AZRA invests C$40 million (CAD) in transport electrification in Canada; 2K new charge points and Twizy
16 April 2016
Over the next 18 months, AZRA will invest C$40 million (US$31 million) to install 2,000 new electric charging stations and deploy the Twizy, Renault’s first 100% electric vehicle in Canada.
This small battery-electric city car designed by the Renault Sport team has a type-1 charging cable and side reflectors. Certified since 1 March 2016 by Transport Canada, its speed is capped at 40 km/h (25 mph) to come under the category of low-speed vehicles.
The Twizy will be available for lease at $99 (CAD) per month, including the costs of registration and insurance. AZRA-Partenaire-Renault-Partner has teamed up with Uni-Select to ensure the management and maintenance of the vehicle fleet.
To contribute to the expansion of the network and increase the accessibility of charging stations for Canadian drivers of electric vehicles, AZRA will install 2,000 charging stations over the next 18 months.
The stations, made entirely of aluminum, will be equipped with 7 to 50 kW power charges that can serve up to four users, for a total of 8,000 new charging points.
They will be installed for free on private property through the establishment of partnerships with owners of office buildings, shopping centres and other types of buildings.
AZRA’s mission is to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by improving access to cleaner energy and accelerating the transition of vehicles operating on fossil fuels to electric vehicles.
Who will want to use this type of very slow (40 Km/hour) e-vehicle during our cold, windy, snowy winter months?
AZRA could instead join with the Federal Government DOT, to install quick charge e-stations and H2 stations across Canada in the next 2+ years, to promote the use of more BEVs and FCEVs?
To date, Canada has only 18,500 e-vehicles (mainly in Quebec (46%), Ontario (38%), BC (12%), RoC (4%) and has a flagrant shortage of quick charge stations.
Posted by: HarveyD | 16 April 2016 at 08:50 AM
Charging stations are not necessary if every vehicle has an inefficient small Bladon Jet range extender. You could run it on fuel blessed by the hydrogen priests; even zero carbon liquid ammonia. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 16 April 2016 at 10:33 PM
FCEVs coupled with enough H2 Hub and small distribution stations network may be one of the best solution for our very long cold winters?
Posted by: HarveyD | 18 April 2016 at 07:26 AM