Switzerland’s H55 is set to break ground on a new electric-airplane battery plant in suburban Montreal.

An official groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday near St-Hubert Airport in Longueuil, Que., the company announced. Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez is slated to participate in the event, suggesting that Ottawa could be ready to invest in the development project.

In March, Ottawa provided a $10-million loan to H55 to help it develop the Greater Montreal Area plant.

H55 has been collaborating on battery-pack development with Vancouver-based seaplane airline Harbour Air, which is developing a fleet of e-planes. Harbour Air representatives are slated to attend the groundbreaking ceremony, along with counterparts from Longueuil-based airplane-engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and Montreal-based aviation technology company CAE.

In May, Pratt & Whitney selected H55 to supply battery systems for its regional hybrid-electric flight demonstration program.

E-planes are not yet certified for permanent use anywhere in the world. But successful test flights by Harbour Air in B.C. have moved them closer to federal approval and commercialization in Canada.

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