Cambrian College’s battery electric vehicle lab gets Greater Sudbury funding

Cambrian College has announced that it is one step closer to becoming one of Canada’s leading schools for industrial battery electric vehicle (BEV) research and technology, thanks to a financial boost from the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC).

The GSDC has committed $250,000 toward the development of a proposed $2.8 million Industrial BEV Lab at the college, located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. At its January 26th meeting, Greater Sudbury City Council approved the recommendation from the GSDC to fund the project.

“Cambrian College’s Battery Electric Vehicle Lab will be a unique offering unlike any other in Canada,” said Brian Bigger, mayor of Greater Sudbury. “The global market for BEV is expected to grow to $17.5 billion by 2025. I am proud to say that Sudbury is one of the early adopters of BEV technology and by offering specialized training and education, we will soon become the global hub for everything related to BEV.”

The proposed BEV Lab will cover 5600 sq. ft. and be located within the Glencore Centre for Innovation building at the college’s main campus in Sudbury. The proposed BEV Lab will be part of the Centre for Smart Mining within Cambrian R&D, the college’s applied research division.

Cambrian College announced that the city of Sudbury in northern Ontario has given its BEV Lab plans a financial boost. In this photo, a battery electric vehicle made by MacLean is shown at a mine site.

“The mining sector is becoming a greener industry, and BEV technology is a big part of that transition,” said Steve Gravel, Cambrian’s manager of the Centre for Smart Mining. “Our proposed new BEV Lab will be a mirror for what’s happening in the industry. Working with our mining sector partners, the BEV Lab will enable us to accelerate vehicle technology development and performance testing while training a new generation of trades people uniquely equipped to flourish in the industry of the future.”

With the funding commitment from the GSDC, Cambrian College said it hopes to secure $2 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments, through the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund.

“This investment by the GSDC will go a long way to demonstrate to the provincial and federal levels of government that this project is worthwhile and a boost to our city and the region,” said Kristine Morrissey, VP International, Finance and Administration at Cambrian College. “We are always future focused as a college. And battery electric technology is going to be a huge part of mining and other industries. This lab will be the first of its kind in Canada and we want to make sure we’re leading the way in training education and being the bridge between students looking to learn and companies looking to hire.”

Cambrian College is Northern Ontario’s largest college, with more than 80 programs. Cambrian’s main campus is in Greater Sudbury, with satellite centers in Espanola and Little Current.

“On behalf of the GSDC Board, I am pleased to provide this funding to Cambrian College for this project which will have a great economic impact through job creation, construction of a new facility and research opportunities,” said Bigger. “Congratulations to Cambrian College for once again recognizing and adapting to industry demands to ensure Greater Sudbury is at the forefront of emerging technologies and sectors.”

The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC) is a not-for-profit agency of the City of Greater Sudbury and is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors. The GSDC collaborates with the city to promote community economic development.