Canada – The Lion Electric Company, a Saint-Jerome, Quebec, Canadian manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, is investing in the construction of a battery manufacturing plant and innovation centre in Quebec. The factory is planned to begin operations in early 2023 and will produce battery packs and modules made from Lithium-ion cells. Construction is projected to break ground over the next few months at a location to be confirmed soon.

The project and its development represent an investment of approximately CAD185m from Lion with support by the federal and provincial governments of approximately CAD100m. Lion predicts a considerable reduction in the cost of its vehicle manufacturing while ensuring control and optimisation of a key component of its vehicle supply chain. It says that as the battery is the most expensive component of an electric vehicle, this new manufacturing capability will have a direct impact on the development of heavy-duty electric transportation while also offering important environmental and economic benefits.