New study commissioned on development of Quebec's lithium-ion battery industry - Quebec industry gears up and takes the lead in projects that improve the life cycle of batteries for the benefit of the Quebec economy

MONTREAL, Nov. 26, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Propulsion Québec, the province's smart and electric vehicle cluster, announced today the launch of a study on the development of the lithium-ion battery industry in Quebec. The study will be carried out with financial support from Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation du Québec and Société de développement de Shawinigan. It represents a concrete initiative by major Quebec players in the fields of transportation electrification and energy storage. These players want to use their expertise and competitive edge to strategically position Quebec in the production of batteries, from the extraction of raw materials to the recycling of their components.

The study will be carried out in the months ahead and will profile the lithium-ion battery industry and analyze opportunities for Quebec in battery component and cell manufacturing and end-of-life battery recycling. The study results are due to be delivered in the Spring of 2019. A committee of independent experts will be set up to support the study.

"The transportation sector contributes over 40% of Quebec's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, so electrification of transportation is a priority. Quebec's electric and smart transportation sector is working together to actively seek more responsible solutions to improve its environmental record, for the benefit of Québec's economy and society. Our study on the development of Quebec's lithium-ion battery sector will identify concrete steps that can be taken to develop this promising growth sector and the province's key assets," said Sarah Houde, Executive Director of Propulsion Québec.

Quebec has a number of assets vital to developing this geostrategic, value-added sector and facilitating the energy transition for the entire economy. These include significant reserves of renewable energy (hydroelectricity), internationally recognized scientific and technical expertise, innovative companies, deposits of strategic materials, and expertise in recovery and recycling.

The study's partner organizations are: Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation du Québec, Société de développement de Shawinigan, Call2Recycle®, Société du Plan Nord, Hydro-Québec's Center of Excellence in Transportation Electrification and Energy Storage, Nemaska Lithium, Mason Graphite, North American Lithium, Nouveau Monde Graphite, Recyclage Lithion, RNC Minerals et Sayona Québec.

About Propulsion Québec

Quebec's smart and electric vehicle cluster brings industry stakeholders together to work on joint projects aimed at positioning Quebec as a leader in smart and electric land transportation. Created in 2017, Propulsion Québec currently has over 100 members from a variety of sectors and deploys its resources across seven distinct working groups tasked with developing and supporting innovative projects. The cluster receives financial support from the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, and Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM).

SOURCE Propulsion Québec