My CPKC Holiday Train Chase got a sweet car-charging treat

I’m planning a big five-day CPKC Holiday Train chase this November throughout New York and Quebec. Because, yeah, of course I am.

That being said, I want to make this trip not only the best train chase I’ve ever achieved; I also want the train chase to be as green as possible. And by “green,” I need to find charging stations at various locales. Sure, my 2017 Chevrolet Volt (“Lightning’s Girl”) can travel on premium fluids, but it never hurts to have a little extra go-go spark, especially when gasoline in Canada is WAY more expensive than it is in the United States.

Meanwhile, I’m preparing my Holiday Train chase itinerary like a fiend. I’m scouting out routes, locations, everything. I’m planning enough travel to get to destination A (or destination “eh”), as well as alternate scouting shots and train crossing routes. And while scouting these locations, I discovered something.

Some of these locations have car-charging stations. Specifically, the delicious J1772 “Level 2” chargers that work perfectly with Lightning’s Girl.

But I need to confirm something. Not every car-charging company operates on reciprocal agreements with other car-charging companies. I have accounts with the three main ones in my area – ChargePoint, EVConnect and ViaLynk (the former Livingston Energy), but the car-charging stations in Quebec operate under the aegis of Le Circuit électrique, an offshoot of Quebec’s power company Hydro-Quebec.

Okay, so … do I have to get an account from Le Circuit électrique, even if I’m only doing a three-day stay in Quebec?

Apparently … it might not be necessary. Because after careful search and scrutiny … look what I found. According to newswire.ca, there IS a reciprocal agreement between ChargePoint in the USA and Le Circuit électrique in Canada. I can use my ChargePoint app, or the RFID card in my wallet, on Le Circuit électrique equipment, and get that sweet maple-flavoured go-go spark into Lightning’s Girl … which, if I play my cards correctly, means I can charge the car while the CPKC Holiday Train show takes place.

Now THAT’s a savory deal. Savory like St-Hubert Fried Chicken at the Couche-Tard Plaza.

And it’s one checkbox checked off for this trip.

Good.

Let’s make this happen. 😀