Electrovaya Inc. signed a $3.8-million contract with Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to develop safe and long-lasting lithium ion ceramic batteries for electric buses and commercial vehicles. The initial payment on the contract has now been received and follows the award from SDTC in August 2017.

SDTC helps Canadian entrepreneurs accelerate the development and deployment of globally competitive clean technology solutions.

Electric buses and commercial vehicles operate long hours every day, and require batteries that can work under fluctuating driving cycles and be charged quickly. The long duty cycle for these vehicles has similarities to Materials Handling Electric Vehicles (MHEVs), for which Electrovaya has developed lithium-ion battery technology.

Electrovaya’s batteries are powering a growing number of MHEVs and Automated Guided Vehicles used by a number of companies, including large Fortune 500 firms in the logistics and manufacturing sector.

Two bus manufacturers have joined Electrovaya as consortium members for the SDTC-funded project. One of them is a fast-growing European manufacturer with multiple manufacturing plants worldwide. The other bus company is based in North America and has extensive relationships in the US and Canadian markets.