Researchers from Hunan University and Changsha University of Science and Technology have demonstrated a superior sodium-ion anode material from phosphorus-doped carbon nanofibers (P-CNFs) with an inter-connected structure. The P-CNFs exhibit higher interlayer spacing of graphite and lower BET specific surface area compared to the pristine CNFs. The P-CNFs as an... Read more →
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Researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with colleagues from University of Jinan, have developed a novel electrification strategy to improve NOx removal performance at low temperatures. The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology. NOx storage reduction (NSR) is... Read more →
EC launches investigation into allegations of dumping of biodiesel from China onto the EU market
31 December 2023
The European Commission launched an investigation into allegations of dumping of biodiesel from China onto the EU market. The product specifically subject to this investigation is fatty-acid mono-alkyl esters and/or paraffinic gasoils obtained from synthesis and/or hydro-treatment, of non-fossil origin. If dumping is confirmed and is found to be harming... Read more →
Researchers at the Energy Materials Research Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) with colleagues at Hyundai R&D have developed a nanocatalyst for high-temperature water electrolysis that can retain a high current density of more than 1A/cm2 for a long time at temperatures above 600 ˚C. An... Read more →
Sunrise New Energy receives approval for two patents for Na-ion anode materials
30 December 2023
China-based Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd. announced that its subsidiary, Sunrise (Guizhou) New Energy Materials Co., Ltd., has received preliminary approval from the National Intellectual Property Office for two separate patents related to anode mateeials for,sodium-ion batteries. “Preparation Method of Metal Sulfide-Doped Hard Carbon Composite Material” (2023121500112460) focuses on the... Read more →
Yamaha Motor has established ENYRING GmbH as a new company that will offer swappable batteries for compact urban electric vehicles via subscription-based services. By offering such services and by reusing and recycling batteries together with European circularity leaders, ENYRING will be able to create a closed loop in which recycled... Read more →
The transport company EMT Madrid has ordered 20 low-entry Urbino 9 LE electric buses and 30 Urbino 12 electric buses. Deliveries will be completed by the end of July 2024. EMT Madrid already has 250 Urbino 12 CNG buses and 60 Urbino 12 electric buses in its fleet. With the... Read more →
Canada-based CSL, a specialist in short sea shipping, announced a 20-year strategic partnership with Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd. (Adbri) to build and operate the world’s first fully electric battery capable self-unloading vessel. Self-unloading bulk carriers can discharge their cargo without the assistance of shore-based equipment such as cranes, conveyor belts,... Read more →
Twelve companies in Japan from the automotive, electrical component and semiconductor sectors, have established the Advanced SoC Research for Automotive (ASRA) on to conduct research and develop high-performance digital semiconductors (System on Chip, SoC) for use in automobiles. ASRA will research and develop SoCs for automobiles using chiplet technology to... Read more →
Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Berlin’s public transport company, has placed an order for 50 Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses. The buses will be delivered in 2024 and 2025. The order can be extended by up to a further 650 articulated e-buses. The contract was awarded as part of a framework agreement,... Read more →
CATL subsidiary to invest $420M in Indonesia nickel mining and EV battery industry
29 December 2023
The Jakarta Post reports that China-based Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend (CBL)—a subsidiary of battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL)—will invest US$420 million in Indonesia’s nickel mining and EV battery manufacturing industries. Coordinating Maritime and Investment Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said the deal involved a partnership between CBL and... Read more →
Nornickel’s digitalization firm issues tokens for platinum group metals
29 December 2023
Nornickel’s metals digitalization firm, GPF Investments (GPFI), has issued four types of tokens linked to platinum group metals—e.g., platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and iridium—on the Atomyze blockchain platform. This issuance includes 1,255 digital financial assets, equivalent to approximately RUB 2.5 million (US$28,000), with each token representing one gram of metal. The... Read more →
Starting in fiscal 2024, NYK will conduct full-scale trials of long-term use of biofuels, which are considered to have net-zero CO2 emissions, in its existing heavy oil-fired vessels. Moving forward from the previous short-term trials, NYK will comprehensively verify the safety and stable procurement of biofuels when used over a... Read more →
Bloom Energy and SK ecoplant collaborate on a major hydrogen project to be developed by Korea Southern Power
28 December 2023
Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) and SK ecoplant, an engineering and energy solutions provider and subsidiary of South Korean conglomerate SK Group, announced a sale of Bloom’s electrolyzer technology to deploy hydrogen as an energy source in a large-scale green hydrogen demonstration with the Korea Southern Power Co., Ltd (KOSPO) and... Read more →
Maersk signs MoU with City of Yokohama and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical on development of green methanol bunkering infrastructure
28 December 2023
A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Yokohama and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) focused on the development of green methanol bunkering infrastructure in Yokohama. Maersk’s 16,000 TEU green methanol-powered container vessels will be delivered beginning in 2024. Maersk is targeting net-zero emissions by 2040... Read more →
Equinor and its operating co-owner, Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, reached the final investment decision for the Sparta development in the US Gulf of Mexico. Owned by Shell Offshore Inc. (51% operator) and Equinor Gulf of Mexico LLC (49%), Sparta is expected to reach a peak production... Read more →
Equinor and Germany’s SEFE enter long-term gas sales agreements and pursue large-scale hydrogen supplies; 1/3 of annual German industrial gas demand
28 December 2023
Equinor will supply Germany’s state-owned energy company SEFE (Securing Energy for Europe) with 111 terrawatt hours (ca 10 billion cubic meters - bcm) of natural gas per year from 1 January 2024 until 2034, plus an option for another 5 years, at terms reflecting market prices. The annual volumes are... Read more →
Nidec India held an opening ceremony of the new, second building of its existing factory in Neemrana, Rajasthan, in the Republic of India. While Nidec India’s existing factory produces automotive, appliance, commercial, and industrial motors, the second building will manufacture drive motors for e-bikes with an output of 30kW or... Read more →
Helax Istmo, a wholly owned subsidiary of funds managed by CIP, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) and Mexico’s national Ministry of Navy, the Secretaría de Marina (Semar). Under the MoU, the parties agree to collaborate to support the development of... Read more →
The California Energy Commission (CEC), through its Clean Transportation Program, has granted a $2.9-million award to a project team led by The Mobility House to implement 12 bidirectional chargers at four California school locations. The project, termed “Replicable V2X Deployment For Schools (RVXDS),” will utilize school bus fleets to mitigate... Read more →
Researchers at the University of Bath and University of Surrey have developed a way of introducing degradable bonds into thermoset polymers to make them more easily recyclable. An open-access paper on their work is published in the RSC journal Polymer Chemistry. The team made a series of polymer gels with... Read more →
Tanker company Euronav to acquire CMB.TECH for US$1.15B cash; hydrogen and ammonia engines
26 December 2023
Independent tanker company Euronav NV and CMB NV, its controlling shareholder, entered into a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of 100% of the shares in CMB.TECH NV for a purchase price of US$1.150 billion in cash. CMB.TECH is a diversified cleantech maritime group. CMB.TECH builds, owns, operates and designs... Read more →
Mitsubishi, Amogy SK partnering on ammonia cracking in Japan and S Korea
26 December 2023
Mitsubishi Corporation and Amogy entered a strategic partnership that will focus on accelerating the adoption of Amogy’s ammonia-to-power and ammonia cracking technology in large-scale hydrogen carrier applications in East Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea. The joint study, set to commence in December 2023 with SK Innovation, will first assess... Read more →
Toyota Motor participated in the IDEMITSU SUPER ENDURANCE SOUTHEAST ASIA TROPHY 2023 (Thailand 10-hour Endurance Race) held on December 22 and 23 at Thailand's Chang International Circuit. Toyota competed with a three-vehicle setup for ROOKIE Racing featuring the ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF concept, a GR86 running on carbon-neutral fuel; the... Read more →
NIO announces US$2.2B strategic equity investment from Abu Dhabi-based CYVN
26 December 2023
NIO entered into a share subscription agreement with CYVN Holdings, through its affiliate CYVN Investments RSC, an investment vehicle based in Abu Dhabi, pursuant to which CYVN will invest an aggregate of US$2.2 billion in cash to subscribe for 294,000,000 newly issued Class A ordinary shares of Nio at a... Read more →
Researchers at the Technische Universität Braunschweig and colleagues have developed a solvent-based direct recycling route for anode and cathode coating materials that allows direct reuse of the recovered coating materials. A high yield of recovery is achieved by mechanical stress in a suitable solvent (96 % for anodes, 85 %... Read more →
China Classification Society, Accelleron sign strategic cooperation
25 December 2023
The China Classification Society (CCS) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Accelleron Industries to establish a long-term cooperative relationship in products R&D, products inspection, condition-based maintenance of marine equipment, development of green fuels for marine power, upgrading and renovation of existing marine methanol and ammonia fueled engines, and other energy... Read more →
In the first three quarters of 2023, BEV and PHEV market shares averaged 23% in Europe, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) latest market monitor. The average market share of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2023 to date was about 15%, with a market share of 17%... Read more →
IIHS studies show better detection of large trucks, motorcycles would improve front crash prevention
24 December 2023
Front crash prevention systems aren’t as good at preventing crashes with large trucks and motorcycles as they are crashes with cars, two new studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show. Most front crash prevention systems include forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking (AEB). Forward collision warning alerts... Read more →
At NIO Day 2023, NIO unveiled the ET9, a smart electric executive flagship. With a length of 5,325mm, a width of 2,016mm, a height of 1,620mm, and a wheelbase of 3,250mm, NIO ET9 presents a strong stance. Adopting the Landjet design, it offers users cabin space, comfort, safety, and responsive... Read more →
NIO unveiled the Power Charger 4.0 and PowerSwap Station 4.0 (PSS4.0); deployment starts in April 2024. NIO plans to add 1,000 more Power Swap Stations and 20,000 chargers to its network in 2024. The rollout of the upgraded power network in 2024 will further improve users’ experience, the company said.... Read more →
BYD will build a manufacturing and production center in Szeged, Hungary. The facility will be the first of its kind built by a Chinese automotive company in Europe. The factory will be built in phases and is expected to create thousands of local jobs, boost the local economy and support... Read more →
The US Department released this past week the geographic coordinates defining the outer limits of the US continental shelf in areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast, known as the extended continental shelf (ECS). The continental shelf is the extension of a country’s land territory under the sea. Like... Read more →
ConocoPhillips will move forward with development of the Willow project in Alaska. This Final Investment Decision approves the project and funds construction needed to reach first oil. The decision follows the Department of the Interior March 2023 Record of Decision and recent positive court orders, including this week’s Ninth Circuit... Read more →
Cummins agrees to pay $1.675B penalty over defeat devices
23 December 2023
Cummins reached an agreement in principle with the United States and State of California to pay a $1.675-billion penalty to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by installing emissions defeat devices on 630,000 model year 2013 to 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup truck engines. The Clean... Read more →
Isuzu Motors and Honda Motor began demonstration testing on public roads in Japan of the GIGA FUEL CELL, a fuel cell (FC)-powered heavy-duty truck currently being co-developed by the two companies. (Earlier post.) Through this demonstration testing, scheduled to run through September 2024, the two companies will continue making progress... Read more →
US Department of the Treasury, IRS release guidance on hydrogen production credit
23 December 2023
The US Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released proposed regulations on the Clean Hydrogen Production Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Clean Hydrogen Production Credit aims to make production of clean hydrogen more economically competitive and to accelerate development of the US clean... Read more →
Eramet and Vibrantz Technologies announce long-term manganese ore supply agreement for the production of manganese-based battery technologies
23 December 2023
Eramet, the leading producer of manganese ore, and Vibrantz Technologies announced a 10-year agreement whereby Eramet will supply Vibrantz with manganese ore, an essential raw material used in Vibrantz’s portfolio of manganese technologies for lithium-ion battery and other applications. The agreement builds on a 20-year Eramet-Vibrantz partnership to create a... Read more →
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is partnering with Zodiac Maritime, HD KSOE and KEPCO E&C in a joint development project for the research and development of nuclear-propelled ship designs, including bulk carriers and containerships, with the parties signing a MOU at Korea’s HD Hyundai Global R&D Center. The move comes as the... Read more →
Cemex Ventures, Cemex’s corporate venture capital (CVC) and open innovation unit has increased its investment in HiiROC—the developer of Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE), a new proprietary process for generating affordable, zero-emission hydrogen—after an initial investment in 2022. Cemex intends to initially inject hydrogen at its crucial Rugby, United Kingdom cement... Read more →
Lake Resources announces results of definitive feasibility study for Kachi lithium brine project in Argentina
22 December 2023
Australia-based Lake Resources announced the results of its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for Phase One of the Kachi lithium brine project in Argentina. Kachi uses ion exchange Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE); the process design was developed in partnership with Lilac Solutions. Project and resource highlights include: Total resource is estimated... Read more →
DOE announces two notices of intent for advanced vehicle technologies
22 December 2023
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office announced two notices of intent—DE-FOA-0003247: Notice Of Intent To Issue FY24 VTO R&D FOA DE-FOA-0003248 and DE-FOA-0003249: Notice Of Intent To Issue FY24 VTO Technology Integration FOA DE-FOA-0003250—for fiscal year 2024 funding to advance research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) and... Read more →
Engineers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, successfully tested a novel, 3D-printed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) (earlier post) for 251 seconds producing more than 5,800 pounds of thrust. The RDRE differs from a traditional rocket engine by generating thrust using a supersonic combustion phenomenon known as... Read more →
Solaris to supply 105 electric buses to Milan
22 December 2023
Solaris Bus & Coach has secured another contract to supply electric vehicles to Milan. This time, the Italian city will receive 105 Urbino 18 electric buses. Consequently, the public transport operator ATM Milano has become one of the largest recipients of zero-emission buses featuring the Solaris brand. The delivery of... Read more →
Independent oil and gas company Harbour Energy reached an agreement with BASF and LetterOne, the shareholders of Wintershall Dea AG, for the acquisition of substantially all of Wintershall Dea’s upstream assets for $11.2 billion. The target portfolio includes all of Wintershall Dea’s upstream assets in Norway, Germany, Denmark, Argentina, Mexico,... Read more →
Canada finalized its new Electric Vehicle Availability Standard in support of achieving its national target of 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. Interim targets are at least 20% of all sales by 2026, and at least 60% by 2030. The regulations define ZEVs as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) fueled only with... Read more →
NYK will install Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) systems on dual-fuel two-stroke LNG-powered car carriers to be built by Shin Kurushima Dockyard. The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 2026. NYK earlier announced it would install the VCR systems on two LNG-fueled coal carriers. (Earlier post.) Cross section view... Read more →
Höegh Autoliners and VARO partner to accelerate sustainable shipping with biofuels
21 December 2023
VARO Energy and Höegh Autoliners, a leading global provider of ocean transportation solutions, announced a strategic partnership focused on supplying 100% advanced biofuels for deep-sea transportation from Europe. This sustainable energy solution reduces the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 85% vs. conventional maritime fuels, VARO said. VARO’s biofuels business is... Read more →
Joby, NASA simulation demonstrates up to 120 air taxi operations per hour in busy airspace
21 December 2023
Joby Aviation, a company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, successfully completed a series of air traffic simulations with NASA’s Ames Research Center that evaluated how air taxi operations can be integrated into today’s airspace, including at busy airports, using existing air traffic control... Read more →
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have used shear assisted processing and extrusion (ShAPE) (earlier post) to synthesize macro-scale copper-graphene composites with a simultaneously lower temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and improved electrical conductivity over copper-only samples. PNNL has been developing ShAPE to enable more cost- and energy-efficient production... Read more →