IVI - Innovative Vehicle Institute

Name

IVI - Innovative Vehicle Institute

Legal name

Institut du véhicule innovant

Website

https://ivisolutions.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation R&D and Prototyping Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Engineering, Integration & ETL/ELT Services (BPAEAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Inertial Navigation Systems (INS/IMU) (IMABAFAB)

Keywords

• Electric vehicle prototyping
• Applied research services
• Autonomous vehicle development
• Fleet electrification consulting
• Battery design engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-jérôme

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Applied Research Services: IVI generates revenue through fee-for-service applied research contracts with industrial clients, co-funded by government research grants (NSERC ARD, Quebec PART, InnovÉÉ, Passeport innovation). Clients receive R&D, prototyping, and testing services; IVI supplements project costs through grant programs.
2. Technical Assistance and Consulting: Billed technical assistance engagements covering feasibility studies, retro-engineering, conversion services, fleet electrification consulting, and regulatory compliance analysis.
3. Training and Information Services: Custom training programs, technology transfer, scientific popularization, and publication services delivered to clients and partners.
4. Government Research Grants: IVI as an NSERC-accredited research centre receives grant funding (NSERC RDA2, Quebec PART, InnovÉÉ) that partially subsidizes client project costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IVI is an NSERC-accredited College Technology Transfer Centre (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep de Saint-Jérôme that provides applied research, technical assistance, and training services to design, prototype, and commercialize electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles. Its work spans battery design, power electronics, autonomous navigation, V2X communications, charging infrastructure, and thermal management across light, heavy, marine, aircraft, and off-road vehicle applications. Services are delivered as fee-for-service R&D contracts co-funded by government research grants (NSERC, Quebec MEI, Natural Resources Canada).

Product overview

IVI (Institut du véhicule innovant / Innovative Vehicle Institute) is a college technology transfer centre (CCTT) affiliated with Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, accredited by NSERC. Rather than a product company, IVI provides a portfolio of R&D services including Applied Research, Technical Assistance, and Training & Information. Their core services encompass battery design and development, autonomous navigation systems integration, fleet electrification consulting, and vehicle prototyping for electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles across light, heavy, marine, and aerospace applications. IVI operates specialized research programs including ARION (off-road autonomous and connected vehicles) and executes client projects ranging from electric school buses to mining trucks to agricultural robots.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARION Research Program: Applied research program for off-road autonomous and connected vehicles
• Flotte Rechargeable
• Plug-in Fleet

Products and services

• Applied Research Services Custom R&D projects for electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles including battery design, propulsion systems development, and autonomous navigation integration with sensor networks (LIDAR, RADAR, cameras). Targeted at Quebec businesses seeking to innovate in transportation electrification and vehicle intelligence.
• Technical Assistance Billed engineering support for vehicle prototyping, fleet electrification, battery development, feasibility studies, charging infrastructure, and retro-engineering of electrical systems and software. Delivered as fee-for-service mandates to Quebec businesses across heavy, light, marine, and aerial vehicle categories.
• Training and Information Services Customized training programs, technology transfer, scientific popularization, and publication services covering vehicle electrification and autonomous systems. Delivered to clients, partners, and broader industry audiences.
• Battery Design and Development Custom battery pack design service covering cell format selection (cylindrical, pocket, prismatic), chemistry selection, battery management system (BMS) architecture, thermal management, mechanical housing, and winterization for extreme cold climates. Designed for OEMs developing electric vehicles that must operate in Quebec winter conditions.
• Fleet Electrification Consulting (Flotte Rechargeable) Advisory and trial services for organizations transitioning vehicle fleets to electric power, including feasibility analysis, charging infrastructure planning, EV trial programs (light vehicles, heavy trucks, heavy machinery), fleet simulator and savings calculator tools, and fleet manager training. Delivered through the Flotte Rechargeable and Plug-in Fleet programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• First all-electric school bus in North America (eLion by Lion Electric) — 23 tonnes GHG reduction per bus per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and major.

• CNETE (Centre national en écoflex)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2024New strategic partnership announced in June 2024 focused on mutualizing equipment and shared capabilities between IVI and CNETE, a college technology transfer centre specializing in eco-energy.
• Cégep de Saint-JérômecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015IVI is a Centre collégial de transfert technologique (CCTT) affiliated with the Cégep of Saint-Jérôme. The college provides institutional support, student talent, research infrastructure, and administrative framework. The Cégep owns the land and building housing IVI's headquarters.
• Propulsion QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015IVI is an active partner in Propulsion Québec, the Quebec strategic cluster for electric transportation. The cluster facilitates industry partnerships, co-marketing, and project collaborations. IVI co-announces major project milestones with Propulsion Québec.
• National Research Council Canada (NRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRC is a key partner in the electric mining vehicle project, responsible for evaluating and testing battery systems against GMG criteria for open-pit mining conditions. NRC brings national research infrastructure and credibility to collaborative projects.
• Nouveau Monde GraphitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the electric mining vehicle project, providing the test site at the Saint-Michel-des-Saints graphite mine and serving as the end user planning to deploy 12 electric trucks (saving 80,000+ liters diesel/year/truck).
• Dana TM4coreTechnology or IntegrationTM4 (now Dana TM4), a world leader in electric motors, provides electric motorization for IVI's heavy vehicle electrification projects including the mining truck and school bus prototypes.
• Adria Power SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloped the 1 MW high-power charging infrastructure for the electric mining truck. Also responsible for battery assembly as part of the electric mining vehicle project.
• L. Fournier et FilsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMining operator providing Western Star 6900XD 40-tonne trucks for electric conversion, along with technical expertise and quarry test sites for validating electric heavy vehicles.
• Hydro-QuébecmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHydro-Québec partnered with IVI to develop a fleet charging management system for electric school bus fleets, and collaborated on fleet electrification guides and publications.
• ÉquiterremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVI and Équiterre co-developed fleet electrification guides, brochures, and awareness tools for Quebec organizations as part of the Plug-in Fleet project.
• Kopernikus AutomotivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman autonomous vehicle startup partnered with IVI to develop a retrofit kit converting production vehicles to Level 3 autonomous vehicles on the MQB platform. An IVI engineer was seconded to Berlin to continue the project.
• LetendamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec bus manufacturer partnered with IVI to develop a 100% electric, aluminium urban bus with 300 km range and full low-floor accessibility.
• Exprolink-MadvacmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec company partnered with IVI to develop the first 100% electric vacuum litter collector in North America. The vehicle is now commercially available and deployed by the City of Montreal.
• La Compagnie Électrique LionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVI supported Lion Electric in designing the eLion — the first all-electric heavy-duty school bus marketed in North America. This collaboration won the OIQ Innovation Award 2016.
• ElmecmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ARION research program to develop an autonomous electric agricultural robot with four electric wheel motors and autonomous navigation capabilities.
• LTS Marine / NordcomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine equipment company partnered with IVI to design a hybrid electric rail locomotive (locotracteur) with 450 kW diesel engine hybridization and regenerative braking.
• Groupe BellemaremoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company serving as flagship spokesperson for the Plug-in Fleet – Heavy Equipment project, operating two electric wheel loaders with over 9,000 hours of accumulated use.
• Association des Propriétaires de Machinerie Lourde du Québec (APMLQ+)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec heavy equipment association partnered in the Plug-in Fleet – Heavy Equipment project to mobilize the construction industry around zero-emission equipment adoption.
• City of Saint-JérômemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity donated land in the industrial district for the construction of IVI's new building and serves as a champion for electric vehicle adoption.
• Constructions PROCO Inc.moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the aluminium urban bus project with Letenda, contributing to the structural design of the aluminium-intensive electric bus platform.
• Rio Tinto CanadamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerRio Tinto partnered in the aluminium urban bus project, providing aluminium expertise for the vehicle structure.
• MTB Transit SolutionsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransit solutions company partnered with IVI for electric bus conversion and retrofit projects.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Regional players

• Centre de Recherche Industrielle du Québec (CRIQ): Quebec's applied research center providing industrial R&D, technical assistance, and innovation services to manufacturers across sectors. Comparable to IVI as a Quebec-based government-supported applied research center serving industrial clients, though CRIQ spans broader industrial verticals beyond transportation.

Direct peers

• Applus+ IDIADA: Spain-based automotive design, engineering, testing, and certification company serving global OEMs on vehicle development programs. Comparable to IVI for full-vehicle prototyping, testing on dynamometers, and homologation services for EV programs including heavy-duty vehicles.
• Roush Industries: US-based product development supplier offering vehicle engineering, prototyping, testing, and electrification services across automotive, mobility, and adjacent industries. Comparable to IVI for applied vehicle engineering, electrification integration, and prototype-to-production support.
• FEV Group: Global engineering services company providing vehicle powertrain development, prototyping, testing, and homologation for EV and ICE programs. Most directly comparable to IVI in offering end-to-end vehicle R&D services across OEMs, though operating at much larger scale and global footprint.
• AVL List GmbH: World's largest independent company for development, simulation, and testing of powertrain systems, with deep EV and battery development expertise. Comparable to IVI for its powertrain, battery design, and integration services for electric and autonomous vehicles across light and heavy-duty segments.
• Pratt Miller (Pratt Miller Engineering): Engineering services firm specializing in vehicle prototyping, mobility systems, and autonomous vehicle development for defense, commercial, and motorsport clients. Comparable to IVI for prototype development of autonomous and electric vehicles including off-road and heavy-duty platforms.

Emerging players

• Munro & Associates: Boutique EV-focused engineering consultancy providing teardown analysis, benchmarking, and design consulting for OEMs transitioning to electric vehicles. Comparable to IVI for applied EV engineering consulting, though focused on benchmarking rather than full-vehicle prototyping.
• Kopernikus Automotive: German autonomous vehicle startup building Level 3 retrofit kits for production cars. Listed as IVI's customer/partner with an IVI engineer seconded to Berlin; comparable as an emerging autonomous vehicle systems integrator leveraging IVI's prototyping expertise.

Others

• National Research Council Canada (NRC): Canada's primary federal R&D organization with significant transportation, battery, and autonomous systems capabilities. Already a named partner of IVI on the mining vehicle project; comparable as a national-scale government R&D counterpart collaborating on similar programs.
• CANMET Energy Technology Centre (Natural Resources Canada): Canadian federal R&D center specializing in clean energy technologies including transportation electrification, batteries, and hydrogen. Comparable to IVI for its government-funded transportation electrification R&D mission; it is already a direct partner of IVI on the mining truck project.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/institutivi
• Facebookfacebook.com/institut.vehicule.innovant

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IVI - Innovative Vehicle Institute