Brian Banks

55 posts

Cobourg, ON. Brian is an award-winning editor, writer and project leader who specializes in environmental topics and business communications.

concept drawing of the proposed plant in Becancour

Exclusive: “The stars have aligned” for Canada as a lithium supplier, says Livent chief strategy officer Sarah Maryssael

Last week’s deal between Ford and Quebec’s Nemaska Lithium was a Canadian coming out of sorts for Nemaska’s co-owner Livent. Electric Autonomy spoke to Sarah Maryssael, Livent’s Montreal-based chief strategy officer, to learn more about the lithium miner’s plans for this market

critical minerals, Energy storage, EV Battery Supply Chain, Ford, Lithium Canada, Livent, Mining Resources for EVs, Tesla

Brian Banks
May 30, 2023
7 minute read

Sales of EVs in Canada 2023 Q1 S&P data image

ZEV registrations in Canada slipped in Q1, with only a 9.1 per cent market share: S&P Global

Battery electric vehicle registrations accounted for the entire decline, posting a 6.9 per cent market share, down from 8.4 per cent in Q4 2022

British Columbia B.C., Canadian Electric Vehicle Sales Data, Electric Vehicles Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Tesla

Brian Banks
May 26, 2023
2 minute read

NGen issues new call for proposals to allocate $35 million for advanced manufacturing projects to support Canada’s ZEV value chain

Successful applicant-partners will share proceeds from a new $35-million NGen fund and up to $60 million more in industry contributions

critical minerals, Electric Vehicles Canada, EV Battery Supply Chain, EV Manufacturing, EV Supply Chain, Hydrogen & Hydrogen Fuel Cells, NGen, Power electronics

Brian Banks
May 16, 2023
2 minute read

The entrance to GM CAMI Assembly office building in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada

Exclusive: GM building battery pack assembly plant at its BrightDrop factory in Ingersoll, Ont.

Facility now under construction would replace imported battery pack supply, mirrors similar pack assembly plant just announced for pending Ford Oakville EV complex

BrightDrop, CAMI, General Motors GM, Ingersoll

Brian Banks
April 20, 2023
2 minute read

Volvo VNR electric truck in Coke Canada Bottling's red and white colours

Coke Canada Bottling announces purchase of six Class 8 Volvo VNR electric trucks

Coke Canada will start using the trucks for customer deliveries in the Montreal area later this year; announcement came two days after rival PepsiCo unveiled its first 18 Tesla Semis at a bottling plant in California

Coca-Cola Canada Bottling, Écocamionnage, Electric Trucks, Electric Vehicles Canada, iMHZEV, PepsiCo, Tesla Semi, Volvo Trucks

Brian Banks
April 19, 2023
3 minute read

EV charging at a 7_Eleven 7Charge station

7-Eleven charging network launch puts spotlight on potential Canadian sites

First announced in 2021, the convenience chain’s 7Charge fast-charging network is now officially online in four U.S. states; Canadian sites are planned, with B.C. a likely beachhead

Public EV Charging

Brian Banks
March 23, 2023
2 minute read

EV driver survey finds significant drop in concerns about range and battery life after vehicle purchase

More than 16,000 EV drivers in a Canadian Automobile Association survey are “extremely” satisfied; results make the case for more public education, myth-busting about electric vehicles

Electric Vehicles Canada, Public EV Charging, Research Reports

Brian Banks
March 22, 2023
2 minute read

Red Hyundai Ioniq 6 parked outdoors with mountain backdrop

Hyundai Ioniq 6 to arrive in Canada this spring, starting at $54,999

The Ioniq 6 electric sedan, a larger follow-up to the Ioniq 5, is rebate-eligible, features ultra-fast charging and impressive battery range

Electric Vehicles Canada, EV Rebates, Incentives & Funding, Hyundai Canada, Hyundai Ioniq 6

Brian Banks
March 18, 2023
2 minute read

Canada flag in charging electric car power supplier

Will Canada follow U.S. lead with new federal performance and reliability standards for EV chargers?

In response to queries from Electric Autonomy, Natural Resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson’s office reveals an openness — but no commitments — to altering the status quo

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, Electric Vehicles Canada, EV charger reliability, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Public EV Charging

Brian Banks
March 15, 2023
5 minute read

Image of Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume, Volkswagen technology chief Thomas Schmall and Canada's minister for Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne.

In latest meetings with German automakers, industry minister Champagne touts Canada as “the logical choice”

Speaking to reporters amid meetings with Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, federal industry minister François-Philippe Champagne says “decarbonization” of Canada’s supply chain is a key selling point

Electric Vehicle Policies Canada, Electric Vehicles Canada, EV Battery Supply Chain, EV Manufacturing, EV Supply Chain

Brian Banks
December 6, 2022
2 minute read