Unico, a provider of EV test solutions, has completed the acquisition of Present Power Systems (PPS), an innovator in designing ultra-compact power electronics. This strategic acquisition reinforces Unico’s commitment to broadening its market presence by expanding its current product portfolio in the standard electric vehicle (EV) testing market and adding... Read more →

Researchers in Germany have presented a systematic approach to quantify EV battery degradation across various charging strategies. They conducted battery aging experiments under designed conditions reflecting the characteristics of real-world driving and V2X applications, including Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) applications. They also carried out a comprehensive parameter study to... Read more →

Volvo Trucks is introducing a new engine for its FH16 truck. With up to 780 hp and 3800 N·m, the new 17-litre engine delivers outstanding fuel efficiency and durability. The new engine is certified to run on biofuels. The new engine comes with three power levels; 600 hp, 700 hp... Read more →

StoreDot, a developer of extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles, has successfully manufactured its first prismatic XFC silicon-dominant battery cells. Prismatic cells, which are rectangular and stacked in layers, now represent the form factor of choice for a growing number of electric vehicle manufacturers. These types of... Read more →

Solaris Bus & Coach and public transport operator Lokale Nahverkehrsgesellschaft mbH (LNVG) in the District of Groß-Gerau signed a contract for the supply of 15 Urbino 12 hydrogen units and 8 articulated Urbino 18 hydrogen buses. This is the first order placed by this carrier with Solaris. The hydrogen buses... Read more →

Mazda North American Operations revealed the 2025 Mazda CX-70. Built on Mazda’s large platform, CX-70 has been engineered from the outset with electrification in mind, with all CX-70 powertrains featuring some form of electrification. (Earlier post.) Customers can choose from an e-SkyActiv G 3.3L Inline 6 Turbo engine with M-Hybrid... Read more →

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has been awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia dual-fueled vessel. Along with the investment in 12 methanol dual-fueled vessels, this marks another milestone for ONE on its journey towards net-zero by 2050. The newly AiP-awarded 3,500 TEU vessel was jointly developed by ONE, Nihon... Read more →

Aramco announced that it has received a directive from the Saudi Ministry of Energy to maintain Maximum Sustainable Capacity (MSC) at 12 million barrels per day (MMBD), and not to continue increasing MSC to 13 MMBD. This is a reversal from April 2020, when the Ministry of Energy directed Aramco... Read more →

Plastic microparticles released into the environment from common road tires should be treated as a “high concern” pollutant, that may exceed chronic safety limits in some heavily contaminated environments, new research has shown. A team of researchers from the University of Plymouth and the University of Exeter in the UK... Read more →

BASF process catalysts, a leading provider of innovative catalyst technology, announced a new collaboration with Envision Energy. The collaboration aims to develop further the conversion of green hydrogen and CO2 into e-methanol through an advanced, dynamic process design. Backed by their respective expertise, the two companies aim to optimize the... Read more →

The Renault Group created Ampere, the only European EV and software pure player, with one goal: democratize EV in Europe faster than EV pure players. (Earlier post.) Since the inception, Renault Group’s strategic approach has been to build Ampere as a separate business with a dedicated team on EV and... Read more →

The US Department of Energys (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) released a $15.7-million funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0003236) to advance the domestic manufacturing of next generation batteries and energy storage. This opportunity will advance platform technologies upon which battery manufacturing capabilities can be built. This research and development will... Read more →

TMA Bolaget AB, a leading Swedish road safety enterprise, has recently added two fully electric eEconic special-purpose vehicles to its fleet. The Mercedes-Benz eEconic is based on the tried-and-true Econic and was specifically developed as an all-electric alternative for locally CO2-neutral use in urban environments. Primarily used for waste management... Read more →

Stellantis Pro One commercial vehicle lineup is starting in-house production of both mid-size and large hydrogen fuel cell vans in Hordain (France) and Gliwice (Poland), respectively, boosting the company’s zero-emissions offerings. In October 2023, the Company unveiled a full revamp of the van lineup as a key element of the... Read more →

Annual sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) more than quadrupled from 2020 to 2023, with a period of rapid growth beginning in 2021 and culminating in 1.109 million BEV sales for the first time in calendar year 2023, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) represented... Read more →

Growth Energy, the US’ largest biofuel trade association, released updated data showing that American drivers recently surpassed a massive milestone: 100 billion miles driven on E15 fuel. The 15% biofuel blend is saving motorists nationwide an average of up to 15 cents per gallon at the pump, Growth Energy said.... Read more →

DG Innovate, an advanced research and development company pioneering sustainable and environmentally considerate improvements to electric mobility and energy storage, signed a Joint Development Agreement with a tier-one commercial vehicle components company, jointly to develop systems for heavy goods vehicles applications utilizing DG Innovate’s Pareta drive technology. Developed alongside the... Read more →

Toyota Motor is temporarily suspending shipments of 10 vehicle models equipped with the diesel engines from Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), which are suffering from “certification irregularities.” Toyota Motor had commissioned TICO to develop diesel engines for automobiles. A special investigation into potential irregularities of certification regulationsfound that irregularities occurred during... Read more →

Advent Technologies recently entered into an agreement for a joint benchmarking project with Airbus regarding an optimized Ion Pair Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) for hydrogen fuel cells. The goal of the project is to accelerate the development of Advent’s MEA and benchmark the Ion Pair MEA against aviation requirements and... Read more →

The US Army has extended its long-running relationship with the University of Michigan’s Automotive Research Center, reaching a new five-year agreement of up to $100 million to boost work on autonomous vehicle technologies. This potentially doubles the federal government’s financial investment with ARC since the last agreement, reached in 2019.... Read more →

Researchers at Cornell have developed a new fast-charging, long-duration lithium a new lithium battery that can charge in less than five minutes—faster than any such battery on the market—while maintaining stable performance over extended cycles of charging and discharging. A paper on their work is published in the journal Joule.... Read more →

Jan De Nul Group and ABC Engines (Anglo Belgian Corporation) announced their partnership for hybrid marine engines. Both companies signed the order for four 7,200 kW engines and one 1,800 kW engine that can run on (bio)diesel, HVO and methanol. These engines will ensure propulsion of the newest Jan De... Read more →

The UK is awarding £33 million to 33 projects across all 12 regions of the UK to develop green technologies for ports and ships. The funding comes from the fourth round of the government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), which focuses on developing a range of clean maritime technologies including... Read more →

Researchers in Korea have developed ultra-thin SiO2 nanoparticle layered separators for Li-metal batteries for enhanced lithium dendrite resistance and improved thermal properties. A paper on their work is published in the journal Energy Storage Materials. Mechanical and thermal failure of a polyolefin separator often causes the internal short-circuit of batteries,... Read more →

The first limited edition models of the new MAN eTruck for 2024 are already sold out, apart from a very small number of vehicles. A total of 700 orders and order requests have been received, the majority of which are for large-scale production, which will start at the MAN plant... Read more →

From more than 200 miles away, Purdue University researchers were able to test their autonomous vehicle (AV) technology using the University of Michigan’s real-world test track in Ann Arbor, and challenge it using both real and virtual cars and pedestrians. This first remote use of the Mcity Test Facility came... Read more →

Lhyfe, one of the world’s pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen, announced that the operating results of its offshore hydrogen production pilot platform, Sealhyfe, which returned to dock in November 2023, confirm that the initial objectives have been met and enable another step forward for the company.... Read more →

HYVIA, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and HYmpulsion are partnering to initiate, encourage and accelerate the deployment of hydrogen mobility in the region. Created in June 2021, HYVIA is a joint venture equally owned by Renault Group and Plug, a leader in turnkey hydrogen and fuel cell solutions. HYVIA ia also presenting... Read more →

Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc. (CTR) broke ground on its fully integrated lithium and renewable power production facility as part of its multi-billion-dollar clean energy precinct – the Lithium Valley Campus. The $1.85-billion development—the first of seven project stages—includes a clean energy geothermal power plant integrated with a lithium production... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) has selected a consortium to help accelerate commercial liftoff of the clean hydrogen economy and support the launch of the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs). (Earlier post.) The consortium—which consists of the EFI Foundation (EFIF), a leader in... Read more →

President Biden ordered a pause on pending decisions on exports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to non-FTA (Free Trade Agreement) countries until the Department of Energy can update the underlying analyses for authorizations. The White House said that the current economic and environmental analyses DOE uses to underpin its LNG... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award $37 million to 7 projects focused on decarbonization opportunities in iron and steel production, including innovative manufacturing technologies to enable decarbonization; electrification of existing manufacturing processes; overcoming challenges associated with utilizing hydrogen in steelmaking; and addressing scrap contaminants in recycling. The iron... Read more →

Yamaha Golf-Car Company (YGC), a consolidated subsidiary of the Yamaha Motor Corporation that sells golf cars in the United States, developed a hydrogen-powered engine golf car concept model, the DRIVE H2. The concept model, the world’s first, is currently exhibited at the Florida-based PGA Show, one of the golf industry’s... Read more →

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse, and Daimler Truck Holding AG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the feasibility of liquid green hydrogen exports from Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Europe by 2030. The MoU was signed in Abu Dhabi by Fawaz... Read more →

GM and Honda have started production at their 50-50 joint venture production facility, FCSM (Fuel Cell System Manufacturing). FCSM is the first large-scale manufacturing joint venture to build fuel cells. FCSM was established in Brownstown, Michigan, in January 2017 based on a joint investment of $85 million. The 70,000-square-foot facility... Read more →

The all-new 2024 Honda Prologue, the first all-electric Honda SUV, will begin arriving in Honda dealerships in March, offering a 296 mile EPA range rating. Prologue’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) begins with the Prologue EX at $47,400 (excluding $1,395 destination charge), before the application of any government incentives or... Read more →

Porsche is launching its second all-electric model: the new Macan with powertrains of up to 470 kW (639 PS). Sports car-like performance figures are matched by high-performance fast charging at up to 270 kW and up to 613 km (381 miles) of range in WLTP. Porsche exclusively uses the latest... Read more →

The Volkswagen Golf is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, and Volkswagen is launching an enhanced version of its bestseller to mark the anniversary. Customers will be able to order the new model in just a few weeks. The new Golf features a next-generation infotainment system, a more intuitive operating... Read more →

Building materials producer Holcim plans to order 1,000 units of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric truck to implement its sustainability strategy. Most of the vehicles are intended for the transport of building materials such as cement with silo trailers. The volume represents the largest planned single order to date for... Read more →

The world’s first large methanol-enabled container vessel has been named “Ane Mærsk” at a ceremony in the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) in Ulsan, South Korea. The vessel is named after Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the Chair of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding. Ane’s... Read more →

A total of 45 e-kerosene projects could see the light in the European Economic Area (EEA), enabling sufficient supply of green fuels to meet the EU’s law on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). However, without final investment decisions, these projects are at risk as well as the targets stipulated by the... Read more →

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology Sweden have performed the first life cycle assessment (LCA) of an existing two-seater all-electric aircraft with a direct comparison to an equivalent fossil fuel-powered one. According to the study, after just one quarter of the expected lifespan of the electric aircraft, the climate impact... Read more →

BEDEO, a developer of electric drivetrain technology for light commercial vehicles, has calculated that its electrified vans have collectively traveled 60 million kilometers across Europe since the company’s inception. Powered and underpinned by its owned, proprietary e-solutions, including in-wheel motor (IWM) technology, inverters, and battery packs, BEDEO’s electric light commercial... Read more →

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS and battery materials manufacturer IBU-tec advanced materials have entered into a research cooperation to develop innovative iron oxides for the production of cathode material for LFP batteries and thus increase the performance of this battery type. The companies aim to optimize the electrochemical properties of LFP... Read more →

Eatron Technologies and WMG, University of Warwick have developed a new approach to estimating accurately an electric vehicle battery’s remaining useful life, helping to unlock additional performance, greater range, and increased levels of safety. Developed with funding from the Faraday Institution, the collaborative project (known as VIPER – Validated &... Read more →

EcoG, an international technology company that allows businesses to develop interoperable level 3 charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) rapidly, is opening its US headquarters in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. EcoG has been supported with a $1.5-million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. EcoG is a German EV infrastructure... Read more →

Stellantis N.V. has acquired the artificial intelligence framework, machine learning models and intellectual property rights and patents of CloudMade, a developer of smart and innovative big data-driven automotive solutions. The acquisition—as an asset deal—will support the mid-term development of STLA SmartCockpit (earlier post) and reinforces Stellantis’ software strategy outlined in... Read more →

Sion Power Corporation, a developer of next-generation batteries for electric vehicles (EV), secured $75 million in Series A funding. The round was led by leading global battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution (the investment to be executed through LG Technology Ventures and Bricks Capital Management) and repeat participation from mathematician Jim... Read more →

Crude oil production in the United States reached a record high in August 2023, led primarily by more production in Texas, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). In 2023, most of the crude oil produced in Texas was relatively dense for the state. Data source: U.S.... Read more →

FreeWire Technologies, a developer of ultrafast electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, (earlier post), announced a collaboration with GM Energy to accelerate the deployment of ultrafast EV charging infrastructure for GM Envolve fleet and commercial customers nationwide. This effort will help support GM Energy by providing a streamlined... Read more →