As a result of acquisitions and investment, Cummins is focusing on three key areas for hydrogen: the production of green hydrogen; the management and transportation of hydrogen; and the application of hydrogen in engines and fuel cells. At Con Expo, Accelera, the new brand for Cummins’ New Power business segment,... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award $590 million to renew its four existing Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs). This funding will help support the Department’s research into the next generation of sustainable, cost-effective bioproducts and bioenergy from domestic biomass resources. Each of the four centers, led by a National... Read more →

Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein GmbH (VHH) is ordering up to 100 electric buses from MAN Truck & Bus. VHH also recently ordered 95 Mercedes-Benz Citaro E electric buses, with an option for 155 more. (Earlier post.) VHH has already called for the first 48 eBuses from the new framework agreement with MAN.... Read more →

Volvo Trucks has delivered its first heavy electric truck to Rabat, Morocco. The customer is the refuse collection company Arma, and this is the first heavy battery-electric truck from a global manufacturer to be in commercial operation in Africa. The truck is a Volvo FE Electric, one of six all-electric... Read more →

Public transport provider Verkehrsbetriebe-Hamburg-Holstein GmbH (VHH) has ordered 95 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro/eCitaro G buses. The first of the fully electrically powered and locally emission-free buses is expected to be delivered by the end of this year, while the other vehicles will be delivered in the first half of 2024. In addition,... Read more →

Volvo Buses is changing its business model in Europe and will apply the same successful model as it has in several other markets. This means that Volvo Buses will focus its production on chassis and together with external bodybuilders offer customers in Europe a complete range of city and intercity... Read more →

Altilium Metals, a UK clean energy group, plans to accelerate the development of the UK’s largest EV battery recycling plant, following completion of a six-month feasibility study, funded partly by the UK government’s Automotive Transformation Fund, and the first successful demonstration of its proprietary technology at its newly opened analytical... Read more →

Aqua Metals has successfully recovered high-purity nickel from lithium battery black mass using its proprietary Li AquaRefining process, utilizing electricity, and without a polluting smelter or the significant chemical waste typical in recycling. (Earlier post.) The company’s unique solution for recovering all valuable metals in lithium battery recycling supports a... Read more →

Blink Charging, a manufacturer, owner, operator and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, was awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to sell up to 41,500 EV charging units to support EV charging infrastructure for the USPS as part... Read more →

Nikola Corporation said that its move to transition battery manufacturing from Cypress, Calif. to its Coolidge, Ariz. manufacturing facility—following the acquisition of Cypres-based Romeo Power (earlier post)—is expected to be complete by April 2023, months ahead of the original schedule. T he ability to expedite this process further supports Nikola’s... Read more →

The European Commission (EC) unveiled two draft laws in response to the US subsidies that the Commission fears are luring European clean-tech companies to North America. The European Critical Raw Materials Act would help the bloc secure supply of the metals needed to build batteries, wind turbines and other green... Read more →

A pre-print study by European environmental scientists assesses the direct impact of the recent sabotage of the undersea Nord Stream pipelines on marine ecosystem. The explosions that ripped open the gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last September released more than 100,000 tonnes of methane—which was widely covered in the... Read more →

Chart Industries and ZEV Stations executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enabling the two companies to collaborate on novel deployment for US-based, multimodal hydrogen stations with Chart equipment. Working together, the companies’ goal is development of fast-fuel multiple modes for heavy-duty transportation at the same station, uniting different standards of... Read more →

Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) (earlier post) and Fuji Electric Corp. of America (FEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to complete multiple Equipment, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts for the delivery of geothermal power facilities at CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power Project located in Imperial County, California. The EPC contracts... Read more →

Toyota’s #32 ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept (hydrogen-powered Corolla) (earlier post), which was scheduled to participate in the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2023 Powered by Hankook Round 1 Suzuka to be held on 18 and 19 March 2023, will not be racing. During a private test run at Fuji... Read more →

At CONEXPO, Cummins showcased its new fuel-agnostic 15-liter engine platform with hydrogen, natural gas and advanced diesel engines offering low-to-zero carbon fuel capability. The next-generation engine is designed to accelerate the decarbonization of heavy-duty off-highway applications. Cummins’ all-new platform takes internal combustion to a new level, capable of meeting future... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz Trucks development and test engineers tested the operational readiness of the eActros LongHaul and eActros 300 as a tractor unit under extreme conditions at temperatures down to minus 25 degrees Celsius in Rovaniemi, in northern Finland. (In Rovaniemi, the Arctic Circle (66°33′45.9″ N) runs through Santa Claus Village, 8km... Read more →

The Volkswagen brand provided a first glimpse of an all-electric Volkswagen with a starting price of less than €25,000: the ID. 2all concept car. The electric vehicle features front-wheel drive, range of up to 450 km, innovative technological features such as Travel Assist, IQ.LIGHT or Electric Vehicle Route Planner and... Read more →

BMW’s upcoming eigth generation of the 5 Series will offer all-electric and plug-in hybrid variants as well efficient gasoline and diesel engines with 48V mild hybrid technology. At the BMW Group Annual Conference 2023, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, announced further details of the... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award up to $750 million for research, development, and demonstration efforts to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen. (DE-FOA-0002922) This funding launches the first tranche of implementation of two provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which authorizes $1 billion for research, development, demonstration,... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced a $156-million funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002997) that will advance high impact applied research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the US industrial sector. In 2020, the industrial sector accounted for 33%... Read more →

Volvo Penta and leading North American telescopic boom excavator manufacturer Gradall Industries are showcasing the latest development in their partnership at CONEXPO this week—an electrified version of the OEM’s XL 4100 V highway speed wheeled excavator. The zero-emissions concept machine, named EL41H4, is on display at the Gradall Booth, W41500.... Read more →

The Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) of RWTH Aachen University has successfully completed the anfaHair research project after two years. The goal of the project, which was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, was to make the production of new types of electric motors... Read more →

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company introduced the Powerload lineup to the North America construction, loading, logistics support and landscaping markets. The new Powerload lineup, now available in North America, has advanced features and technologies specifically designed to deliver traction and durability for compact wheel loaders and graders, regardless of... Read more →

Sumitomo Rubber Industries will launch FALKEN e. ZIEX as a new line of replacement tires for electric vehicles (EV) in Europe, where the market for EV has been growing rapidly. Featuring the highest level of fuel (energy) efficiency of any tire that the company has offered to date, e. ZIEX... Read more →

Lamborghini’s HPEV (High Performance Electrified Vehicle) hybrid super sports car, codenamed LB744, (earlier post) is based on a new aeronautics-inspired chassis, the monofuselage. As well as a monocoque made entirely of multi-technology carbon fiber, it features a front structure in Forged Composites; a special material made of short carbon fibers... Read more →

JetBlue and Shell Aviation are collaborating to bring additional supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), targeting commencement of delivery in the first half of 2023. Within the terms of the agreement, JetBlue is expected to take delivery of 10,000,000 gallons of blended SAF at... Read more →

SAKOR Technologies, a recognized leader in the area of high-performance dynamometer systems, is introducing the DynoLAB GenV next-generation test automation controller, which allows even a non-programmer to implement complex test systems and testing standards. Delivering a new benchmark in modularity, performance, robustness, and expandability, DynoLAB GenV is built on the... Read more →

Porsche AG and its partner UP.Labs have jointly founded their first company; Los Angeles-based startup Pull Systems is developing a machine-learning-as-a-service solution for capturing and analyzing vehicle data. Pull Systems’ intelligent platform aims to generate important information about the vehicle—such as the condition of the vehicle’s battery or power electronics—quickly... Read more →

Kia Corporation released full images of the exterior and interior design of the Kia EV9, its first three-row electric flagship SUV, prior to the vehicle’s full digital global premiere in late March. Built on Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9’s long wheelbase, low beltline, and completely flat electric... Read more →

Honda announced key next steps in the establishment of its EV Hub in Ohio. In October 2022, Honda announced that it would invest $700 million to retool several of its existing auto and powertrain plants to establish the new EV Hub in Ohio, to prepare for the production of battery... Read more →

The first round of funding of up to $700M from the US Department of Transportation’s new $2.5-billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program has opened. The $700 million is allocated for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 and 2023 to deploy EV charging and other alternative vehicle-fueling infrastructure projects strategically... Read more →

Elcora Advanced Materials has signed, through its Ermazon SARL wholly owned subsidiary, a binding agreement with exclusive long-term mining production rights and option to purchase a 16 km² manganese mining concession in Morocco. This manganese deposit had been mined until a few years ago when COVID rules prevented further development.... Read more →

In 2022, US natural gas consumption averaged a record 88.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d)—the highest annual natural gas consumption, according to records beginning in 1949, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). US natural gas consumption last year increased 5% (4.5 Bcf/d) from 2021, the second-fastest year-over-year... Read more →

Viridos (founded as Synthetic Genomics (SGI) in 2005) (earlier post) has raised a $25-million Series A equity investment. The Series A was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and joined by Chevron USA . and United Airlines Ventures. The funding will be used for R&D to further increase algae oil... Read more →

Classification society RINA has granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate to MAN Energy Solutions for its methanol-ready MAN L/V 32/44CR engine. The AiP covers an upgrade concept for the four-stroke engine for conversion to dual-fuel running on methanol to provide greater flexibility to shipowners. This AiP is based on... Read more →

Lexus has introduced the all-new, all-electric Lexus RZ 450e—the brand’s first globally available, purpose-built battery-electric vehicle. (Earlier post.) The RZ is the latest electrified vehicle in the Lexus lineup, which includes seven hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and will start in the US at $59,650 MSRP. With its new lightweight... Read more →

Electra Battery Materials Corporation has successfully recovered lithium in its black mass recycling trial being conducted at its refinery north of Toronto. (Earlier post.) Electra said that the recovery and subsequent production of a technical-grade lithium carbonate product in a plant-scale setting validates its proprietary hydrometallurgical process and efforts to... Read more →

An industrial-scale concept for a floating production unit to produce green ammonia has secured Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV, affirming the technical feasibility of the design. The project is now ready to start the Basic Design phase. The NH3 FPSO concept is being developed by Netherland-based SwitchH2 BV and... Read more →

The Volkswagen Group and its battery company PowerCo have selected St. Thomas in Ontario, Canada to establish Volkswagen’s first overseas gigafactory for cell manufacturing. The plant will produce sustainable unified cells, with start of production planned for 2027. The decision to expand the PowerCo cell production ramp-up from Europe to... Read more →

thyssenkrupp nucera and Unigel have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase the capacity of the green hydrogen plant that Unigel is developing in Bahia, Brazil, from 60 MW to 240 MW of water electrolysis. Both companies said this was a key step as they continue their collaboration to... Read more →

US Department of the Interior has approved a scaled-back version of ConocoPhillips’ Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). (Earlier post.) The Record of Decision (ROD) reduces the size of the project by denying two of the original five drill sites proposed by ConocoPhillips, which is seeking... Read more →

IDTechEx forecasts that the second-life EV battery market will reach US$7B in value by 2033. The second-life EV battery market adds value to future energy infrastructure, creates a circular economy for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and provides a lower levelized cost of storage compared to new batteries. A new IDTechEx... Read more →

Rio Tinto has begun underground production from the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in the Gobi Desert. (Earlier post.) Oyu Tolgoi is expected to become the fourth-largest copper mine in the world by 2030, operating in the first quartile of the copper equivalent cost curve. Since the agreement between the Government... Read more →

In 2022, US ethane demand increased by approximately 9%, or almost 0.2 million barrels per day (b/d), according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA’s) Petroleum Supply Monthly. US production and consumption of ethane (a hydrocarbon gas liquid used almost exclusively as a feedstock in the petrochemical industry) has grown... Read more →

Volta Trucks has received European Whole Vehicle Type Approval for its 16-tonne all-electric Volta Zero truck. (Earlier post.) The European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) certification allows Volta Trucks to produce and sell the all-electric Volta Zero in volume. It’s the process used to ensure that all vehicles meet... Read more →

Universal Hydrogen (earlier post) has formed a collaboration with three Japan-based companies to study—and ultimately to develop—a green hydrogen supply and logistics solution that will enable Japanese airlines to scale their utilization of hydrogen-powered aircraft in the very near-term. Collectively, Universal Hydrogen alongside Sojitz Corporation, Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc., and... Read more →

Researchers from Nanchang Hangkong University in China have developed a direct electro-oxidation method for lithium leaching from spent ternary lithium-ion batteries (T-LIBs) (Li0.8Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2). In a paper in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology they report that 95.02% of Li in the spent T-LIBs was leached under 2.5 V in... Read more →

Eni and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a spin-out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) signed a Collaboration Framework Agreement with the aim of accelerating the industrialization of fusion energy. Eni made its first investment into CFS in 2018 and is a significant shareholder. This strategic agreement will leverage Eni’s... Read more →

Eni Sustainable Mobility and the Spinelli Group, a leader in the field of integrated logistics, have signed a two-year contract to power the group’s fleet with HVOlution, a diesel fuel produced from 100% renewable raw materials. The Spinelli Group’s fleet includes more than 300 heavy-duty vehicles, of which 150 are... Read more →