Faculty members at Waterloo Engineering are helping scale up the electric vehicle industry in Canada through their work at the Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre.
Dr. Michael Pope, a professor of chemical engineering, and Dr. Linda Nazar, a professor of chemistry who is also cross-appointed to two engineering departments at Waterloo, co-lead the centre as it focuses on key challenges in battery technologies.
Researchers are exploring alternative elements to lithium-based batteries, such as zinc and sodium, to reduce reliance on scarce materials and improve battery performance.
“Lithium is becoming increasingly scarce, and our current infrastructure is not equipped to meet the rising number of EV drivers,” Pope said.
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