Announcements - NRC partners with China's Aoxin New Energy Automobile Co. to help commercialize Canadian technology

Collaboration deepens Canada-China S&T relationship, expanding markets for Canadian companies around the world

November 15, 2010 — Vancouver, British Columbia

A new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help commercialize Canadian electric vehicle technologies was announced this week in Nanjing, China.

The partnership agreement, between the National Research Council of Canada and China’s Jiangsu Aoxin New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. (Aoxin) was announced by NRC Vice President, Dr. Roman Szumski.

“This strategic relationship will develop supply chains that take Canadian technologies to the global market,” said Dr. Szumski.

The announcement was made at the 2nd China Jiangsu Conference for International Technology Transfer and Commercialization.

While Canada is a leader in fuel cell and battery electric vehicle technologies, Chinese companies have become active players in the global supply chain for electric vehicles.

By 2018, more than one million highway-capable, plug-in electric vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles are estimated to be on Canadian roads. These vehicles are expected to have more Canadian content, in parts and manufacturing, than the vehicles on Canadian roads today.

In China, the market for electric vehicle batteries is estimated to reach $23 to $60 billion by 2030.

NRC’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI) will collaborate with Aoxin on further research and development to further improve the Canadian electric vehicle technology.

NRC-IFCI may also play a role in introducing related technologies, developed by Canadian private sector companies, to markets in China.

NRC-IFCI is located in the Vancouver Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Cluster, which is an important node in the worldwide clean energy network.

The cluster’s activities represent 16 per cent of the worldwide fuel cell market. NRC’s early strategic investment in this cluster has helped regional and national partners prepare to seize a significant share of the global commercial market, which is projected to be worth more than $5.1 billion by 2018.

Signing of the MOU is the latest activity to advance NRC-China S&T relations. This contributes to activities under the Canada-China S&T agreement.

About Jiangsu Aoxin New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. (Aoxin)

Jiangsu Aoxin New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. focuses on the research and development, production, and sale of pure electric automobiles and mixed power electric automobiles. Established in 2006, Aoxin has developed several kinds of pure electromotion automobile and mixed power cars with the advantages of zero emission, low noise, lower use charge. These are widely used in the postal and electricity industries, city cleaning, commercial centres and in industrial parks. Aoxin has established close cooperative relationships with many universities and research institutions in China.

About NRC-IFCI

Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology, and was recently ranked among the Top 10 government and non-government organizations for scientific output in fuel-cell research in the world. NRC-IFCI supports Canadian leadership in fuel cells and other clean energy technology by addressing industry-defined R&D and commercialization priorities.

For further information please contact:

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