After graduating high school in 2018, Jacob Greenough took an unconventional path to the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) ecosystem. He enrolled in the mechatronics program at Cambrian College in Sudbury, before opting out for social work at Laurentian University. However, he was pulled back to mechatronics. Little did he know, he was returning to a school that was going “all-in” with the electric vehicle (EV) revolution.
“It is really exciting to be a part of a history at Cambrian College,” said the 22-year-old second-year student. Greenough is talking about Cambrian College’s new EV Lab. The 5,600 square-foot testing facility will allow industry leaders, partners, and students to research various projects revolving around the electrification of both mining and commercial vehicles.
But what about the challenges of EV integration into the energy grid? Like all local distribution companies (LDCs) in Canada, utilities know they will be part of the solution and want to accelerate their understanding. To help with Cambrian’s massive endeavour, Greater Sudbury Utilities (GSU) has committed $100,000, spread over four years. GSU announced this contribution at Cambrian College in October at a special recognition event.
“This really speaks to the strong partnership we have with our local utility. GSU is investing in this facility and providing us with the power that we need to run and test this equipment,” said Mike Commito, Director of Applied Research and Innovation at the college. EV are already on site, including an EV scoop tram donated by Sandvik, a multinational engineering company specializing in mining.
Click here to read more about GSU's partnership with Cambrian College and their new EV Lab in the winter issue of The Distributor.