The Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Alliance has defined a common 2030 roadmap on pure-EV and Intelligent & Connected mobility, sharing investments for the benefits of its three-member companies and their customers. Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi have already invested more than €10 billion in the field of electrification. In the main... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz and ProLogium, a developer of solid-state batteries (earlier post), have signed a technology cooperation agreement to develop next-generation battery cells. Mercedes-Benz will also make a high double-digit million euro investment in ProLogium. Under the agreement, Mercedes-Benz will take a seat on the ProLogium board of directors. The investment by... Read more →

In 2021, global investment in the low-carbon energy transition totaled $755 billion, up 27% from $595 billion in 2020 and just $264 billion in 2011, according to Energy Transition Investment Trends 2022, a new report published by research firm BloombergNEF (BNEF). This figure includes investment in projects—such as renewables, storage,... Read more →

First-time owners who have made the switch to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are discovering that it is a positive experience. Satisfaction among owners who are new to BEVs averages 754 (on a 1,000-point scale), which is comparable to 766 among BEV veterans (those who have owned a BEV prior to... Read more →

ABB has increased its stake in InCharge Energy, a provider of fleet electrification services (earlier post), to 60%. InCharge Energy will maintain its leadership team and tech neutrality as it joins ABB’s E-Mobility Division. Financial terms of this agreement were not disclosed. The addition of InCharge Energy will strengthen ABB’s... Read more →

The US Department of Transportation Secretary has released the federal government’s new comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), a roadmap for addressing roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Almost 95% of US transportation deaths occur on streets, roads, and highways. The rate of roadway fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled... Read more →

Charge CCCV (C4V), a lithium ion battery technology company (earlier post), has introduced LiSER (Lithium Slim Energy Reserve), a novel cell technology platform. C4V’s LiSER technology encompasses an in-house patented battery cell design that allows OEMs to bypass modules and build the pack directly. This platform includes designs that include... Read more →

Land Rover has confirmed prices for the advanced Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid model and the Range Rover SV, while revealing performance figures for the plug-in hybrid electric powertrain. The P440e Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) offers a manufacturer-estimated EV range of 48 miles; EPA certification is pending. The new Range... Read more →

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will install an innovative clean energy microgrid and EV fleet charging system with Proterra and Scale Microgrid Solutions to help power the agency’s transition to a 100% zero-emission bus fleet, following a grant that was awarded for the project by the California Energy... Read more →

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, the first electrified Grand Cherokee, offers an all-new plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 25 miles of all-electric range and 56 MPGe at a starting US manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $57,700. The new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe lineup consists of four models: 4xe, Trailhawk 4xe,... Read more →

The percentage of vehicle owners using the app of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) continues to increase year-over-year, with 38% of respondents indicating that they use the app at least half of the time that they drive, according to the J.D. Power 2021 US OEM ICE Benchmark Study. The usage... Read more →

Nexeon Limited—a supplier of advanced silicon anode materials for next generation lithium-ion batteries—announced a US$80-million investment from a consortium including SKC Co. Ltd (SKC), SJL Partners LLC (SJL), BNW Investment Co. Ltd, (BNW) and Kiwoom Private Equity Inc. Ltd (Kiwoom). Through this transaction, Nexeon enters into a strategic partnership with... Read more →

Carrier is further expanding its electrification capabilities through a new alliance with ConMet, adding trailer wheel-based power generation that captures energy that otherwise would be wasted during braking events. The alliance also advances Carrier’s broader zero-emission transport refrigeration solutions, with the availability of electric options for trailer, truck, and light... Read more →

The exploration of airborne transportation and advanced air mobility (AAM) is the focus of a new partnership between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Supernal—an advanced air mobility company from Hyundai Motor Group (earlier post). Supernal is developing electric, autonomous air vehicles capable of accommodating four to five passengers... Read more →

More than 300 customers have plced orders for a total of 10,000 E-Transit vans, according to Ford Pro, the global commercial and government business and brand within Ford. Customers range from one-person van operations to municipalities including the City of Orlando to some of the nation’s largest service providers and... Read more →

Bentley Motors will launch five new electric cars from 2025. Bentley also revealed a £2.5-billion (US$3.4-billion) sustainable investment to realize this strategy. From 2025, the first Bentley electric vehicle will be designed, developed and produced at its headquarters in Crewe, England. Crewe is to become a “Dream Factory”— a digital,... Read more →

Baidu’s intelligent electric vehicle arm JIDU has closed Series A financing, raising nearly $400 million. This round of financing was backed by Baidu and its strategic partner multinational auto manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. JIDU’s first Robocar concept car will be unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show in April this... Read more →

Oshkosh Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, unveiled the first silent drive hybrid-electric Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), the eJLTV. The eJLTV offers the US Army and US Marine Corps the same level of performance and protection as the base JLTV with the addition of silent drive, extended silent... Read more →

Toyota has unveiled the all-new third-generation 2023 Sequoia full-size SUV. All 2023 Sequoias will feature the powerful twin-turbo V6 hybrid i-FORCE MAX powertrain. First unveiled on Tundra, this exceptional hybrid produces 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft. of torque. (Earlier post.) 2023 Toyota Sequoia Limited The powertrain features a motor generator... Read more →

Steelmaker ArcelorMittal has made a US$5-million investment in H2Pro through its XCarb innovation fund, bringing the fund’s total investment commitments to US$180 million since its launch in March 2021. The investment is part of a US$75-million Series B fundraise by H2Pro, with other investors including Temasek, Horizons Ventures, Breakthrough Energy... Read more →

Volvo Trucks has introduced a new, patented safety feature for electric trucks: Active Grip Control. The new technology significantly improves stability, acceleration and braking in slippery conditions. Due to the fast response of the electric motors, the force generated between the wheels and the road can be controlled in an... Read more →

Comau, a member of Stellantis, has developed and deployed an automated e-drive assembly line for Geely Automobile Holdings at its Geely Veremt plant in Ningbo (China), for the end-to-end assembly of the electric motor, gearbox and inverter. Designed in close collaboration with the Geely team, the complete line uses a... Read more →

Bosch and the Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cariad have agreed to form an extensive partnership to accelerate the introduction of automated driving functions across all vehicle classes. The companies want to make partially and highly automated driving suitable for volume production, and thus available to the broad mass of consumers. For... Read more →

The US Department of Commerce released the results from the Risks in the Semiconductor Supply Chain Request for Information (RFI) issued in Sept. 2021. Key findings from the report provided data-driven information about the depths of the semiconductor shortage. The RFI showed that median inventory held by chips consumers (including... Read more →

Kia America announced that pricing for the 2022 EV6, the brand’s first dedicated all-electric model, will start at $40,900, with a net price of $33,400 after the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit. The EV6 offers a choice of two battery packs: 58.0 kWh and 77.4 kWh. The EV6 with... Read more →

General Motors will invest more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, significantly increasing battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity. This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing with LG and the... Read more →

Canada-based Lithion Recycling closed a first tranche of Series A equity with a strategic group of investors led by IMM Investment Global Limited and supported by Fondaction and its managed fund, the LCC Fund. The size of the first round is expected to reach up to C$125 million (US$99 million).... Read more →

Researchers from Lehigh University, in collaboration with colleagues from the East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), have developed an induced activation strategy to enhance the performance of the ternary Cu/Zu/AL2O3 catalyst towards the methanol steam reforming (MSR) reaction (used as a model reaction). Cu/Zu/AL2O3 is an important industrial... Read more →

Ørsted and Liquid Wind AB have reached an agreement under which Ørsted will acquire a 45% ownership share of Liquid Wind AB’s FlagshipONE e-methanol project. (Earlier post.) FlagshipONE is a late-stage development project and could become the world’s first large-scale sustainable e-methanol project. Liquid Wind AB plans to establish a... Read more →

25 The technology group Wärtsilä has received its first order for newbuild methanol-fueled engines. A new Offshore Wind Installation Vessel (WIV) being built for Dutch contracting company Van Oord at Yantai CIMC Raffles shipyard in China will be powered by five Wärtsilä 32 engines capable of operating with methanol. A... Read more →