If Montreal is going to be a world leader in electric transportation, it will need more car charging stations.
That’s the logic behind a plan to build 106 new electric car charging stations in downtown Montreal by next June.
There are more than 7,000 electric cars registered in Quebec and the government says more than half of those cars are in Montreal.
Last summer, two curbside charging stations were installed downtown and Mayor Denis Coderre says the pilot project is getting enough interest to justify building 53 more curbside charging areas.
“The more you see those recharge device, the more you will have people who will come with their electric cars or who will think to buy electric cars when they will change their vehicle,” he said.
The province has said it will match the city's commitment for curbside recharging stations, making the total 106.
Hydro Quebec says the stations will keep pace with technology advances in the industry.
These new charging stations are part of Montreal’s larger goal to have 1,000 charging stations by the year 2020 and reduce its greenhouse gas emission by 30 per cent in five years.
“Montreal is a model [for] electrification. So spread the news, we're for real and we will make it,” Coderre said.
In addition to the curbside chargers, the city will also have 80 charging stations in parking lots.
