At IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, Porsche is presenting the Mission R concept electric car that combines advanced technologies and sustainable materials, such as natural fibre-reinforced plastics, with a passion for racing. In addition to a progressive design, the extremely low-slung, all-electric competition car features the characteristic lines of the... Read more →

At the International Motor Show IAA MOBILITY 2021 in Munich, Volkswagen is presenting the ID.LIFE, a compact crossover electric concept car previewing a new ID. family model in the small car segment from 2025 onwards. The vision of a fully electric small car for the urban environment centers around people... Read more →

ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Stäubli Electrical Connectors to collaborate in bringing solutions to market to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with heavy machinery in mining. Stäubli, a leading manufacturer of connector solutions, and global technology company ABB, will explore the development of electrification... Read more →

Mercedes is coming to IAA Mobility with five new EVs: the Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS, the new EQB, the new EQE, the new Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+, and the Concept EQG. Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS. With the Concept EQS, Mercedes-Maybach is providing a clear preview of the first fully electric series-production model... Read more →

Australia-based Arafura Resources Limited has awarded Hatch a contract to carry out Engineering and Procurement Services for the Nolans NdPR project hydrometallurgical plant. The Nolans project in Australia will encompass a mine, process plant (comprising beneficiation, extraction and separation plants) and related infrastructure to be constructed and located at the... Read more →

Construction of the first stage of the Saskatchewan Research Council’s (SRC) Rare Earth Processing Facility, which includes a Monazite Processing Unit (MPU) and a Solvent Extraction Unit (SXU), is underway The facility will be the first of its kind in Canada. In August 2020, the Government of Saskatchewan announced $31... Read more →

Nornickel, the world’s largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel and a major producer of platinum and copper; Rosatom State Corporation; and the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center (FESRC, part of Rosneft Oil Company) have signed an agreement of intent to design and build a dual-fuel diesel-LNG icebreaker... Read more →

Conventional processes for manufacturing battery electrodes involve mostly toxic solvents and require a lot of space and energy. As an alternative, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS has developed a new dry-coating process: DRYtraec. The technology is environmentally friendly and cost-effective and can be used on a... Read more →

Joby Aviation, Inc. became the first company to fly an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as part of NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign. As part of the two-week test campaign at Joby’s Electric Flight Base near Big Sur, California, NASA and Joby will join forces to... Read more →

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) recently put its first hydrogen station in Beijing into operation. Jointly built by CNPC and Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd. (Foton), the hydrogen station covers an area of about 1,700 square meters in Changping District. With a daily refueling capacity of 600 kg, it can... Read more →

SAE International, in collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), published ISO/SAE 21434™ Standard: Road Vehicles – Cybersecurity Engineering. The standard helps the industry define a structured process to ensure cybersecurity is incorporated into the design of road vehicles, including systems, components software and connections of any external device... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced $30 million in funding for 13 national lab and university-led research projects to develop new technologies that will help secure the supply of critical materials that build clean energy technologies (DE-FOA-0002483) (earlier post). The selected research projects aim to diversify the supply of,... Read more →

Thee is a growing disconnect between battery demand and raw material supply that could derail Europe’s and North America’s electrification plans, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Outside of China, Europe and North America are the key regions developing significant lithium-ion cell production capacity. Europe now has 778 GWh of capacity... Read more →

Archer Aviation, a developer of all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced an agreement with the United States Air Force (USAF) to establish a collaborative strategy to explore the technical readiness and suitability of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft for USAF purposes. As Archer continues its work towards achieving FAA Type... Read more →

BYD unveiled two battery-electric heavy-duty trucks, the Gen3 8TT and 6F. Unveiled at the ACT Expo in Long Beach, Calif., the Gen 3 8TT and 6F feature cabs styled by Wolfgang Josef Egger, the former Audi chief designer. The stylish cabs offer improved aerodynamics and energy efficiency. The truck come... Read more →

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Waseda University have started testing in Japan of a jointly developed recycling process that efficiently recovers high-purity rare-earth compounds from electrified vehicle motor magnets. The testing is aimed at enabling practical application of the new process by the mid-2020s. Most motors in electrified vehicles use... Read more →

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a new method to convert captured CO2 into methane, the primary component of natural gas. By using a water-lean post-combustion capture solvent, (N-(2-ethoxyethyl)-3-morpholinopropan-1-amine) (2-EEMPA), they achieved a greater than 90% conversion of captured CO2 to hydrocarbons—mostly methane—in the... Read more →

LG Chem and Korean biodiesel producer and exporter Dansuk Industrial will form a joint venture to build Korea’s first next-generation hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) plant. LG Chem signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) for the establishment of the HVO joint venture on 2 September at the Dansuk Industrial headquarters in... Read more →

Chevron USA, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, and Bunge North America, a subsidiary of Bunge Limited, announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of a proposed 50/50 joint venture to help meet the demand for renewable fuels and to develop lower carbon intensity feedstocks. Upon finalization of the joint venture, Chevron... Read more →

Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technologies, has entered into an agreement with OnTo Technology, a developer of advanced battery recycling solutions, to scale up OnTo’s patented process for the direct recycling of lithium-ion battery scrap. The partners will collaborate with the UK Battery Industrialization Center (UKBIC), the newly... Read more →

Echion Technologies, a spin-off from the University of Cambridge developing niobium oxide-based materials for anodes, has closed a £10-million (US$13.8 million) Series A funding round. The Series-A funding round was led by CBMM—the world’s leading supplier of niobium products—and BGF—the UK & Ireland’s most active and dynamic investor of equity... Read more →

Audi unveiled the grandsphere concept study—the second of three “sphere” concept cars from Audi. (Earlier post.) The 5.35 m (17.6 ft.) long grandsphere electric sedan combines the luxury of private travel in the greatest of comfort with a comprehensive onboard experience offering. Level 4 automated driving turns the interior into... Read more →

Genesis announced its vision for electrification with the live stream release of its vision statement film, “Futuring Genesis”. Under the dual electrification strategy, all new vehicles will be purely electric starting from 2025 with fuel cell EVs and battery EVs. Genesis plans to become a 100% zero emission vehicle brand... Read more →

Nikola Corporation, a developer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEV), fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and energy infrastructure solutions, announced agreements with the Bosch Group for Nikola Class 7 and 8 fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) which will enable Nikola to build the Bosch fuel-cell power modules at its Coolidge, Arizona facility.... Read more →

Crash avoidance features and teen-specific vehicle technologies have the potential to prevent or mitigate up to three-quarters of fatal crashes involving teen drivers, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We know these technologies don’t stop 100 percent of the crashes they’re designed to... Read more →

The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Quarter of 2021. NHTSA estimates that 8,730 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first three months of 2021, a 10.5% increase from the 7,900... Read more →

With demand for lithium set to rise over the next decade, Roskill has examined the various ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) concerns that downstream investors and customers face in sourcing lithium products. As sustainability has been brought to the forefront of the lithium debate, producers have sought to underscore their... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Energy recently announced the Energy Earthshots Initiative aimed at accelerating breakthroughs of more abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy solutions within the decade. The first Energy Earthshot, launched 7 June—Hydrogen Shot—seeks to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per 1... Read more →

Volkswagen is now offering car subscriptions for the ID.3 and ID.4 EVs in Germany with the launch of the Volkswagen AutoAbo subscription model. Customers can take out a monthly subscription, starting at €499 for the ID.3. This will enable us to achieve a key milestone in our Business Model 2.0.... Read more →

Performance Team – A Maersk Company, a warehousing and distribution company, has placed an order for 16 Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks (earlier post)—the largest commercial order of the North American zero-tailpipe emission model to date. The VNR Electric model from Volvo Trucks North America is the first zero-tailpipe... Read more →

Navistar has launched the new fully-electric medium-duty International eMV Series trucks. The International eMV is designed to tackle everyday use, built to the same standards as the diesel International MV Series truck. The eMV is available in four different wheelbase options—217", 236", 254" and 272"—and features the Diamond Logic electrical... Read more →

Neste is the first company in Finland to provide a service for companies and other organizations to monitor their climate emissions caused by the use of transport fuels. According to Neste’s industry survey conducted in August 2021, the use of Neste MY Renewable Diesel has increased rapidly in the public... Read more →

ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing LLC has introduced ExxonMobil Renewable Diesel process technology (EMRD) to help meet the evolving needs for mobility, while utilizing renewable feedstock. This new process technology converts feedstocks including, but not limited to, vegetable oils, unconverted cooking oil and animal fats, into renewable diesel. One challenge when... Read more →

Foretellix, a platform provider automating the testing, verification and validation for automated driving systems (ADAS and AV), has secured $32 million in its latest series B funding round, bringing its total raised capital to more than $50 million. The round was led by MoreTech Ventures, with participation from several strategic... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz has launched a partnership with the Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB for CO2-free steel. (Earlier post.) The first prototype parts for body shells made of CO2-free steel are already being planned for next year. SSAB Oxelösund rolled its first steel produced using HYBRIT technology—i.e., reduced by 100% fossil-free hydrogen instead... Read more →

Dana Incorporated is expanding its Spicer Electrified e-Powertrain offerings to include a family of single and tandem e-Axles designed for a wide variety of Class 7 and 8 applications. The Spicer Electrified Zero-8 e-Axles complement Dana’s established heavy-duty electric-vehicle (EV) e-Propulsion systems, which are currently powering thousands of vehicles around... Read more →

SABIC introduced the company’s first automotive grades containing mechanically recycled content within the company’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio of circular solutions and services. The new resins are SABIC T2E-3320EH PP compound, a high-flow, low-emission, talc-filled polypropylene (PP); XENOY T2NX2500UV resin, an unfilled, UV-stabilized blend of polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and... Read more →

Electric vehicle industry experts and scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are testing and evaluating the compatibility of inlet and connectors for a new high-power charging standard for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles called the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). MCS will facilitate charging capacity up to 3.75MW—seven times higher... Read more →

Allison Transmission has been selected by Hino Trucks as its e-Axle development partner for Class 6, 7 and 8 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) trucks. The two companies have signed the framework behind a comprehensive strategic Joint Collaboration Agreement (JCA) that builds on the long-standing partnership Allison and Hino share in... Read more →

Allison Transmission, a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional, electric hybrid and fully electric vehicle propulsion solutions, has added eGen Power 100S and 130D e-Axles to its fully electric portfolio of propulsion solutions. Allison first launched its eGen Power 100D in 2020 and has since spent time validating and, where... Read more →

The first performance hybrid from Mercedes-AMG—AMG GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE—is entering series production for the European market, drawing upon technologies from Formula 1. The concept includes a distinctive drive layout with an electric motor and battery on the rear axle as well as a high-performance battery developed in-house. The... Read more →

Electrify America and NFI Industries announced plans for the US’ single largest charging infrastructure project to support heavy-duty electric trucks, with 34 ultra-fast DC chargers slated for completion by December 2023. As the largest open DC fast charging network in the US, Electrify America was selected to deploy charging solutions... Read more →

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is leading a landmark effort along with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) to deploy 100 battery-electric regional haul and drayage trucks across California. The battery-electric trucks will be deployed through a partnership with... Read more →

Autonomous cars will match or exceed human safety by 2024, after which they will grow rapidly at a CAGR of 30% finds IDTechEx’s new report “Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis & Sensors 2022-2042”. By the 2040s, they will be capable of fulfilling the world’s mobility needs without a single collision. So why... Read more →

In cooperation with Vodafone, Porsche has entered the 5G era at its Weissach Development Center. Real-time mobile communications will now be available with immediate effect for vehicle development at the site. The new technology will ensure the secure and instantaneous transmission of data between car, human and machine. At the... Read more →

Following the approval of all relevant authorities, BASF and Shanshan have formed the joint venture “BASF Shanshan Battery Materials Co., Ltd.”. The new entity will be majority owned by BASF (BASF 51% and Shanshan 49%). The newly formed company has four sites in Hunan and Ningxia, China, with more than... Read more →

Hino Trucks revealed its first Class 8 Hino XL8 prototype powered by a hydrogen fuel cell electric drivetrain, at the 2021 ACT Expo in Long Beach, California. The truck combines a Toyota hydrogen fuel cell electric drive system in the XL Series chassis. (earlier post) From our Project Z announcement... Read more →

GreenPower Motor Company Inc. has introduced the BEAST (Battery Electric Automotive School Transportation), a purpose-built, all-electric school bus. GreenPower is showcasing the BEAST at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo through today in Long Beach. The BEAST, a 40-foot Type D battery-electric school bus, delivers up to 150 miles on... Read more →

Hexagon Purus and Ballard Power Systems are collaborating to produce Class 6 & 7 Fuel Cell Electric Trucks powered by Hexagon Purus’ turnkey electric drivetrain and hydrogen storage system solutions and Ballard’s fuel cell module. The companies introduced a Class 6 prototype at the ACT Expo in Long Beach. This... Read more →