=TORONTO — The federal government has invested $10 million to attract a top researcher in hybrid vehicle technologies to an Ontario university.
McMaster University in Hamilton announced Monday that Ali Emadi, a well-known American developer of electric powertrain technology, will join the university in conjunction with the development of a hybrid vehicle research facility.
The government investment, albeit small, is part of a broader push to expand Canada’s research and development capacity in the area of green vehicle technologies.
In December, auto parts giant Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG.A) and the federal government announced a $7.2-million research effort with the goal of developing lighter-weight, more environmentally friendly auto parts.
Although hybrid and particularly electric vehicle sales are expected to stay relatively low for the next few years, industry players assume that government incentives will encourage consumers to look more seriously at environmentally friendly options next time they’re car shopping.
In the U.S., President Barack Obama has said he wants one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 and has invested billions of dollars in General Motors, Chrysler, Ford and Nissan to help accomplish that goal.
And both Canada and the U.S. announced last month that new cars and light trucks will be subject to stringent new rules to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and become more fuel efficient starting in 2011.
At McMaster, Emadi’s research will focus on the development of advanced electric-drive vehicles, hybrid batteries and the interaction between electric vehicles and the power grid, among other things.
The hybrid vehicle research facility will be part of a broader automotive research centre at McMaster with the goal of bringing together organizations to develop vehicle technologies such as hybrid engines.
“The government’s commitment to research through the (Canada Excellence Research Chair) program and McMaster’s vision for leadership in sustainable automotive research were too strong to resist,” Emadi said.
“I am looking forward to joining the strong network of automotive researchers in Canada and helping to advance the development of hybrid vehicles.”
Mo Elbestawi, vice-president of research and international affairs at McMaster, said Emadi’s presence will help attract like-minded researchers and entrepreneurs to the country.