The Responsible Battery Coalition, in partnership with the University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems, launched a comprehensive research project to compare the total cost of ownership of gas and electric vehicles (EVs). Our research partnership with RBC will enable us to conduct a more in-depth analysis of EV costs... Read more →

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo and Nagoya Institute of Technology in Japan has discovered a new mechanism to stabilize the lithium metal electrode and electrolyte in lithium metal batteries. This new mechanism, which does not depend on the traditional kinetic approach, has potential to greatly enhance... Read more →

Battery-maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co., Ltd. (DPCA) and Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology Ltd. (CAES) signed a cooperation framework agreement on an EVOGO battery swap project. According to the agreement, the three parties will jointly apply the EVOGO modular battery swap solution to... Read more →

POSCO Holdings has moved up the scheduled investment in the second stage of a lithium production operation in Argentina from next year to now, due to increased demand for lithium amid booming investment in the secondary battery sector resulting from the “Inflation Reduction Act ” in the United States. The... Read more →

IDTechEx’s latest master electric vehicle report “Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea & Air 2022-2042” finds 35.7 million electric vehicles (EV) were sold in 2021 and predicts this will rise to more than 74 million by 2030. While electric cars will remain the largest electric vehicle market for the foreseeable future in... Read more →

A new method to ensure consistency and quality in rubber manufacturing, developed by a research team from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Eastman, is likely to show real-world impact on material sustainability and durability for products such as car tires. An open-access paper on their approach, “Sulfur Dispersion Quantitative... Read more →

At bauma in Munich, Volvo Penta unveiled its 8-liter dual-fuel hydrogen engine as well as the cube battery—which increases the versatility and flexibility of Volvo Penta's electromobility offering, opening up electrification opportunities for more customers across a wider range of industrial subsectors, machines and applications. Dual-fuel hydrogen engine. By using... Read more →

Indonesia is both the world’s largest nickel producer and the country with the biggest nickel reserves. (Most of Indonesia’s nickel output is currently Class 2 nickel, a low-purity type used for stainless steel. The country’s government and the mining sector are determined to transform its nickel industry to meet the... Read more →

Epsilon Advanced Materials, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Epsilon Carbon Private Limited, and Finnish Minerals Group have agreed to set up a framework for assessing the possibilities of establishing an anode material production plant in Vaasa, Finland. The companies have signed a mutual Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further this cooperation.... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company announced that its fleet of XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks in Switzerland has accumulated more than 5 million km in two years. Starting in 2020, the company exported 47 units of the hydrogen-powered, zero-emission commercial trucks to 23 Swiss companies, which are using them for logistics, distribution... Read more →

NXP Semiconductors is collaborating with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and other partners on ion trap-based quantum computers as part of the DLR’s Quantum Computing Initiative. The initiative aims to build quantum computers to help enable new innovations across energy, automotive, government, aerospace and other critical infrastructure. Quantum computers can... Read more →

JERA, the largest power generation company in Japan, responsible for about 30% of Japan’s electricity, and Toyota Motor have built and deployed the first large-capacity “Sweep Energy Storage System”. The system was built using batteries reclaimed from electrified vehicles (HEV, PHEV, BEV, FCEV) and is connected to the consumer electrical... Read more →

Neste and Rolls-Royce have agreed to build a strategic partnership on accelerating the use of renewable diesel as a lower-emission solution for diesel engines. Both parties share a common vision of renewable fuels playing a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in off-highway applications, such as construction and power... Read more →

Researchers from Osaka University have demonstrated a proof-of-concept for a novel molecular hydrogen production method that bypasses the need for expensive purification steps. They developed a system where hydrogen is separated and stored in liquid organic hydrogen carriers by catalysis of triaryl boranes in one seamless process. An open-access paper... Read more →

Following on the announcement of the shuttering of Argo AI, the autonomous driving venture backed by VW and Ford (earlier post), Volkswagen announced it is focusing its development activities for autonomous and highly automated driving. In the area of autonomous driving as a service (MaaS/TaaS), the Group is consolidating its... Read more →

BMW i Ventures announced its lead investment in Fox Robotics, developers of the first intelligent forklift that can autonomously unload pallets from the trailer to the receiving dock. The oversubscribed funding round totals $20 million. Additional new investors include Zebra Technologies, Japan Airlines & Translink Innovation Fund and Foothill Ventures.... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA‑E) will award $39 million in funding to 16 projects across 12 states to develop market-ready technologies that will increase domestic supplies of critical elements required for the clean energy transition. The selected projects, led by universities, national laboratories, and... Read more →

FREYR Battery announced a new service agreement with ITOCHU Corporation, the Japan-based global trading and import/export company. As part of this agreement, ITOCHU will serve as a direct materials supplier for FREYR’s procurement and supply chain operations. As the world moves towards decarbonization, we see FREYR as an integral part... Read more →

Digital transparency company Everledger launched a battery passport pilot with leading automotive manufacturer Ford Motor Company to ensure responsible recycling of EV batteries. The pilot leverages Everledger’s technology platform to track electric vehicle (EV) batteries throughout their lifecycle to ensure responsible management during use and recycling at the end of... Read more →

Phoenix Motor, a manufacturer of all-electric, medium-duty vehicles, and Pegasus Specialty Vehicles, has formed a strategic partnership jointly to develop Type A electric school buses, targeted for the North American market. The agreement targets a minimum of 300 Type A school buses to be built within the next three years,... Read more →

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has received approval to establish the nation’s first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) export compensation mechanism for commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging customers in its California service area. The V2G export rate promotes EV adoption by providing upfront incentives to help commercial customers offset fleet costs and... Read more →

Researchers in Germany have developed a method to store and release highly pure hydrogen by the interconversion of readily available (bi)carbonate and formate salts in the presence of naturally occurring α-amino acids. An open-access paper on their work is published in ACS Central Science. The reversible storage of hydrogen in... Read more →

Ionblox (previously known as Zenlabs Energy, earlier post), a high-performance lithium-ion cell company, closed a $24-million Series B investment round with Lilium, developer of an all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet (earlier post); Applied Ventures, LLC; Catalus Capital, a multi-strategy private equity firm; and a global investment company. Ionblox... Read more →

General Motors has finalized energy sourcing agreements required to secure 100% of the energy needed to power all its US facilities by 2025. This is in line with the accelerated target announced in September 2021, which was 5 years ahead of the 2030 target announced in early 2021 and 25... Read more →

The city of Poznań’s public transport operator MPK Poznań has purchased 25 hydrogen-fueled buses from Solaris Bus & Coach. The tender was for 15 vehicles, but the carrier exercised its option of extending the order by another 10 buses. The hydrogen units will join the fleet of MPK in the... Read more →

The Copper Mark, an assurance framework set up to promote the responsible production of copper, is launching the pilot implementation of the Molybdenum, Nickel and Zinc Marks. Producers of these metals are able to use the Copper Mark assurance framework to achieve their respective “Mark”, thereby signaling their leadership in... Read more →

Westport Fuel Systems and Scania AB announced preliminary engine test results of Westport’s H₂ HPDI fuel system for heavy-duty vehicle applications (earlier post). Westport’s HPDI fuel system technology enables heavy-duty trucks to operate on natural gas with the same power, torque, efficiency, and performance as diesel engines. H2 HPDI operates... Read more →

In 2025, Volvo Group’s truck plant in Ghent, Belgium will start to produce battery modules. To date, partners supply both cells and modules to the Group. The investment decision to install battery module manufacturing capacity in Ghent is another important step for the Volvo Group to shape its future value... Read more →

American Airlines made a strategic equity investment in Universal Hydrogen Co., a company building a green hydrogen distribution and logistics network for aviation. (Earlier post.) This investment makes American the first US airline to make two direct investments focused on the development of both hydrogen-electric propulsion technology and the future... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency, through its Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, is awarding nearly $1 billion to 389 school districts spanning 50 states, Washington, DC, and several Tribes and US territories. The funding will help school districts purchase more than 2,400 clean school buses that will accelerate the... Read more →

Aramco has created a $1.5-billion Sustainability Fund to invest in technology that can support a stable and inclusive energy transition. It was unveiled at the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) and is among the largest sustainability-focused venture capital funds globally. Managed by Aramco Ventures, the venture capital... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that the second installment of funding for the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Zero‑Emission Transit, School, and Shuttle Bus program is available. Applications for transit and shuttle bus funding continue to be accepted and applications for school bus funding is reopening. This solicitation is open... Read more →

Neste will supply the Air France-KLM Group with more than 1,000,000 tons (approximately 1.26 billion liters or 333 million gallons US) of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ over a period of 8 years starting in 2023. This SAF agreement is one of the largest of its kind in the aviation... Read more →

The 2023 Toyota Crown for the US market is coming with standard AWD and the choice of two electrified powertrains: the standard Toyota Hybrid System (THS) or Hybrid MAX. (Earlier post.) Hybrid MAX is Toyota’s all-new performance hybrid that puts out a manufacturer estimated 340 net horsepower and a net... Read more →

Ford has given the 2023 Escape SUV a makeover that includes a stylish new ST-Line series, available 13.2-inch display with cloud-connected SYNC 4 Technology and new advanced driver-assistance system technologies. Escape, which debuted the world’s first hybrid SUV in 2005, brings back two hybrid choices for 2023, a full hybrid... Read more →

Mass production of the all-new 2023 Honda CR-V hybrid began at Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM). The CR-V hybrid features a new two-motor hybrid system produced at Honda’s Ohio Transmission Plant (TMP-O), and a newly refined Atkinson-cycle engine unique to hybrid models that is made at the Anna Engine Plant... Read more →

To support the expansion of electric transportation in Québec, the Electric Circuit is a{launching} a pilot project on heavy- and medium-duty vehicle charging. The initiative includes the installation of dedicated stations for safe charging that consider turning radius and trailer length. With the number of electric trucks on the roads... Read more →

At this year’s bauma this week in Munich, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is presenting several fully battery-electric trucks for construction site applications. At the event, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is showing the concept prototype of the eActros LongHaul, which was presented for the first time at the IAA Transportation in September (earlier post), with... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group officially broke ground today on Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) LLC’s new manufacturing plant at the Bryan County Mega site. (Earlier post.) The $5.54-billion investment by the company and its affiliate suppliers was announced five months ago and includes plans to produce a diverse range of... Read more →

Magna is investing more than $500 million to expand its operations in three different locations in Southeast Michigan. The company is expanding its facility in St. Clair (battery enclosures) and is opening new facilities in Shelby Township (powertrain) and Detroit (seating). The developments follow new business awards in these product... Read more →

Bosch has begun production of electric motors at its Charleston, S.C. manufacturing facility. Additionally, the company plans to invest more than $260 million to expand further the production of electrification products at the site, which is expected to create at least 350 net new jobs by 2025. Electric motors from... Read more →

As much as skeptics insist that the internal combustion engine (ICE) is dead and hydrogen is a non-starter, it appears that significant research and development is being conducted into the technology across geographies. China, despite being one of the world’s largest producers and market for electric vehicles (EVs), is actively... Read more →

AM Batteries (AMB), a developer of lithium-ion dry-electrode technology, closed its Series A financing. Anzu Partners, an investment firm that focuses on breakthrough industrial technologies, led AMB’s oversubscribed $25-million Series A funding, with participation from TDK Ventures, Foothill Ventures, Toyota Ventures, Zeon Ventures, SAIC Capital, VinFast, Doral Energy-Tech Ventures, and... Read more →

Australia-based global energy company Woodside Energy and LanzaTech NZ, a US-based carbon capture and transformation company, announced a strategic collaboration with the signing of a Strategic Framework Agreement. Under the agreement Woodside will, in collaboration with LanzaTech and subject to a positive final investment decision, design, construct, own, maintain and... Read more →

Toyota Motor Corporation announced the Toyota bZ3, the second model in its bZ series. The bZ3 is a battery electric sedan jointly developed for the Chinese market by BYD TOYOTA EV TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (BTET)—a joint venture established by Toyota and BYD Company Ltd. (BYD)—and FAW Toyota Motor Co. Ltd.... Read more →

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) mobilized a $135-million climate financing package for VinFast Trading and Production Joint Stock Company (VinFast) for manufacturing Vietnam’s first fully-electric public transport bus fleet and first national electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The assistance will support Vietnam’s efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and... Read more →

At bauma in Munich, FUSO is presenting a Next Generation eCanter equipped for the first time with a roll-off tipper from UNSINN as well as a mechanical power take-off (PTO). The 8.55-ton truck has a chassis load capacity of 5,135 kg. The payload is 3,635 kg. The vehicle with comfort... Read more →

At bauma—the world’s leading construction machinery trade fair—in Munich, Bosch placed particular emphasis on the potential for hydrogen engines and electrification to make the sector significantly more sustainable. According to Bosch studies, more than half a million construction machines in the performance class from 56 to 560 kilowatts will be... Read more →

Bakken Energy, a developer of affordable clean hydrogen supply, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with each of Cummins Inc. and Schneider National Carriers Inc., to work together on the design of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub to serve the needs of long-haul trucking. In conjunction with the States of North Dakota,... Read more →

Custom Truck One Source, a single-source provider of specialized truck and heavy equipment solutions, is adding Battle Motors to its truck inventory. EV technology developer Battle Motors acquired commercial vehicle OEM Crane Carrier Company in 2021 (earlier post). As part of the partnership, Custom Truck will offer Battle Motor’s full... Read more →