Toronto, Ontario -- Plug’n Drive and Call2Recycle Canada have announced a national education partnership to introduce electric vehicle battery recycling education to students across Canada, with support from the Skills Council of Canada.
The collaboration integrates battery stewardship into Plug’n Drive’s EV Awareness Student Learning Program, which delivers curriculum-aligned instruction to students in Grades 7 through 12 through classroom learning, hands-on activities and demonstrations.
The program introduces students to the lifecycle of an EV battery, including responsible use and safe end-of-life management. Call2Recycle Canada contributes education on how EV batteries are collected, transported and processed in Canada, as well as how recovered materials can be reused within the supply chain.
While the initiative is aimed at youth, it aligns with broader industry shifts as electric vehicles become more common in Canadian collision repair facilities. High-voltage battery handling is increasingly part of collision assessments, teardown decisions and total loss determinations when battery damage or safety concerns are identified.
“Providing Canadians, particularly youth, with trusted, science-based information on battery recycling is fundamental to advancing a circular energy future,” said Joe Zenobio, president and CEO of Call2Recycle Canada. He noted that increasing awareness among young Canadians helps prepare them to make informed decisions as the EV landscape evolves.
Plug’n Drive president and CEO Cara Clairman said the partnership expands the organization’s long-standing focus on EV education.
“For 15 years, Plug’n Drive has worked to help Canadians understand the environmental and economic benefits of driving electric vehicles,” Clairman said. “Our partnership with Call2Recycle brings an important piece of the EV transition directly into our youth programming. Teaching students about responsible battery management reinforces the importance of circularity and equips them to be thoughtful stewards of our environment.”
The Skills Council of Canada is supporting the initiative by connecting the program with workforce development priorities, including skilled trades and clean technology careers. The organization’s involvement is intended to align battery stewardship education with evolving training and safety requirements associated with electric vehicle repair.
