China-based Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) reported successful testing of non-desalinated seawater electrolysis technology for hydrogen production powered by offshore wind. The floating hydrogen production platform Dongfu One is sited in an offshore wind farm in East China’s Fujian province. This project was a joint effort by DEC and a research... Read more →

EcoCeres, an Asia-based bio-refinery company, announced its first shipment of 100% agricultural waste-produced cellulosic ethanol to the European markets, a milestone the company achieved after commissioning another facility in China. EcoCeres can produce a diverse range of renewable biofuels, covering Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Cellulosic... Read more →

PPG has inaugurated a battery pack application center (BPAC) in Tianjin, China. The $30-million facility features a full range of capabilities to test the application of PPG coatings technologies, materials and systems for electric vehicle (EV) battery packs, allowing customers to accelerate the development of new EV technologies. The new... Read more →

China-based EV startup U Power Limited entered into a framework strategic cooperation agreement with Quantum Solutions Co., Ltd., the first and only independent Japanese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, to develop business initiatives relating to marketing, research and development of new energy vehicles, financial technologies,... Read more →

To mark the 20th anniversary of the BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) joint venture, Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, announced local production of the NEUE KLASSE in China. Following the market launch in 2025, models of the next vehicle generation will... Read more →

Innovations in the automotive sphere are increasingly driven by software engineering. One core enabler for this trend is the decoupling of hardware and software through a new generation of automotive middleware products that are now accelerating into stage of automotive mass production. Robert Bosch Venture Capital, the corporate venture capital... Read more →

Under a new contract, China-based Gotion High-Tech will supply Volkswagen with LFP cells outside China. Gotion began supplying LFP cells to Volkswagen China in early 2022. The cells adopt the same design and specifications as those for the Chinese market, and are aimed at Volkswagen Group's full range of new... Read more →

SK IE Technology (SKIET) signed an MOU with Sunwoda, the 9th largest battery manufacturer in terms of global market share (according to SNE Research in 2022), to strengthen cooperation in supplying battery separators. The MOU signing ceremony took place at Sunwoda Group’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China. SKIET plans to supply... Read more →

In a paper in Chinese Physical Letters, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences report manufacturing practical pouch-type rechargeable lithium batteries with a gravimetric energy density of 711.3 Wh⋅kg−1 and a volumetric energy density of 1653.65 Wh⋅L−1. Current advanced practical lithium-ion batteries have an energy density of around 300 Wh⋅kg−1.... Read more →

At Auto Shanghai, Chinese battery giant CATL launched what it calls a “condensed battery”—a type of semi-solid state cell with an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg. CATL says the cell can achieve high energy density and high level of safety at the same time, opening up a new... Read more →

The Volkswagen Group is investing around €1 billion in a new development, innovation, and procurement center for fully connected intelligent electric vehicles in the southern Chinese city of Hefei. The Group made the announcement at the Shanghai Auto Show. The new company, with the project name ‘100%TechCo’, combines vehicles and... Read more →

Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled two BEV concept models, the bZ Sport Crossover Concept and bZ FlexSpace Concept, at Auto Shanghai. The concept models are being developed as part of the Toyota bZ series, a brand dedicated to BEVs. They will be launched in the Chinese market in 2024 as two... Read more →

Continued investment in China’s battery production scene is increasingly pushing its market into oversupply, putting strain on Tier 3 producers which are unable to access large global EV markets and are forced to compete in the saturated domestic space, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Benchmark’s Lithium ion Battery Cell Database... Read more →

XPENG unveiled its next-generation end-to-end integrated technology architecture SEPA2.0 (Smart Electric Platform Architecture), which sets the foundation for future production models. SEPA2.0 brings a series of more advanced architectural solutions, from XPENG’s in-house development autonomous driving software to vehicle engineering. XPENG says that SEPA2.0 will shorten future models’ R&D cycle... Read more →

The Materials and Trade division of the tech enterprise Rheinmetall has booked a new order to produce engine blocks for a hybrid vehicle. The order, worth a figure in the mid-double-digit million-euro range, encompasses more than 500,000 units. The customer is Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), China’s largest maker of... Read more →

Mullen Automotive, an emerging EV manufacturer, has integrated solid-state polymer battery technology into Mullen’s commercial Class 1 EV cargo van program. Currently, the Mullen Class 1 EV cargo van features a 46 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a 110-mile range. It is expected that the solid-state polymer technology will deliver... Read more →

The all-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible (earlier post) celebrates its world premiere at Auto Shanghai, 18 to 27 April at the China Expo Convention and Exhibition Complex, Shanghai. The MINI Cooper SE Convertible (power consumption combined: 17.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP) is the first locally emission-free premium convertible in... Read more →

Tesla will build its next Megafactory—the company’s utility-scale battery factory—in Shanghai; the plant will be capable of producing 10,000 Megapacks per year, equal to approximately 40 GWh of energy storage. Tesla’s original Megapack factory is in Lathrop, California, also with a 10,000 Megapack per year capacity. Megapack systems are customizable... Read more →

China-based Dongfeng Motor (DFM) has launched two new passenger cars powered by ProteanDrive Pd18 in-wheel motors. The two models were showcased at a ceremony in Wuxi, held by DFM and Weifu Electric Drive Technology (WFDT)—the joint venture between Weifu and Protean Electric (earlier post). Unveiled at the event was the... Read more →

Kia Corporation unveiled the Concept EV5 at Kia Chinese EV Day. The Concept EV5 provides a preview of a production all-electric SUV model that will be launched first in China later this year; details regarding any future plans for the other global markets will be made in due course. The... Read more →

Geely Auto Group officially launched a new high-end electrified product series:Geely Galaxy. The first car from the Geely Galaxy range, the Galaxy L7 long-range PHEV SUV was unveiled along with a fully electric concept model, the “Galaxy Light.” Galaxy light electric concept At the launch ceremony, Geely Auto also unveiled... Read more →

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) officially launched China’s first methanol-to-hydrogen and hydrogen refueling service station in Dalian, China. An upgrade from the previous fueling station offering oil, gas, hydrogen, electric charging services, the integrated complex can produce 1,000 kilograms of hydrogen a day, with a purity of 99.999%. Sinopec’s... Read more →

Radar, the premium outdoor lifestyle brand from Geely Holding Group, began deliveries of its flagship pure electric pick-up truck recently at an event in Shenzhen. (Earlier post.) Further delivery events have been planned for users across the country over the course of February 2023. Radar brand was established in 2022... Read more →

Albemarle reported that its Q4 2022 lithium net sales increased $1.7 billion (+410%) to $2.1 billion due to higher pricing net of FX (+328%) related to renegotiated contracts and increased market pricing. Volume was also higher (+82%) related primarily to the La Negra III/IV expansion in Chile and higher tolling... Read more →

Mercedes‑Maybach has launched its first plug-in hybrid: the Mercedes‑Maybach S 580. With an electric range of up to 100 kilometers (WLTP) depending on the vehicle’s configuration and an electric-drive output of 110 kW/150 hp, the luxury sedan can travel locally CO₂ emission-free, both in the city and on interurban journeys.... Read more →

Contemporary Amperex Intelligence Technology (Shanghai) Limited (CAIT-SH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CATL, and the Yichun Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee held a signing ceremony for the CATL Integrated Intelligent Chassis (CIIC) Production Base Project in the city of Yichun, Southeast China’s Jiangxi Province. CIIC skateboard chassis integrates battery... Read more →

Topsoe has been chosen by Mintal Hydrogen to provide technology to the first dynamic green ammonia plant in China. The dynamic green ammonia plant is Topsoe’s first Power-to-X project in China and includes Topsoe’s process licensing, engineering design package, proprietary equipment, and catalysts. The first phase will have a capacity... Read more →

Leading battery manufacturer CATL and EV maker NIO have signed a five-year comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement. The comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement further deepens CATL's strategic partnership with NIO. The two parties will advance technological cooperation in new brands, new projects and new markets, improve supply-demand coordination, propel overseas expansion, and... Read more →

The number of hydrogen stations deployed globally has surpassed the 1,000-mark, according to a study by Information Trends. China represents roughly one-third of global deployments, but the US lags far behind with less than 100 hydrogen stations. The second highest hydrogen station deployments after China are in Japan, followed by... Read more →

Bosch will invest around €950 million in the development and production of components for electromobility and automated driving in Suzhou, China. Tthe first phase of the project in the eastern city of Suzhou will be completed by mid-2024. Bosch already has four factories in Suzhou employing nearly 10,000 people. Earlier... Read more →

BYD reported that it sold 1,857,379 light-duty New Energy Vehicles in 2022, consisting of 911,140 battery-electric vehicles (49%) and 946,239 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (51%). Total NEV sales were up 213% year-on-year, with BEV sales up 184% and PHEV sales up 247%. Including commercial vehicles, BYD sold 1,863,494 New Energy... Read more →

China-based EV maker NIO delivered 15,815 vehicles in December 2022, a new record-high monthly delivery, representing an increase of 50.8% year-over-year. The deliveries consisted of 6,842 electric SUVs including 4,154 ES7s, and 8,973 electric sedans including 1,379 ET7s and 7,594 ET5s. NIO delivered 40,052 vehicles in the fourth quarter of... Read more →

Pony.ai, a global autonomous driving technology company, has been issued a fully driverless autonomous vehicle road test permit by the Beijing Intelligent Connected Vehicle Policy Pilot Zone. With this new permit, Pony.ai will deploy ten driverless robotaxis for testing in challenging urban traffic scenarios across a 20 square kilometer (7.7... Read more →

TTTech Auto, the Vienna-based provider of automotive safety software, is expanding its operations with a dedicated subsidiary in China. The new TTTech Auto branch in Shanghai will bring its expertise and the series proven safe vehicle software platform, MotionWise, to car manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers and partners to the rapidly... Read more →

The Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco), one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, and Shandong Energy Group, are exploring collaboration on integrated refining and petrochemical opportunities in China. The companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which includes a potential crude oil supply agreement and chemicals... Read more →

Leading China-based battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. announced that from 2024 through 2030, Honda will purchase 123 GWh of batteries for pure electric vehicles in China from CATL. In 2020, CATL and Honda signed an agreement to form a comprehensive... Read more →

Buick will introduce its first electric vehicle in China developed on GM’s Ultium platform later this year. Deliveries of the five-seat SUV will begin in the first half of 2023. It will be followed by a second Ultium-empowered EV, also next year. The announcement came shortly after GM announced plans... Read more →

Audi is strengthening its development capabilities in China with a significant broadening of its R&D scope in the region and an expansion of its local Audi China R&D team. The move to the new Audi China Building, opening nearly 10 years after its predecessor, is also a significant milestone in... Read more →

NIO has launched its 1,200th NIO Power Swap Station in China at Suzhou New District Jinke Wangfu Hotel. Within a year, the company has deployed 600 new power swap stations have been deployed. NIO plans to build 1,300+ Power Swap stations by the end of 2022 and 4,000+ by 2025.... Read more →

Geely Holding Group, Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (collectively “Geely”) and Renault Group have signed a non-binding framework agreement to create a new global leader to develop, manufacture and supply best-in-class hybrid powertrains and highly efficient ICE powertrains. Under the framework agreement, Geely and Renault Group will hold respective 50-50 equity... Read more →

Honda unveiled the e:N2 Concept, the concept model for the second set of its e:N Series models, the Honda-brand EV model series in China, at the Fifth China International Import Expo in Shanghai, China. Built on the e:N Architecture F, a dedicated architecture developed exclusively for the e:N Series, the... Read more →

The Government of Canada has ordered three Chinese companies to divest from three Canadian critical mineral companies: Power Metals, Lithium Chile, and Ultra Lithium. (Earlier post.) Ultra Lithium has now issued a statement noting that the company has been advised that Zangge Mining Investment (Chengdu) Co. Ltd. (Zangge) received the... Read more →

The Government of Canada has ordered the divestiture of the following investments by three Chinese companies in Canadian critical mineral companies: Sinomine (Hong Kong) Rare Metals Resources Co., Limited is required to divest itself of its investment in Power Metals Corp. Power Metals Corp is a Canadaian mining company exploring... Read more →

Farizon Auto, the new energy commercial vehicle brand from Zhejiang Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group (a subsidiary of Geely Holding) raised more than US$300 million in its first external financing round. This Pre-A round of investment was led by Hidden Hill Capital, which is backed by Singapore’s GLP. Farizon... 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 →

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 →

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 →

ZF signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China-based NIO for the development of steer-by-wire (SbW) products and other fields. Both companies have also agreed to establish an instant information sharing mechanism to deepen communication and conduct regular technical exchanges to jointly engage in industry-leading processes and quality standards. Meanwhile, ZF... Read more →

A new partnership between the Volkswgen Group’s software company CARIAD and Horizon Robotics, one of the leading providers of computing solutions for smart vehicles in China, will accelerate the regional development of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD) systems for the Chinese market. As part of the... Read more →

The top 10 global producers of Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles are all Asian companies, according to an analysis posted on the Visual Capitalist. Chinese companies make up 56% of the EV battery market, followed by Korean companies (26%) and Japanese manufacturers (10%). China-based CATL, the world’s top supplier, expanded... Read more →