The Province has supported a number of Red River College Polytechnic applied research projects over the years. These projects include the Red River Raycer (solar car); Hybrid Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine and Hydrogen Fuel Cell bus demonstrations; and the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle fleet conversion, demonstration, and evaluation. These projects complement the $2.4 million investment by Western Diversification for research equipment and related infrastructure for the Advanced Transportation & Energy Centre (ATEC) within the Vehicle Technology & Research Centre (VTRC).

EVTEC was developed with the support of the Province of Manitoba to help test and demonstrate electric vehicle technologies, while allowing Red River College Polytechnic to enhance its applied research and training programs. Catalyzing this initiative has been the Province’s collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, New Flyer Industries, Manitoba Hydro, and RRC Polytech on the $3-million, 3-year project to develop an all-electric transit bus and charging system.

EVTEC’s mission was threefold:

• To support electric vehicle innovation among Manitoba’s transportation sector,
• To enhance electric vehicle education at RRC Polytech and in the region, and
• To increase public awareness of electric vehicle technology.

Innovation
To support innovation among Manitoba’s transportation sector, project development and management was led by Applied Research & Commercialization (AR&C) and the School of Transportation, Aviation & Manufacturing (TAM). With a strong industry network and a history of collaborating with businesses to conduct practical applied research projects, the College applied its successful model of supporting innovation to enhance and improve electric vehicle technology.

Education
To support education enhancement in the area of electric vehicles, TAM provided full-time instructor support. Through this support, RRC Polytech curriculum and training was further developed to include an enhanced focus on electric vehicles. An online electric vehicle resource centre hosted the latest resources, including both publicly available and internally developed documents, whitepapers, reports, and case studies. EVTEC did not provide recommendations to consumers concerning commercially available electric vehicles.

Outreach
To support public awareness and network building, EVTEC not only used both traditional and digital media tools, but offered a series of events such as ‘lunch & learns’, open houses, ‘drive-n-rides’, and technical full-day forums – for the public and/or industry professionals.

RRC Polytech staff and students designed and built a prototype of Motor Coach industries’ (MCI) 2010 J4500 and 2007 D4500 buses to allow them to accommodate the latest U.S. EPA standards for new reduced-emission engines.  RRC Polytech worked, as part of the project team, to design and integrate airflow, water, and electrical components to enable the prototypes to meet  the new standards.  Both prototypes were successfully incorporated into a MCI’s products.

RRC Polytech’s solar-powered car, the Red River Raycer, was built to compete in the 2005 and 2008 4,000 km North American Solar Challenges. The Red River Raycer contains 406 solar cells, runs on a lithium ion battery and can reach speeds of up to 120 km per hour. In 2008, the Red River Raycer finished in 9th place among 15 competitors and was the only Canadian college entry competing against major universities from across North America – showcasing the College’s expertise in energy efficient design and technology,

In 2006, RRC Polytech operated the bus and refueling station as part of the demonstration and testing of the 40-foot, zero pollution emitting New Flyer Industries vehicle that was outfitted with three HyPM 65 fuel-cell power modules and ultra-capacitors (to recapture energy from the bus’s brakes).  Other project partners included: the Province of Manitoba, Hydrogenics Corporation, NRCan, and Maxwell Technologies of California.

This project was an “in-fare” service demonstration of a hybrid bus in cold weather conditions. New Flyer Industries built the bus’s body and ISE Corporation in San Diego installed the 10-cylinder Ford engine and hybrid-electric drive systems. RRC Polytech staff generated the hydrogen fuel, operated the refueling station, maintained and serviced the bus, and provided troubleshooting expertise.  Project partners included: Kraus Global, NRCan, the Province of Manitoba, the Vehicle Technology Centre, the City of Winnipeg Transit Department, SunLine Transit Agency, the University of Manitoba Transport Institute, and Western Diversification.

• Electric Transit Buses in Manitoba: Update for Joint Task Force on Transit Electrification
  Economic and Emission Profile Update Report on Electric Transit Buses Compared to Conventional Diesel. | July 2018
• Cost Benefit Analysis of Externality Factors for Battery-Electric Transit Buses
  Preface, Final report
  Presented under the auspices of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC). This report is provided by Red River College Polytechnic in its capacity as an important local CUTRIC member organization. | July 2017.
• Zero Emission Electric Transit Bus in Manitoba
  Prepared by the Electric Vehicle Technology & Education Centre, Red River College Polytechnic. | June 2017.
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Chevrolet Volt
  First Year Report
  Prepared by the Electric Vehicle Technology & Education Centre, Red River College Polytechnic, in cooperation with the Energy Division, Manitoba Department of Municipal Government
• All-Electric Mitsubishi iMiEV in ManitobaFirst Year Report
  Prepared by the Red River College Polytechnic (EVTEC), in cooperation with Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines | September 2012.
  Second Year Report
  Prepared by the Red River College Polytechnic (EVTEC), in cooperation with the Energy Division, Manitoba Department of Municipal Government | December 2013
  Third Year Report
  Prepared by the Red River College Polytechnic (EVTEC), in cooperation with the Energy Division, Manitoba Department of Municipal Government | June 2014
• All-Electric Nissan Leaf in Manitoba
  First Year Report
  Prepared by the Electric Vehicle Technology & Education Centre, Red River College Polytechnic, in cooperation with the Energy Division, Manitoba Department of Municipal Government | November 2013
• Preliminary Economic Evaluation: Electric Vehicles in Manitoba
  Electric Vehicle Technology & Education Centre, Red River College Polytechnic, in collaboration with the Centre for Emerging Renewable Energy Inc. | December 2012
• Evaluation of Winter Performance of Compressed Natural Gas Refuse Trucks
  Prepared by Dr. Alex Lawson, Alex Lawson Associates Inc. & Neil Cooke, Red River College Polytechnic | November 2013
• Hydrogen Hybrid Internal Combustion Engine Transit Bus: Cold Weather Demonstration in Winnipeg, Manitoba
  Prepared by Allister Hickson, University of Manitoba Transport Institute & Robert Parsons, Manitoba Energy, Science and Technology Development Initiative
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration
  Prepared by Kevin Harris, North America Hydrogenics Corporation & Robert Parsons, Hydrogen Specialist, Province of Manitoba
• Advanced Transportation & Energy: Presentation to the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
  Presentation by Ray Hoemsen, Director, Applied Research & Commercialization, Red River College Polytechnic | December 2011
• Hydrogen Initiatives in Manitoba
  Presentation to the Hydrogen Sub-Group, Canada-Brazil Science Technology & Innovation Forum, Sao Paulo, Brazil | March 23, 2007.

• Cold-Weather Modifications of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Manitoba Operation
  Prepared by Curtis Gregor, Red River College Polytechnic, & Robert V. Parsons, the Centre for Emerging Renewable Energy (CERE), 2011.
• Manitoba PHEV Testing & Demonstration:
  First Year Report, 2008/2009: Prepared by the Hydrogen Centre of Expertise & Red River College Polytechnic.
  Second Year Report 2009/2010: Prepared by the Centre for Emerging Renewable Energy Inc. & Red River College Polytechnic.
  Third Year Report 2010/2011: Prepared by the Centre for Emerging Renewable Energy Inc. & Red River College Polytechnic.
• EVS-24: Electric Vehicle-Related Opportunities for Canadian Industry & Organizations
  Prepared by Ray Hoemsen, Director, AR&C at Red River College Polytechnic | September 2009

• Practical Impacts of Ambient Temperature and Aging Combined on Maximum Travel Range of the Nissan Leaf.
  Prepared for the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS29)
  Montreal, Canada | June 19-22, 2016
• Cold Weather Travel Range and Energy Consumption of the Chevrolet Volt PHEV
  Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference
  Montreal, Canada | October 19 – 22, 2015
• Manitoba Battery Electric Transit Bus Fleet Development & Demonstration
  Next Generation Automobiles in Miyagi
  Tohoku University, Sendai Japan | October 27, 2015
• Winter Happens! Understanding and improving electric vehicle operation in cold weatherEV2014 Conference and Tradeshow
  Vancouver, BC | October 28-30, 2014
• Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre: Canadian Applied Research Experience at Red River College PolytechnicInternational Symposium on Next Generation Automobiles
  Tohoku University, Japan | November 25 – 28, 2013
• Electric Vehicle Technology and Education Centre Abstract & EVS27 EVTEC Poster
  EVS27 Symposium, Barcelona, Spain | November 17 – 20, 2013
• Moving Forward with a Green Economy Through the Development & Integration of Electric Vehicles
  Second Annual Electric Vehicle & Infrastructure Summit, Toronto | February 6, 2013
• Cold-Weather Modifications of PHEVs for Manitoba Operation
  Prepared by Curtis Gregor, Red River College Polytechnic, & Robert V. Parsons, Centre for Emerging Renewable Energy | October  2011.