working. It’s come from theory and studying to a real, operational site.”