Hydro-Québec and the French region of Aquitaine have established SCE France, to develop lithium iron phosphate-based batteries.
SCE France, a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, will set up a laboratory in an as yet undisclosed location in France’s southwestern Aquitaine region on advanced materials for EV and energy storage batteries In July 2014, Hydro-Québec and the Regional Council of Aquitaine signed an agreement signalling their interest in collaborating in the field of advanced battery materials for transportation electrification.
“We are proud that the Aquitaine Regional Council recognizes the quality of the products and technologies developed at Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ). SCE France will be an important driver for economic collaboration and will generate significant spinoffs for Québec,” said Karim Zaghib, Director – Energy Storage and Conservation at IREQ and Director of SCE France.
Hydro-Québec’s IREQ holds more than 800 patent rights and 40 licenses for battery materials used by some of the world’s most successful battery manufacturers and materials suppliers. Its areas of expertise include energy storage and it works with private sector companies in Québec to build charging stations for all-electric and hybrid vehicles, as part of its research programme.
