Swedish company Northvolt is exploring the Canadian province of Quebec as a potential site to industrialize its Cuberg lithium metal battery system designed for electric planes, according to statements made by Paolo Cerruti, the head of Northvolt’s North American division. Cerruti shared the information during an event at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, emphasizing that a final decision is still years away.
“We are looking at it. It is very early on, we are a few years away. Probably second half of this decade,” mentioned Cerruti during discussions with reporters.
The aviation industry, aiming for more fuel-efficient designs, has faced challenges due to the heavy weight of traditional lithium-ion batteries, hindering the adoption of electric engines in aircraft. Cuberg, a California-based subsidiary of Northvolt, has initiated testing on its lithium metal battery system, which the company asserts is lightweight enough to be safely integrated into electric planes, contributing to sustainable aviation.
Cerruti further explained, “We are looking at reserving space on site if it makes sense to have the first industrial scale up here in Quebec.”
In addition to the potential for the Cuberg project, Northvolt has already committed to a significant investment in Quebec with plans to construct a $5.2 billion electric vehicle battery gigafactory, marking the largest-ever investment in the Canadian province.