The BEV In-Depth Conference made clear that Canada’s path forward lies in collaboration between provinces, industries, Indigenous communities and international partners
From left to right, Daniel Breton with Electric Mobility Canada; Mona Eghanian with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network; Cara Clairman with Plug’n Drive; Rachel Doran with Clean Energy Canada and Nino Di Cara with Electric Autonomy, discuss batteries as a sustainable ecosystem. Photo: City of Greater Sudbury
The BEV In-Depth Conference made clear that Canada’s path forward lies in collaboration between provinces, industries, Indigenous communities and international partners
This article is Sponsored Content presented by the City of Greater Sudbury.
The City of Greater Sudbury proudly hosted the fourth annual BEV In-Depth: Mines to Mobility Conference on May 28–29, 2025.
This year’s event brought together hundreds of leaders from across Canada’s mining, automotive, energy and policy sectors to advance the shared vision of building a secure, sustainable and integrated battery electric vehicle (BEV) supply chain.
The conference featured over 40 speakers that focused on topics from critical minerals to indigenous partnerships, all while remaining focused on accelerating Canada’s transition to a clean energy economy.
National conversation rooted in the north
The event began with a pre-conference tour of Greater Sudbury’s mining innovation ecosystem, including the NORCAT Underground Centre, Epiroc’s Sudbury operations and a screening of the Science North documentary Planting Hope, which tells the Sudbury regreening story.
On the evening of the 28th, the conference officially opened with a dinner held in the Vale Cavern at Science North.
The Vale Cavern, a unique venue carved into the rock of Sudbury’s mining landscape, set the scene for the conversations ahead, reminding delegates that the path to electrification begins underground.
The evening featured remarks from Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the Honourable Vic Fedeli; Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and Mines, Chris Scott; and a keynote by Michael Pope from the University of Waterloo on the future of battery technologies.
From “we will” to “we are”
During a panel discussion on geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain resilience, Matthew Fortier, president and CEO of Accelerate ZEV, reflected on the evolution of the BEV sector since the conference’s inception, “Four years ago when this conference started, we were saying ‘we will.’ And now, here we are four years later saying ‘we are.’”
That shift from aspiration to implementation is not only a reflection of domestic progress, but also a response to a rapidly changing global landscape as geopolitical tensions have put critical minerals into the spotlight.
For Canada, this moment presents both a challenge and an opportunity, as the country is uniquely positioned to play a stabilizing role in the global critical minerals market. But doing so requires more than resource extraction; it demands investment in processing, innovation and workforce development.
Speakers throughout the conference emphasized that building a resilient, ethical and competitive BEV supply chain is not just about economic growth, it’s about national security, climate leadership and long-term prosperity, something City of Greater Sudbury mayor, Paul Lefebvre, has been a strong advocate for.
Workforce, trade and the strategic role of mining
In her opening address on May 29th, Priya Tandon, president of the Ontario Mining Association, emphasized the need to attract younger workers to an aging industry and to recognize mining as a strategic pillar of both Ontario and Canada’s economies.
“A big part of the appeal of mining to young people is how it aligns with their values, providing solutions to climate change by helping drive the clean energy transition,” said Tandon.
Panels and presentations throughout the day addressed the full spectrum of the BEV value chain, from rare earth elements and advanced processing to energy storage and recycling.
There was a special spotlight given to Northern Ontario companies who are leading the way in the mines to mobility strategy, including leaders from Canada Nickel Company, Electra Battery Materials, Frontier Lithium, Magna Mining and Northern Graphite.
Frontier Lithium used the conference to showcase their latest feasibility study for their project near Red Lake, Ontario.
The conference concluded with a session on the role of First Nations in shaping the future of the battery electric economy, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous leadership in mineral development, infrastructure and clean energy partnerships.
Showcase of innovation, engagement
A major draw for the conference this year was the live taping of an upcoming episode for The Unlikely Innovators podcast, featuring Lauren Tedesco, COO of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. The conversation explored trade, tariffs and Canada’s role in the global battery economy.
Outside the conference walls at Cambrian College, attendees and the public were invited to explore a free EV exhibit, which included test drives of consumer electric vehicles and demonstrations of battery electric mining equipment.
As the global shift to electrification accelerates, Greater Sudbury continues to lead by example. With its deep mining expertise, growing research capacity and commitment to sustainability, the city is uniquely positioned to help bridge Ontario’s critical mineral wealth in the north with its manufacturing strength in the South.
The 4th BEV In-Depth: Mines to Mobility Conference reaffirmed Greater Sudbury’s role as a national hub for clean energy innovation and a global mining hub.
Learn more about Greater Sudbury’s role in mining and the BEV supply chain here: https://investsudbury.ca
