But Christmas 2024 could represent a first for several motorists who have made the leap to electromobility this year. It is useful to remember that as of September 30, 2024, Quebec had 337,854 electric vehicles (EVs), according to figures compiled by the Association of Electric Vehicles of Quebec (AVEQ).
In addition, during the third quarter of 2024, more than a third (34.6%) of new vehicles registered in Quebec were electric or plug-in hybrids, according to data from S&P Global Mobility. That’s a lot of electrified vehicles.
So that your journey to parenthood does not become a nightmare, it is important to plan your travels carefully. Especially if you plan to go to Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, a very popular destination.
Moreover, the Electric Circuit — Hydro-Québec’s public charging network — has published a page of advice if a trip on Route 175 is planned to go to Saguenay with your EV.
“Whether you arrive from the South or the North, your vehicle will consume significantly less energy during the second part of your journey through the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve than during the first,” we can read on this web page. “Because L’Étape is located on a plateau some 800 meters above sea level.”
This map of the network of public charging stations clearly illustrates where “charging deserts” can be found in Quebec. (Screenshot)
Less populated regions
It’s not just Route 175. The main roads are generally served by networks of fast charging stations, whether that of Hydro-Québec or others. The first is the one that has the greatest scope in Quebec.
If you drive on highways 20 or 40, there are quite a few charging places. But if you travel the main roads like the 117 towards Abitibi, the 132 towards Gaspésie or the 138 towards the Côte-Nord, the number of terminals would be sufficient to cover long distances.
Hydro-Québec spokesperson Louis-Olivier Batty assures that Quebec electromobilists will have access to fast charging almost every 100 kilometers, with the Electric Circuit terminals and partner networks. “In the worst case, 150 km…” he adds.
However, your holiday destination might be in the middle of a “public charging desert.” By charging desert we mean places where fast terminals (level 3) are not numerous.
There are a few in Quebec. These are less densely populated sectors than in the main regions of Quebec, such as Saguenay, Mauricie and the suburbs of Montreal and Quebec.
When we look closely at the Electric Circuit network map, we can see that certain regions have few terminals in more rural areas, far from major corridors. Most of the time, there is a level 2 terminal in the center of a village.
That said, that doesn’t mean you can’t go. But rather that these terminals will not be able to quickly recharge your vehicle if you are on the move. Rather, they are destination terminals.
Once you arrive safely, if your parents or in-laws already have a 240-volt charging station at home, this will be the ideal situation. Otherwise, you will have to fall back on a 120-volt outlet, hoping that it has enough amperage to accept the charger supplied with the vehicle.
However, the ranges of recent EVs are increasingly greater. With few exceptions, “the majority of electric vehicles have more than 300 kilometers of autonomy,” explains Frédéric Allard, president of AVEQ. “In winter, in the worst scenario, with temperatures of –25°C, we cut the distance in half. We fall 150 km away.”
Planning
The watchword is planningsaid Mr. Allard. “In Tesla models, you can plan your journeys. Like, how much minimum autonomy do we want to arrive at our destination, for example 20%? There is no problem at that time,” adds Mr. Allard, who owns a Tesla vehicle.
“If you don’t have a Tesla, there’s always the A Better Route Planner app [ABRP]. It allows you to enter their vehicle model, battery size, etc. he added.
For its part, the Electric Circuit application also has an integrated trip planner. It allows you to plan stops at terminals on the public network and its affiliated networks.
“Another piece of advice I can give people is to take their time.”
— Frédéric Allard, president of the Quebec Electric Vehicle Association
“And also to respect the speed limits and drive at 100 km/h, no more, if you want to cross places like the entire Wildlife Reserve without having to stop. Otherwise, you will have to allow a little more time.”
The six fast terminals of the Electric Circuit, located in the parking lot of the Normandin hotel in Quebec, are very busy. It often happens that they are all used. (Paul-Robert Raymond/Archives Le Soleil)
Deserts in the city?
Are there public charging deserts in cities? In some places, yes.
If we take certain sectors on the outskirts of Qsuébec or even the metropolis, public charging sites are becoming rarer.
Another scenario: the six fast terminals of the Electric Circuit, located in the parking lot of the Normandin hotel in Quebec, are very busy. It often happens that they are all used.
“We are always five minutes away from someone finishing their recharge. Then even if there is a queue of, say, two or three cars, that means that I only have 15 minutes to wait maximum,” says Frédéric Allard of AVEQ.
“But I’ve rarely seen more than three cars waiting at the same time,” he says. He also points out that more than 90% of EV charging is done at home. Fast charging is more used to fill the battery during longer trips.
On the subject of increased traffic at the terminals, Mr. Batty assures that the Electric Circuit adds new fast charging points when there is high use of the terminals on a site or in a sector.
“The network currently has 6,570 terminals, including 1,100 fast terminals,” he lists. “We aim to add 1,430 fast terminals and 3,500 standard terminals [de niveau 2] by 2030, for a total of at least 11,500 Electric Circuit charging stations in 2030.”
