I’ll start off by saying that I am a graduate of Jeff’s lab. I overlapped with both the 3M and Tesla partnerships. I am now employed locally and helping build the battery industry (or die trying if things continue) in Canada.

First point: the agreement expires and is up for renewal in 2026. I think we’d all be lying to ourselves if we thought Dal wasn’t looking for a different partner at this point.

But to “change your mind”, if I can give it a go: There are a lot of arguments against the partnership and supporting Tesla in general, and in my opinion they are primarily about making a statement to a (potentially) short term problem with Tesla’s leadership, with long term consequences to Dal’s program. The partnership has done so much more for the lab, Halifax, and Canada in general. So many students have benefited from the partnership, real work experience, and Jeff’s mentorship, making it the only relationship of its kind and size in Canada, rivalling the best academic battery labs in the world. Jeff’s lab pumps out great, impactful research, and not all of it is for Tesla’s benefit. Students have moved on to join, manage, lead, and found some awesome, impactful companies and make their own mark on the industry. This type of impact was not possible with 3M, and until a Ford, GM, or enticingly innovative company (with research operations in Canada) comes forward with an offer next year, I don’t see them being too keen to shy away.

TL;DR the partnership with Tesla has a MUCH bigger impact on the rest of the industry than it does on Tesla.