HEMMINGFORD, QC, June 6, 2022
/CNW Telbec/ - Parc Safari along with The Lion Electric
Company (NYSE: LEV) (TSX: LEV) ("Lion" or the "Company"), a leading
manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, today
officially presented seven 100% electric trucks that will bring
families visiting the park an unforgettable Safari Adventure Tour
experience in the 2022 season.
The zero-emission vehicles were designed and delivered in 2021
specifically to meet Parc Safari's needs. The 100% electric
bush trucks, mounted on a Lion8 chassis, will allow visitors to
tour the park without being bothered by noise or emissions.
"Since 2010, I've been dreaming of bringing the Safari Adventure
Tour to life in all-electric bush trucks and I'm thrilled that Lion
Electric has accepted this challenge, which allows us to bring a
better – and greener – experience to visitors than ever before.
This is clearly an unprecedented experience for the thousands of
people who visit the park each summer. Our goal is that all Safari
Adventure tours will be conducted in 100% electric Lion bush
vehicles within the next few years," explained Jean-Pierre Ranger, President of Parc
Safari.
"We're thrilled to have been able to make this dream a reality
for Mr. Ranger and his team and thank them for their vision.
Visitors will get an unforgettable experience because, not only are
these vehicles 100% zero emission, but they are also absolutely
silent," declared Marc Bédard, CEO – Founder of Lion Electric.
"What we're presenting today is a testament to the versatility of
the 100% electric Lion vehicles that our team has been developing
for more than a decade here in Quebec, and once again, showing just how
adaptable our electric trucks are in a wide range of
applications."
"With this truck, which will delight both young and old
visitors, Lion Electric continues to innovate as a leader in the
design and manufacturing of electric commercial vehicles. We will
now be able to feed elk and giraffes without emitting greenhouse
gas emissions. It is the animals, but also the planet, that are
going to thank us," pointed out Pierre
Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation and Minister
responsible for Regional Economic Development.
"The electrification of transportation is undoubtedly one of the
best ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec. The partnership between Lion and
Parc Safari is a great example of
how any type of vehicle can be electrified for the benefit of the
environment," concluded Benoit
Charette, Minister of the Environment and the Fight against
Climate Change, Minister responsible for the Fight against Racism
and Minister responsible for the Laval region.
"I am proud to see Parc Safari acting as a leader in the
electrification of its vehicles. Many visitors will now have the
privilege of taking advantage of this new, all-Quebec made mode of transportation to explore
the park, which, let's remember, is Montérégie's greatest tourist
attraction," concluded Claire
IsaBelle, MNA for Huntingdon.
About Parc Safari
Since 1972, Parc Safari has welcomed 15 million visitors,
mostly families, interested in seeing animals from America,
Asia and Africa like they are on safari. In 1990, Parc
Safari was the innovator behind the marketing in Quebec, Ontario and the US that included
accommodations, attractions and visits to farms with overnight
excursions of two or more nights.
The Park helps breed endangered species (cheetahs, African
elephants, giraffes) with European, American and Canadian partners.
In January 2021, it reintroduced two
cheetahs to Zimbabwe and a few
years prior, had sent a gaur to the Singapore Zoo and white wolves
to several European countries.
For 50 years, Parc Safari has been modernizing its facilities
with geothermal energy, energy recovery and rainwater, solar walls
and biosecure buildings. In 2010, it began looking for electric
vehicles to replace the gas ones on the farm.
The Park is excited about Lion's electric bush truck for the
Safari Adventure, a 5 km long trail on 50 hectares.
Tour transformation begins this year with 7 trucks with a
capacity of 50 passengers. All trucks are wheelchair
accessible.
Hoping post COVID means that this year will be a normal one,
Parc Safari expects to welcome their usual 300,000 visitors and
maybe even a few more!
SOURCE Parc Safari