A free music tour in Quebec demonstrated that electric vehicle batteries can go beyond powering the vehicle itself and become a mobile energy source for events. Two Chevrolet Silverado EV trucks and a 150-kilowatt-hour battery unit powered every element of the “Le goût du paysage” tour, from the sound system and stage lighting to chef Oli’s kitchen, without a diesel generator or a direct connection to the electricity grid.
The tour was organized by Papillons, which is also behind the RechargÉco fast-charging network operating in Quebec and New Brunswick, and took place between August 15 and 22. It included five stops in Trois-Pistoles; the Vallée Bras-du-Nord in Saint-Raymond; Parc Éco-Laurentides in Mont-Blanc; Île-aux-Castors in Berthierville; and a final stop in the parking lot of an IGA store in Montreal’s Saint-Henri neighborhood.
How were the energy tasks divided?
The two trucks powered the sound system, stage lighting, and site lighting after sunset. The Silverado EV offers a battery with a capacity of up to 205 kilowatt-hours, while the capacity of its integrated power outlets ranges from 7.2 to 10.2 kilowatts depending on the trim. At the Saint-Henri site, the cable ran directly from the power outlet in the bed of one of the trucks to the stage.
The kitchen, which used large electric cooktops and multiple pots for hours, relied on a trailer-mounted mobile power unit with a capacity of 150 kilowatt-hours. Papillons did not disclose additional details about the system’s design, while the source indicated that Ixian participated in its engineering.
What changes in practical terms?
The value of this model is especially apparent at sites without electrical infrastructure. The tour’s stops included an island, two valleys, and natural areas—places where organizing an event would normally require diesel generators or abandoning the event. Even in Montreal, portable power can avoid temporary grid-connection procedures and coordination costs with the site owner or electricity company, in addition to eliminating generator noise and fumes near the audience.
The trucks and power unit are recharged from Quebec’s grid, which Hydro-Québec says obtains more than 99% of its electricity from renewable sources, mostly hydropower. Therefore, the actual environmental impact is tied to the electricity source used for recharging, not to the batteries alone.
Capacity remains an important limitation
The experiment shows that vehicle batteries are suitable for medium loads such as sound and lighting, but they do not automatically replace a high-power source for every element of an event. Each truck is limited to an output of approximately 10 kilowatts, while the kitchen required a separate unit with a large capacity. This makes load size, operating time, and the possibility of recharging between stops decisive factors before adopting the model.
For concert and festival organizers, film productions, and construction sites, the experiment offers a practical use case for bidirectional charging and mobile power sources. But it does not prove that every event can be powered by electric vehicles alone; rather, it shows that combining vehicles with power outlets and a mobile battery can reduce reliance on diesel generators when the loads and locations are suitable.