Karim Zaghib, from Hydro-Québec’s research institute, receives the 2013 Battery Division Technology Award from the Electrochemical Society for his contribution to the development of high-performance, safe battery materials

Karim Zaghib, from IREQ, receives an Award from ECS for his contribution to the development of battery materials.

At its 224th meeting held in San Francisco, the Electrochemical Society, an international scientific organization with over 8,000 scientists and engineers from more than 70 countries, presented Karim Zaghib with the 2013 Battery Division Technology Award. The prestigious award has been presented annually since 1993 to encourage and recognize an individual’s outstanding contribution to the development of leading-edge battery and fuel cell technology.

“I am honored to receive this award, which demonstrates my team’s top-quality work,” noted Karim Zaghib, Director, Energy Storage and Conversion at Hydro-Québec’s research institute, IREQ. “Our research on the development of innovative, high-performance and safe battery materials will certainly contribute to transportation electrification.”

Karim Zaghib holds a doctorate in electrochemistry from the Université de Grenoble (France) and has worked at IREQ for nearly 20 years, where he is responsible for many projects involving lithium-ion technology for battery materials. A veteran researcher with a solid reputation in scientific circles, Karim Zaghib has developed many business partnerships with universities and industrial corporations worldwide, particularly in the field of electrochemistry.

About the Electrochemical Society (ECS)
ECS was founded in 1902 as an international nonprofit, educational organization concerned with a broad range of phenomena relating to electrochemical and solid-state science and technology. ECS researchers are discovering and developing the scientific breakthroughs that enable innovations like lithium-ion batteries, solar fuels, the electrochemical toilet, and other scientific initiatives that are helping to solve real world issues. Research on energy and all types of batteries, fuel cells, energy conversion, solar panels, and more represents just a small part of the diverse work that the Society is at the helm of as the steward of this very special science.

About Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ)
Hydro-Québec’s research institute, IREQ, is a leader in the development of advanced materials for battery manufacturing and creates leading-edge processes from its state-of-the-art facilities. IREQ holds more than 800 patent rights and 40 licenses for battery materials used by some of the world’s most successful battery manufacturers and materials suppliers. Its material development contributions are helping to develop safe, high-performance lithium-ion batteries that can be charged more quickly and a greater number of times. IREQ is also a lead partner with private-sector companies in Québec to build charging stations for electric and hybrid electric vehicles in support of its technology developments. IREQ promotes open innovation and partners with private firms, universities, government agencies and research centres in Québec and abroad. Its partnerships allow IREQ to develop, industrialize and market technologies resulting from those innovation projects.

For more information about the battery materials developed by Hydro-Québec’s research institute, visit the following Web sites:
http://www.hydroquebec.com/transportation-electrification/battery-materials.html
http://www.hydroquebec.com/innovation/en/pdf/10408A_MateriauxBatteries_PRESS.pdf

For information:

Nathalie Vachon, Press Officer
514 289-2441
vachon.nathalie@hydro.qc.ca