Lion Electric (NYSE: LEV) a manufacturer of electric medium- and heavy-duty urban vehicles, has completed production of its first lithium-ion battery pack at the company’s battery manufacturing facility in Mirabel, Quebec. Final certification of the first battery pack is expected in the first quarter of 2023, followed by a gradual ramp-up of production throughout the year.

The first batteries produced in Mirabel will power the Lion5 truck and the LionAmbulance, which are expected to reach commercial production in the first half of 2023.

At full scale, Lion’s battery plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of 5 GWh worth of battery packs. Lion also recently celebrated the start of production at its manufacturing facility in Joliet, Illinois.

Lion says the Mirabel facility will give the company a key market advantage, as vertical integration provides more control of supply, technology advancement and vehicle integration. The battery is typically the most expensive component of an EV, so the new plant should offer cost benefits as well.

“The production of our first battery pack out of our Mirabel battery facility is an important step for Lion and should, over time, bring with it a new level of optimization for product design and production efficiency,” said Yannick Poulin, Lion’s Chief Operating Officer.

Source: Lion Electric