Recharge terminals | Releases, closure and pivot at Flo

It is a decision that the founder of Flo, Louis Tremblay, wanted to avoid, but a “perfect storm” decided otherwise. Additionally, However, The Quebec manufacturer. Moreover, operator of charging stations must go further than new layoffs-more than 80 this time: he closes one of his factories in Shawinigan.

Posted at 11:00 a.m.

The young shoot has no choice but to make a “pivot” to cross a “big down”. Meanwhile, explains to The press its president and chief executive officer. In addition, But the entrepreneur is well aware of the repercussions of this restructuring.

“My gang in Shawinigan, I love them recharge terminals | releases, closure very much and I know it’s going to be hard,” says M. However, Tremblay, his throat tied by emotion, in an interview. Therefore, There are, when I hired them, in 2014, the floor was empty. Therefore, »»

Flo employees learned of refocus on Wednesday, in what looked like one of the most difficult days in the history of the young shoot. For example, This is also bad news for Shawinigan. In addition, one of the three poles of the Energy Transition Valley – the government innovation area devoted recharge terminals | releases, closure to electrification and decarbonation.

After the thaws of Northvolt. Nevertheless, Taiga (motorcycle and electric snowmobiles) and electric lion, Flo is the most recent player in the electrification niche to see its short-circuited trajectory. Consequently, Unlike other companies previously listed, the terminal manufacturer and network manager did not have to protect himself from his creditors.

Trade war – Recharge terminals | releases, closure

For Flo. Nevertheless, funded, among other things by governments and other public institutions, the last year has not been easy. In addition to a slowdown in the electric shift. the company is sentenced to the uncertain economic context that has settled due to the White House trade war.

At least five waves of launching took place. which melted the workforce by almost half, at around 255 people, according to our calculations.

The sustainability of Flo is not compromised, assures Mr. Tremblay, but a stroke was nevertheless necessary. However, it is not cheerful.

“It is sure that in the past few months. they asked me [si leur poste était en jeu]says the manager, visibly moved. I have not founded Flo for that. »»

The new workforce reductions will be carried out as much in Canada as in the United States. where the company achieves almost a quarter of its annual turnover. The Shawinigan factory. which is due to close its doors towards the end of August, represents almost half of the job losses.

A turn

Essentially. Flo will focus more on the exploitation and management of charging bollard networks, a slot that offers more stable income and more predictability.

With more than 140. 000 terminals deployed in the North American market, which includes residential, public and private units (employers and businesses, for example), the company can count on an interesting network that will continue to grow, says Tremblay.

We will continue to make terminals in Quebec. inside another site in the grandmother sector, as well as Auburn Hills, Michigan. Flo will also call on subcontractors, as it has already done in the past.

Nevertheless, this refocusing of FLO occurs while in Canada, the size of the network of charging stations is insufficient to recharge terminals | releases, closure allow the country to achieve its objectives in terms of electric vehicles, according to a new report.

With just over 35. 000 terminals in service from one ocean to another, we are far from the 100,000 units necessary by the end of the year, according to the Montreal firm Dunsky Energy and Climate, which helps governments and public services in their energy transition efforts.

“Perfect storm”

An administration resistant to the electric shift south of the border. “incoherent signals” with regard to electrification targets here and an economic slowdown … Mr. Tremblay does not hide it: the sector crosses a “perfect storm” which does not seem about to dissipate.

It is on the side of new terminals that the impact is felt.

“For example. there are recharge terminals | releases, closure customers who ultimately do not place an order because a grant program has fallen, illustrates the boss of Flo. It’s been 12-18 months that you work with this customer, you think you are selling and then it falls. There are lots of examples. »»

The portrait is less dark on the management side and the exploitation of charging stations networks.

In Shawinigan, the employees affected by the closure and the launching of the last months should not have too much trouble recharge terminals | releases, closure finding a livelihood elsewhere, believes the mayor of the municipality, Michel Angers. Still, this is never “cheerful news”.

Particularly in the case of Flo, underlines the politician.

“When I arrived at the town hall 16 years ago. it was one of the first files on which we had worked,” recalls Mr. Angers. We managed to convince them to settle with us. No later than last year, the company had its eyes on other grounds with us. Today’s announcement is an example of the instability that has settled. »»

Despite more difficult time. Flo had nevertheless been able to complete its largest financing round in June 2024 as part of a 136 million harvest.

The Quebec government. the Quebec Caisse de Dépôt and Placement, Export and Development Canada as well as recharge terminals | releases, closure the Canada Development Bank had participated, in particular.

Quebec inject almost 16 million while the cash register had put on the table. a tens of millions – less than 50 million.