Government of Canada drives support for Auto Innovation

Minister Clement announces investment in next generation R&D

Oshawa, Ontario, February 12, 2010 – The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, today announced the first two recipients of grants under the new Automotive Partnership Canada initiative. The goal-oriented, targeted research projects will help develop ways to make tomorrow's automobiles lighter and more efficient, while improving energy consumption and boosting vehicle fuel efficiency. Minister Clement was joined at the event by the President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Suzanne Fortier.

"A healthy and sustainable automotive industry is a vital part of Canada's economic recovery," said Minister Clement. "Research conducted through the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative will ensure Canada's auto sector remains at the cutting edge of innovation."

The first project, to be carried out by researchers at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in partnership with General Motors of Canada, will focus on the development of a new technology to significantly reduce the energy required for automotive heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The second grant was awarded to a research project at the University of Toronto where, along with industry partner Vicicog, researchers will develop a new kind of transmission system that promises to boost vehicle fuel efficiency by as much as 15 percent.

"Canadian academic researchers have a lot to contribute to a sustainable automotive industry," said President Fortier. "There is a lot of exciting R&D to be done in this sector."

Announced by Minister Clement last April, Automotive Partnership Canada is a five-year, $145 million initiative to support collaborative research and design to drive the Canadian automotive industry to greater levels of innovation. Research projects approved to date will focus on reducing weight by using more plastic parts in engines, improving the efficiency of transmissions and advancing the state-of-the-art in longer-range electric vehicles.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators to the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 28,000 students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. It promotes discovery by funding more than 11,800 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
Tel.: 613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
Tel.: 613-943-2502

Martine Perreault
Media and Public Affairs Officer
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Tel.: 613-996-7238
E-mail: martine.perreault@nserc-crsng.gc.ca

Backgrounder

Automotive Partnership Canada

The first two research projects approved under Automotive Partnership Canada (APC) will help develop ways to make tomorrow's automobiles lighter and more efficient by using more plastic parts in engines, improving the efficiency of transmissions and advancing the state-of-the-art in longer-range electric vehicles:

University of Toronto and Vicicog: Development of a New Synchronized Segmentally Interchanging Pulley Transmission System

In order to improve efficiency, current automotive transmission technology often necessitates engine design compromises. In particular, existing manual and automatic transmissions, because they have too few gears, require an engine that sacrifices efficiency and peak horsepower.

The industry partner in this project has developed a new kind of transmission system, based on timing belts, that promises to boost vehicle fuel efficiency by as much as 15 percent, although further research is required before the technology can be commercialized. Known as a "synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission," the system uses leading edge belt and computer control technologies, and can shift under load, handle high torque and provide a greater range of gears.

The research partnership involves modeling and analysis to address such issues as transient loads, material strength magnetic flux, vibration, and fabrication methodologies. The partners expect to produce a working prototype designed in conjunction with the automotive industry. If the project succeeds, the company will be well positioned to bring its highly disruptive, unique transmission product to market.

Government of Canada APC investment: $284,000

University of Ontario Institute of Technology and General Motors of Canada: Thermal Management System Technology Development for Extended Range Electric Vehicles

Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) represent a promising new era in automotive transportation. However, EREVs are currently limited by the lack of energy efficient and cost-effective heating and cooling systems. Because the thermal management systems are electrically powered, vehicle range is reduced when the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system is operating. In addition, battery thermal management is critical to the long-term cyclic durability of the battery system. Accordingly, it's necessary to devise new approaches which significantly reduce the HVAC energy requirements, reduce cost and control battery thermal environment over the widest range of external conditions.

This research project will advance the technology of interlinked thermal management systems (HVAC) and powertrain cooling (PTC) for the next generation of EREVs. It will build upon experience gained from the landmark first generation EREV, the Chevrolet Volt, in the areas of performance and durability, cost and efficiency of the thermal management loops, all of which are precursors to widespread commercialization.

Government of Canada APC investment: almost $1.2 million

Automotive Partnership Canada Initiative

Automotive Partnership Canada (APC) is a five-year (2009-2014), $145-million initiative to support significant, collaborative, industry-driven research and development that benefits the Canadian automotive sector. This initiative will support significant, collaborative research and design activities to benefit the entire Canadian automotive industry.

APC involves funding from the following partners:

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council ($85 million)
• National Research Council ($30 million)
• Canada Foundation for Innovation ($15 million)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council ($5 million)
• Canada Excellence Research Chair Program ($10 million)

Research Areas

An Industry Task Force guided the development of APC. This included identifying research priorities, grouped under three strategic themes. All research to be supported must fall under at least one of the 10 priority areas listed below.

Improving the Automobile's Environmental Performance and Impact

• Lighter Weight and/or Sustainable Materials
• Advanced Powertrain
• Energy Storage
• Application of Alternative Fuels

The Cognitive Car

• Vehicular Software
• Electronics and Mechatronics for Safety and Performance Enhancement
• Wireline and Wireless Communications for Vehicular Application

Next Generation Manufacturing

• Manufacturing Processes for Mass Reduction
• Manufacturing Processes for Cost Reduction and Quality Improvement
• Improving Manufacturing Flexibility and Efficiency