FPInnovations, in collaboration with Motrec International Inc., Technoparc Montréal, ABB Inc., and Ericsson Canada Inc., is pleased to announce a collaboration agreement to develop and create an electric autonomous shuttle, adapted to Canadian winter conditions. This project will make it possible to tackle the various challenges and needs relating to electric and smart mobility and will contribute toward the development of the electric vehicle sector as well as toward supporting the Grappe industrielle des véhicules électriques et intelligents (Industrial Cluster for Electric and Smart Vehicles).
Backed by its experience in innovative, collaborative projects and through its expertise in electric mobility, FPInnovations has succeeded in rallying world leaders in technology and Québec manufacturers to obtain the necessary global and local expertise to design, develop, produce, and market this shuttle. Vision, object recognition, artificial intelligence and navigation systems, as well as vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-user and vehicle-to-infrastructure telecommunication systems will be integrated into the vehicle in addition to battery management and automatic recharging.
The first series of shuttles will be implemented at Technoparc Montréal before being integrated into the public transit network. Technoparc Montréal will be the first demonstration site.
This collaborative effort falls within the Québec strategy on research and innovation presented last month by Dominique Anglade, the Québec government's Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, who supports the innovation ecosystem in order to significantly contribute toward Québec's economy.
The name and identity of the product will be chosen through a contest between high school, college, and university students, which will be launched when they return to classes this fall. Nadine Bernard, President and CEO of the Grappe industrielle des véhicules électriques et intelligents, will chair the contest selection committee.
"As a leader in the field of innovation, we are pleased to bring together stakeholders from various sectors around an innovative, international, made-in-Québec project and, in this way, contribute toward reducing the risks associated with innovation for each stakeholder, while contributing to Québec's economy, stated Pierre Lapointe, President and CEO, FPInnovations.
"Motrec is excited and proud to be the manufacturing partner in this cutting-edge project. Together, we will show the world what Canada and Québec can do in the electrical transportation space,†commented Blair McIntosh, President and CEO, Motrec International Inc.
"This exciting project consolidates our objective at Technoparc Montréal, which is to welcome innovative companies to our site in order to innovate, develop and experiment. We are very proud to be taking part in this project,†added Mario Monette, President and CEO, Technoparc Montréal.
"ABB is proud to be associated with this innovative collaboration project, which is aligned with ABB's decision, announced earlier this year in Davos, to establish its North American electric mobility center of excellence in Montréal's Technoparc. ABB will apply its know-how in electrification of transportation within the framework of this initiative aimed at developing clean, autonomous, and intelligent mobility, thereby fostering the sustainable development of public transportation,†Nathalie Pilon, President and CEO, ABB Canada, added.
"Ericsson believes it takes a connected ecosystem to transform the world, and that the future of transport lies in connected, cooperative and automated systems. This project gives us a look at the networked society of tomorrow, observed Eric Boudriau, Head of Industry and Society, Market Area North America, Ericsson.
