Clean Transportation Month – The Latest & Greatest in the Metro Vancouver Region

In November 2021, Invest Vancouver published its inaugural industry analysis report on the Metro Vancouver region’s clean transportation sector. The sector was selected for analysis because of the region’s vibrant network of emerging and mature clean transportation firms, supported by research universities, specialized academic programs, start-up accelerators and incubators, and government policies.

Since Invest Vancouver published this report, there have been a number of “good news” stories in the Metro Vancouver region’s clean transportation and new mobility industry! What better time than #CleanTransportationMonth in the region to present an update on just a few of the amazing announcements that have been made in the industry over the last 18 months, including dominance on the Global CleanTech 100 and success stories.

Dominance on the Global CleanTech 100

In 2022 and 2023 two Metro Vancouver-based hydrogen firms made the Global Cleantech 100 list.

Ionomr Innovations Inc. is the developer and manufacturer of ion-exchange membranes and polymers that improve the efficiency and performance of green hydrogen, fuel cells, carbon gas utilization and industrial electrochemical systems.

Ekona Power is a breakthrough technology company developing a revolutionary methane pyrolysis platform to produce industrial-scale hydrogen that is both clean and low-cost.

Breaking New Ground: Recent Announcements, Innovations, and Success Stories

Port Coquitlam-based clean energy startup Moment Energy has established a supply agreement with Mercedes-Benz AG Energy (MBE) for second-life electric vehicle batteries. This marks the first agreement Mercedes-Benz Energy has signed with a North American second-life energy storage system (ESS) provider?(Source).

Nano One Materials Corp. TSX: NANO is changing how the world makes battery materials. Nano One has a patented and scalable process for producing low-cost, high-performance cathode powders used in lithium-ion batteries. These materials are designed to add value to electric vehicles and grid storage batteries, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support a zero-emission future. In June 2022, Rio Tinto acquired a 4.9% stake in the company for $12.54 million CAD, valuing the company at $255.92 million CAD (Source: PitchBook 2023).

Valued at over $67B USD, Rivian is making a major impact on the electric vehicle market. In the first quarter of 2023 they delivered nearly 8,000 electric vans and trucks. This global powerhouse recognizes the concentration of talent in the Metro Vancouver region: they have opened an R&D office in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood (Source).

In 2022, Ballard Power Systems installed two fuel cells onboard the world’s 1st hydrogen-powered ferry. The fuel cells were installed onboard the Hydra ferry, operated by Norwegian company Norled AS . The fuel cell-powered ferry is expected to reduce its annual carbon emissions by up to 95 percent, according to Norled (Source).

Moving Forward: The BC Hydrogen Office

Announced in March 2022, the Province of BC has established a BC Hydrogen Office to advance all aspects of hydrogen projects and facilitate hydrogen’s role across British Columbia’s energy systems. This aligned with Invest Vancouver’s November 2021 recommendations to improve permitting processes and launch a hydrogen hub in the region to co-locate hydrogen supply and demand.

In March 2023, the B.C. Hydrogen Office, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) (CICE) released new research on hydrogen carbon intensity (CI) thresholds that could help shape the province’s emerging clean hydrogen sector and meet legislated greenhouse gas reduction targets by 2050.

As stated in the report: more than 50% of Canada’s hydrogen and fuel-cell companies are in B.C., and the province accounts for about 60% of research investment in hydrogen and fuel-cell development. Low carbon hydrogen provides solutions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy where direct electrification is not practical. This includes medium and heavy-duty transportation such as trucking, marine shipping, aviation and rail, and certain existing industrial processes that rely on hydrogen as a feedstock.

The Metro Vancouver region’s clean transportation industry has made incredible strides and maintained its reputation as a global leader. We can’t wait to see where the industry goes moving forward!

Learn more about Clean Transportation Month and #JoinTheMovement: https://ow.ly/Bljr50OyXLT