Cutting edge electric ATV manufacturer Theron EV can bring innovating solutions to the cleantech sector and contribute to Quebec’s energy transition.
As applied research partnerships gain momentum in Quebec, Theron EV, a Shawinigan-based manufacturer of high-tech electric all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), stands out as an excellent example of the remarkable potential of such collaborations. Theron EV is driven by its mission to bring innovative solutions to the cleantech and decarbonization sectors. Thanks in part to funding from Mitacs, the company is well positioned to contribute to the province’s major energy transition through key collaborations.
A Vision for the Future
Understanding the potential and immense power of the electric motor, Bastien Theron, a mechanical engineering graduate from Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), decided in 2016 to try his hand at designing an electric quad bike (his preferred mode of transport) that didn’t exist on the market at the time. And so Theron EV was born.
Today, Theron EV’s skilled team consistently produces quality vehicles designed to withstand the harshest weather conditions in Canada’s far north. They source 85 % of their ATV parts in Canada to craft rugged vehicles that stimulate the local economy and are better for the environment.
The Reever is a concrete example of the innovative vision that underpins Theron EV’s mission to rethink sustainable mobility. This revolutionary electric quad bike features a modular, customizable system to meet the individual needs of riders, and is unique in that it can be equipped with all kinds of accessories and options, creating a mobility experience tailored to each individual.
Multiple Benefits for SMEs
Through the Mitacs Accelerate program, supported by Quebec’s Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE), Theron EV drew on the expertise of a PhD student and a postdoctoral fellow in electrical engineering at UQTR to develop a prototype electronic power converter for its electric quad vehicles, including the Reever.
“Having Mitacs student interns matched with Theron EV enabled us to test solutions that we could not have conceived otherwise. The result helped us shape our product and our business. I would encourage any small company facing similar technological challenges to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Bastien Theron, CEO and CTO of Theron EV.
The funding offered by Mitacs not only allows these students to contribute to concrete industrial solutions, making them more marketable to potential employers, but also supports them financially during their placement.
“It’s one of the best aspects of my research career: working on a technically challenging project and drawing on the knowledge I gained during my studies to develop solutions that can be applied in real-world scenarios,” said Diego Acevedo, an intern at Theron EV and a postdoctoral researcher in electrical engineering at UQTR.
“It’s not every day that a graduate student has an opportunitý to help develop a specific industrial product or process that addresses a concrete need,” added Daniel Arce, a PhD student in electrical engineering at UQTR.
For an SME like Theron EV, this type of applied research partnership has many advantages: it provides greater flexibility than government subsidies and access to a highly skilled workforce, and stimulates innovation at a time when technological skills and availability are challenges.
A Winning Formula
Beyond Theron EV’s revolutionary designs, the opening of the first plant in 2023 marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey, symbolizing its commitment to building rugged vehicles that stimulate Quebec’s economy and are better for the environment. It also represents the culmination of years of hard work to make the project a reality and finally bring the Reever to market.
Facilitated by Mitacs, these strategic partnerships between the academic community and entrepreneurs have been true accelerators, turning companies like Theron EV into pioneers of innovation and demonstrating the vital importance of such alliances in accelerating the industry’s transition to more sustainable, more innovative solutions. This approach ensures continuity in the way researchers participate in these technology development projects, supported by UQTR electrical engineering professors such as Alben Cardenas and Mamadou Lamine Doumbia, who are involved in projects with Theron EV. They believe that Mitacs’s applied research partnerships are a winning formula that should be replicated in other sectors across Quebec, going beyond sustainable mobility to encompass different cleantech fields.
Mitacs’s programs receive funding from multiple partners across Canada. We thank the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon for supporting us to empower Canadian innovation.
Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: BD@mitacs.ca
With the financial participation of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE).
