Leclanché, eCAMION and SGEM to Build and Operate 34 EV Fast-Charging Stations Along Trans-Canada Highway
July 26, 2017
Canada’s electric vehicle industry is about to receive a major boost with a new agreement between eCAMION, based in Toronto, Dallas-based Leclanché North America, part of Switzerland’s Leclanché SA and SGEM, based in Geneva, to develop and install a network of 34 fast-charging stations along the Trans-Canada Highway in Ontario and Manitoba.
The project, designed to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Canada, entails an investment of $17.3 million and is being partially funded by an $8 million repayable contribution from Natural Resources Canada under the Canadian Energy Innovation Program. Target completion date: December 2017.
eCAMION and Leclanché have formed a Toronto-based joint venture, named Fast Charge Inc., to manage the TCH project and expand the implementation of EV charging systems across North America.
The Fast Charge system consists of an energy storage system, using large-format lithium-ion batteries, along with multiple outlet charging units that can be charge several EVs at once. This architecture helps overcome the slow charge issue by acting as a buffer between the grid and the vehicle and allowing EVs to be charged rapidly from the advanced lithium ion batteries instead of directly but more slowly from the grid. This will enable EV drivers to charge their vehicles in just 20 minutes.
