FPInnovations and CNTA join forces to provide cutting-edge expertise in electric mobility

MONTREAL, June 7, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Centre National du Transport Avancé (CNTA) and FPInnovations have signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at developing Canadian know-how in sustainable ground transportation. Under the agreement, the CNTA and FPInnovations will pool their expertise and resources in order to provide a full range of research, engineering and training services with respect to electric and hybrid mass-transit, freight and personal vehicles. At the end of the one-year agreement, both organisations will assess the winning conditions for joining together under a single banner.

"In a context of CNTA expansion and accelerated development of the electric vehicle sector, we are truly proud to join with a major, well-known partner like FPInnovations," stated Sylvain Castonguay, CNTA's Executive Director. "By combining our recognized skills and expertise in electric and hybrid vehicles with those of FPInnovations in freight transport and industrial equipment, we can tackle major projects around the world", concluded Castonguay.

According to FPInnovations' PIT director Yves Provencher, "this agreement is important, as it allows our two organizations to benefit from synergies and develop fuller, more global services for our members and customers." He added, "By joining forces with the CNTA's top-level experts, we will boost electric propulsion research capacity in Canada and worldwide."

The new association should have a positive impact on green energy solutions and play an important role in support of Québec's position as a key international player in advanced transportation.

About the Centre National du Transport Avancé (CNTA)
The CNTA, formally the Centre d'expérimentation des véhicules électriques du Québec (CEVEQ), is a not-for-profit organization active since 1996 in the area of advanced transportation, particularly electric and hybrid vehicles. With support from a scientific committee made up of industry representatives, research laboratories and universities, the CNTA taps into its cutting-edge engineering experience to serve as a catalyst for electric mobility innovation. He is co-founder and manages the Technical Division for Electric Mobility Canada, the national electric vehicle association. www.cnta.ca

About FPInnovations and its Performance Innovation Transport (PIT) Program
FPInnovations is a world leader that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector's global competitiveness, and responds to the high-priority needs of its industry members and government partners. A not-for-profit organization, it employs over 550 people at its research laboratories in Québec City, Ottawa, Montréal, Thunder Bay, Edmonton, Vancouver, and at technology transfer offices across the country. Performance Innovation Transport (PIT) is an FPInnovations R&D program focused on managing private and municipal fleets of vehicles. It brings together researchers, vehicle fleet managers, technology providers and government agencies, with a view to improving each link in the ground transportation chain. www.fpinnovations.ca.

FPInnovations
Yves Provencher
Director of PIT
514 909-1950
[email protected] 

CNTA
Sylvain Castonguay
CEO
514 347-0421
[email protected]