Automotive manufacturers are moving towards producing fully electric vehicles by 2040 and, without question, Greater Sudbury plays a critical role.
The area is home to the world’s largest integrated mining industrial complex, with an impressive list of assets that includes:
- nine operating mines
- two mills
- two smelters
- a nickel refinery, and
- over 300 mining supply and service companies.
The Sudbury Basin is also one of only a few sites in the world that produces Class 1 nickel, used in the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries.
“As a global leader in the adoption of BEV technology, our city and local businesses are guiding the way in developing and adopting new technologies for mining in the digital age,” said City of Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre.
“We have the land, the talent and the resources, to effectively support this industry and we are actively working to secure partnerships to help advance the automotive sector. We look forward to continuing the conversation around critical minerals and their role in BEV technology with conference delegates from across Ontario and beyond.”
Already, transit and industry have made significant strides in battery-electric applications. The mining sector, for one, has been an early adopter. That said, there are still several challenges, opportunities and partnerships required to fulfill the needs of this rapidly evolving supply chain.
That’s where the BEV In-Depth: Mines to Mobility Conference comes in. It takes place May 29 and 30, 2024, and while it is primarily geared towards mining and automobile companies, it should be of great interest to area residents too.
The third annual event, held at Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology in Sudbury, includes an opening dinner on May 29 and a full-day conference on May 30. As it has in years past, the conference will continue to put the entire EV battery supply chain under the microscope.
Aside from the corporate audience, the public is welcome to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to view and test drive the latest makes and models of electric vehicles for free, provided by local dealership Plug ’N Drive. Their knowledgeable EV ambassadors will be onsite to answer any questions.
This event will connect industry experts, suppliers and influential voices from across the province and the country, exploring the current state of the electric vehicle market and considering how to advance a fully integrated battery supply chain in Ontario and throughout Canada.
Businesses that drive innovation in the automotive, battery, green energy, mining and mineral processing, and transportation sectors will be in attendance, as well as various allied supply and service companies. The event is also highly relevant for government and non-government organizations that are engaged in developing and implementing policies and tools that can help realize a decarbonized future. As always, cross-sectoral collaboration is a must.
The conference is co-hosted by Cambrian College, EV Society, Frontier Lithium and the City of Greater Sudbury, and in cooperation with Accelerate-ZEV, Electric Autonomy Canada and the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN).
Embracing electric
The number of registered electric vehicles in Greater Sudbury has been increasing in the past few years, jumping from 436 in 2021 to 1,088 in 2023.
This fact mirrors what seems to be happening in other parts of the province, where the sales of electric vehicles are growing steadily. Both Vale and Glencore, Greater Sudbury’s largest mining companies, are already converting to electric vehicles underground, eliminating diesel emissions and reducing heat and noise pollution.
EV battery recycling
Ideally, no batteries should ever enter a landfill when they can be recycled or used in other applications, as part of a circular economy.
In fact, 25 to 95 per cent of critical minerals from batteries can be recovered and reused after they are recycled. Batteries from electric vehicles are also valuable when given a second life, such as when they are used to store energy.
Greater Sudbury’s reputation—and readiness
The City of Greater Sudbury is world-renowned for its Regreening Program and sustainable mining practices. In the coming years, a Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology will be established.
The City has implemented an Employment Land Strategy, which will provide ways to identify and make some of our most attractive lands easily available for future commercial and industrial development.
Greater Sudbury is home to several post-secondary institutions, including the bilingual Laurentian University and its McEwen School of Architecture, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Cambrian College and Collège Boréal. Both Cambrian College and Collège Boréal have launched new training programs focused on Battery Electric Vehicle maintenance for the mining industry.
Cambrian College, for example, currently offers a certificate program. It teaches heavy duty equipment technicians and underground mining personnel how to adopt and maintain electric equipment safely and efficiently. Courses can be completed online or in person at the college’s corporate training classroom; no prior knowledge of or experience working with BEVs is required.
They also offer an Electric Vehicle Foundations certificate online, where participants will learn about the history, global impact, the market for EVs and high-level information on servicing EVs.
Learn more about the City of Greater Sudbury and its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and helping the community achieve its net-zero goal by 2050.
If you have a project you’d like the City to highlight, contact Jennifer Babin-Fenske at [email protected].
BEV In-Depth Conference
- May 29 to 30, 2024
- Cambrian College
- 1400 Barry Downe Rd
- Sudbury, ON
- P3A 3V8
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