Electric Vehicles

Assessments of national facilities dedicated to neutron beams in the U.S. and U.K. found that they produce social and economic benefits worth at least double the investment. Canada, with its multipurpose neutron source model, is realizing a return on investment in its neutron facilities of at least 3 times.

Canadian and U.S. research using neutron beams has led to multiple advances in battery electric vehicles, resulting in an estimated economic benefit to Canada of $1.6 billion.

With sponsorship from Tesla Motors, one ‘Gold medal’ Canadian scientist is using neutron beams in the quest to reduce the cost of energy storage technologies, which is vital for the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles.

One of the University of Waterloo’s top scientists uses neutron beams to help develop the energy storage technology needed to power electric vehicles—and to reduce the need for fossil fuels to back up wind turbines.

After using neutron beams to better understand materials required for safer energy storage, University of Calgary chemists and their international collaborators were able to demonstrate a prototype battery that showed major improvements to performance.

McGill University researchers are developing a method for predicting the magnetic properties of new materials even before they are made. This method could help scientists design new low cost magnets for more efficient wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Neutron beams provide insights into the nanoscale workings of supercapacitors, an enabling technology for clean energy innovations such as wind turbines, solar cells, light-rail trains, and electric vehicles.