Cambrian College is receiving a $1-million boost from the federal government to help fund their new Battery Electric Vehicle Lab.
The new facility will be located in the college’s Glencore Centre for Innovation and will “help foster a deeper mutually beneficial connection between local innovation and the mining and mining supply sector,” according to a joint media release issued by Sudbury Liberal MP Viviane Lapointe and Nickel Belt Liberal MP Marc Serré.
The lab will specialize in testing and development, where industry partners can develop, build and test industrial electric vehicle powertrains, including everything from motors to batteries. Students will, in turn, have access to the most cutting-edge electric vehicle technology.
“The new Lab will position Cambrian, and more broadly our community, to become an exceptional leader in (battery electric vehicles),” Lapointe said in the media release, commending the college for their “state-of-the-art space.”
“The future of mining is green, and it is great to see Cambrian College remain at the forefront of innovation to meet these trends,” Serré said. “The $1 million in Federal investment for the Battery Electric Vehicle Lab is sure to help advance research in order to reduce barriers to green technology adoption for industry partners. Another win-win partnership and a key economic development initiative.”
In the media release, it’s noted that switching from diesel to battery electric is already a priority for the mining industry to help reduce operational costs, improve worker health and safety as well as combat climate change.
Glencore’s Craig Mine - Onaping Depth Project, is being developed as an underground mine wholly operated by battery electric-powered vehicles.
As part of this process, we are actively collaborating with electric vehicle producers and other major mining companies to ensure that we are fully prepared for an all-electric mining operation in the near future,” said Peter Xavier, vice president of Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations. Cambrian’s new Battery Electric Vehicle Lab will help both foster relationships and educate students to help them meet their goals, he added.
“This investment from CFI will help position Cambrian College and the region as a leader in the wider opportunity inherent in the electric vehicle supply chain sector,” Cambrian College president Bill Best said. “This is a unique facility for heavy industry, and we look forward to working with our partners to drive innovation in the adoption of (battery-electric vehicles).”
