Hydro-Quebec and Mitsubishi initiate second phase of electric car tests
Mitsubishi and Hydro-Quebec introduced the second phase of their major demonstration project today. The newest phase includes the keys to 15 Mitsubishi i-MiEV’s being handed over to 13 businesses for real world testing, in Boucherville, Que.
Three-phase test project
While the announcement was made at the 2010 Montreal International Autoshow, the first phase started back in December 2010 with the introduction of five Mitsubishi iMiEV’s to the city of Boucherville. Participants for the first round of test phase included the Mayor of Boucherville, Jean Martel. The three phase testing process is supposed to evaluate the performance of the vehicles in varying conditions, especially the harsh Canadian winter.
The second phase of the project came to fruition June 6th and involved delivering another 15 vehicles to selected business in Boucherville. The third phase of the three-year vehicle demonstration and evaluation process will start in October 2011, with another 10 vehicles scheduled for testing in the area.
“We are delighted with the response we’ve received from businesses. This second phase brings us to the very heart of the project, focusing on the needs of businesses and their employees who work in Boucherville,” noted Thierry Vandal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro-Québec.
Participants were selected based on their driving habits, specifically those who drive an average of 50km on highway and city streets. Drivers on their routes will have access to charging stations at their homes and workplaces, in order to test the impact electric vehicles will have on the established hydroelectric grid.
i-MiEV and the trial process
The car being used for the testing demonstration is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, a small electric commuter car. The acronym i-MiEV stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle, while the car itself is based on the Japanese i-Car platform. The car takes 13 hours to recharge using a traditional 120-volt outlet, or 30 minutes to charge 80% using a quick charge station.
According to the CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales Canada, Koji Soga, the car has already achieved a great deal of success filling the needs of Canadian commuters. “Our partnership with Hydro-Québec and our joint pilot project have met with much success over the last four months,” he said.
The trial demonstration process was coordinated by Hydro-Quebec in conjunction with Mitsubishi Canada. The testing itself will extend over a three-year period and could involve up to 50 i-MiEVs, says Hydro-Quebec. The cars are equipped with data logging equipment to help measure charging habits, driving habits, driving experience, overall satisfaction, as well as vehicular behaviour when interfaced with the hydroelectric grid.
The demonstration project itself ties in neatly with the Action Plan for Electric Vehicles unveiled by the Quebec government on April 7th, 2011. The Quebec action plan also includes other automotive testing projects currently in-motion including, two plug-in Ford Escapes, 50 Nissan LEAF’s, five of the Toyota Plug-in Hybrids (PHVs), and 20 Chevrolet Volts.
Mayor Jean Martel, one of the first to receive an i-MiEV for the demonstration trails, said, “I hope that drivers working for the businesses selected in the second phase will be as delighted as I am to be driving an i‑MIEV! The project has not only caught the attention of Boucherville businesses, but also sparked considerable interest among citizens.”
