The main challenge that IVI engineers succeeded in meeting was to design a rechargeable energy storage system of very large size and adapted to Québec's climate. Six fully electric vehicles were designed in 2015. Lion Bus is now at the manufacturing stage and the commercialization of the vehicle will encourage growth in this emerging industrial sector.
The eLion bus has huge advantages when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Approximately 8,000 school buses running on diesel fuel regularly cross Québec to bring tens of thousands of students to school. GHG emissions could be reduced by 23 tonnes per year if diesel school busses were replaced with electric models.
This project is in line with Québec’s efforts to fight climate change. It is referred to as an example of Québec engineering’s contribution in the Québec government’s 2015-2020 Transportation Electrification Action Plan. Such innovations will also help make the recently unveiled Québec government 2030 energy policy become a reality.
The goal of the Prix Génie innovation is to encourage innovative engineering by recognizing its value, both in terms of the results achieved and the efforts made. Innovative engineering rewarded by this prize must help improve the quality of human life and reflect the fundamental values of the engineering, which are competence, ethics, responsibility and social commitment.
About the Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI)
The mission of IVI is to support businesses and organizations in the fields of applied research, development, assessment and implementation of innovative vehicle technologies. The goal of IVI services is to support its clients, mostly SMEs, in order to develop innovative and technologically advanced products. Its projects target transportation electrification and automation, vehicle energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) and polluting emissions. They also value renewable energy sources for ground transportation.
About the Ordre des ingénieurs du QuébecFounded in 1920, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec has a membership of some 62,000 engineering professionals in all fields, except forest engineering. The mission of the OIQ is to ensure the protection of the public by supervising the practice of the profession within the framework of its constituent laws and ensure that the profession serves the public interest. For more information, go to the Web site
www.oiq.qc.ca.