E-mobility

Transportation is going electric. Whether it’s cars, buses, trucks or boats, the e-mobility transition is happening. At Osler, we are at the epicentre of this transition and have deep experience advising on all facets of the emerging e-mobility ecosystem. Whether it be critical minerals, manufacturing, charging infrastructure, government incentives or regulatory compliance, our dedicated team of specialists has the expertise to provide timely and cost-effective advice that delivers results.  

Our team has assisted clients who have both direct and indirect roles in the e-mobility sector, from mining companies extracting and processing critical minerals for battery development and manufacturers of materials and component parts, to developers of plants for vehicle assembly, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), providers of charging infrastructure, businesses launching or revamping their retail or dealership networks, as well as those providing service, maintenance and end-of-life recycling programs.

The full-service approach

Calling on Osler’s expertise available across multiple disciplines, our e-mobility team can provide clients with a full range of commercially strategic legal advice spanning the entire e-mobility lifecycle and value chain.

For example, Osler can assist e-mobility clients with the negotiation, drafting and management of all types of commercial arrangements including logistics, technology, construction and supply contracts, development, distribution, and tooling agreements, as well as assisting with government arrangements for financial support, subsidies and tax incentives. We frequently work with companies looking to secure financing and investment, navigate international trade issues and enter strategic joint ventures or conduct mergers and acquisitions.

We can also assist with other critical matters that apply to e-mobility such as: intellectual property protection; privacy and data management; product safety and consumer protection (warranty programs, product recalls, class actions); distribution, franchise and dealership networks; regulatory issues (especially those concerned with transportation, environmental, Indigenous, or foreign-investment matters); import/export controls; procurement and government incentives; energy-market dynamics and carbon-reduction initiatives.

In addition to the major transactions listed under Representative Work, Osler’s e-Mobility team has advised on a variety of mandates, including:

• Assisting an OEM to secure funding under the Strategic Innovation Fund and Invest Ontario program for EV manufacturing.
• Advising a large Canadian retailer on vehicle emissions compliance matters and the defence of proceedings against the manufacturer of imported motorized scooters.
• Advising several European OEMs on Transport Canada regulatory matters including CMVSS and vehicle recall compliance.
• Representing a large Canadian auto parts manufacturer in a highly confidential arbitration regarding the supply of materials for the manufacture of truck chassis.
• Representing international car and truck manufacturers on regulatory regimes relating to electric vehicles and environmental compliance, including shepherding those clients through environmental investigations by provincial and federal regulators.
• Advising clients on the proposed Québec regulation prohibiting motor vehicles and internal combustion engines and mandating zero emission vehicles in 2035.