While the Sheraton Centre was first in Quebec to offer public charging stations, it won’t be the last.

Among various EV projects in the province is a three-year, $4.5-million venture in Boucherville, involving Hydro-Quebec and Mitsubishi’s all-electric i-MiEV.

That project will test charging stations made by various manufacturers, Pierre-Luc Desgagne, Hydro-Quebec’s senior director of strategic planning, said yesterday.

One key consideration is how the charging stations will handle winter, Desgagne said.

One reason Quebec is a leading Canadian jurisdiction in the electrification of ground transportation is the relatively low cost of electricity here.

The cost of charging the Ford hybrid, part of Hydro-Quebec’s test fleet and yesterday’s demonstration vehicle, was about 60 cents, Desgagne said.

The hybrid will travel about 50 kilometres on a charge before fuel is engaged.

The cost of charging a Nissan Leaf, which will run about 160 kilometre on a charge, is about $1, he said…

Le Centre Sheraton and its sister hotel in Toronto decided to offer charging stations as part of their sustainable development initiatives, said Michel Giguere, Centre Sheraton’s general manager.

Access to the charging stations will be free, at least until June, to Sheraton guests and any Montrealers who want to charge electric vehicles, including scooters and bikes, he said.