Euro Manganese signed definitive agreements with OMRF (BK) LLC, which is managed by the Orion Resource Partners Group, for US$100 million in non-dilutive financing to advance the development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic. (Earlier post.) The US$100 million funding is split into two US$50-million components: A... Read more →
Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group, has secured more than £700,000 (US$889,000) in UK government innovation funding for two collaborative research projects focused on the recovery of copper and Rare Earth Elements (REE) from mine waste. Building on its work to recover lithium and other critical battery materials from end-of-life... Read more →
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will loan Iveco Group N.V. up to €500 million to contribute to the electrification, efficiency and safety of the transport sector through investments in research, development and innovation. A loan of €450 million represents the first tranche of the €500 million total approved by the... Read more →
Nissan has confirmed that all three models made at its UK plant will go 100% electric. The announcement means the EV36Zero hub in Sunderland, Nissan's blueprint for future manufacturing, will consist of three electric vehicles (EVs), three gigafactories and up to £3 billion investment. The transformational project includes future all-electric... Read more →
The city of Wałbrzych, Poland, has contracted for 20 Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses, including an option to purchase an additional 25 vehicles. The first 14 units will be delivered to Wałbrzych in September next year. The contract is to be completed by the end of July 2025. The vehicles... Read more →
At the European Hydrogen Week event in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the €2.2-billion second auction of the European Hydrogen Bank, as well as the signing of a major investment agreement with the Brazilian state of Piaui. The announcement came three days before the official launch... Read more →
Munich-based KEYOU, which specializes in retrofitting heavy-duty trucks for operateion on hydrogen (earlier post) and leading commercial vehicle specialist Paul Nutzfahrzeuge from Vilshofen in Lower Bavaria are further expanding their existing partnership.The aim of the intensified cooperation is to provide a nationwide service network and thus further advance the market... Read more →
MAHLE Powertrain, the specialist engineering services provider, has opened a new state-of-the-art battery development center in Stuttgart, Germany, specifically to cater for the needs of its European clients. The facility spans more than 1,300 m2 and it can accommodate all aspects of battery development, from initial prototyping through to small-scale... Read more →
US coal exports increased by 5.7 million short tons (MMst) in the 12 months after EU sanctions on coal from Russia went into full effect in August 2022, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The increase was driven almost exclusively by a 22% jump in U.S coal exports... Read more →
Through the first two months of Q3 2023, Chinese OEMs made up a record 37% of the nation’s EV exports to Europe (by GWh deployed), up from 22% in Q1 of this year, 8% in Q1 of last year, and just 6% in Q1 2021, according to data from Adamas... Read more →
Responding to strong demand for the car, Volvo Cars has decided that it will start building the new fully electric Volvo EX30 (earlier post) in its Ghent plant in Belgium from 2025, expanding production capacity for its celebrated small SUV. The EX30 was revealed earlier this year and has already... Read more →
The Swedish public transport operator Nobina Stockholm has ordered 55 Urbino 15 LE electric buses. The vehicles will be put into operation on suburban routes in the Stockholm region. Deliveries are scheduled for 2024. The Urbino 15 LE electric buses are low-entry, tri-axle electric vehicles that can be used both... Read more →
The newly-founded Brussels-based European EV battery materials producer IONWAY—a joint venture backed by Volkswagen Group-owned PowerCo SE and Umicore (earlier post)—will build its first cathode active material (CAM) production plant in Nysa, Poland, adjacent to Umicore’s existing CAM plant. The JV is scaling up the EU footprint in the e-mobility... Read more →
Iveco Group and Hyundai Motor Company unveiled the first IVECO BUS E-WAY H2 at Busworld 2023 in Brussels. This new hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric bus is another concrete result of the partnership the two companies announced in March 2022 and reflects their commitment to accelerate the transition towards net zero... Read more →
Verkor, which in April entered a long-term commercial partnership with Renault to supply the equivalent of 12 GWh of batteries each year (earlier post), recently secured more than €2 billion in financing following the signing of a minimum of €850-million Series C funding, approval of European Investment Bank (EIB) for... Read more →
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) has successfully completed the first tender for the German fast-charging network Deutschlandnetz. A total of ten different companies will build and operate around 900 locations with almost 8,000 new ultra-fast charging points for electric cars. BMDV selected: Allego GmbH BayWa Mobility Solutions... Read more →
On the occasion of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supply the TotalEnergies refinery in Gonfreville, Normandy, France, with renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, Air Liquide announced an investment of more than €400 million for the construction of its Normand’Hy electrolyzer, with a capacity of 200 MW. The... Read more →
Logistics company Rheinkraft International (RKI) has taken delivery of a hydrogen-engined 18-tonne truck from KEYOU (earlier post). RKI’s end customer is one of the world’s largest steel producers. We want to boldly and actively shape the necessary change in road freight transport. In addition to their own sustainability efforts, our... Read more →
Last year, Redwood Materials, the battery materials recycling, refining and remanufacturing company founded by former Tesla exec JB Straubel, announced expansion plans in Europe to support creating a closed-loop battery supply chain. Europe continues to be the fastest growing EV market globally, driven by automakers’ commitments and strong government support... Read more →
The German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) will invest up to €400 million to support setting up fast charging infrastructure for cars and trucks. The funding program is targeting commercially used fast charging points with a charging power of at least 50 kW as well as the... Read more →
Li-Cycle Holdings and Glencore International, a leading producer, recycler, and marketer of nickel and cobalt which is required for the production of lithium-ion batteries, are now planning a two-phase approach to the Portovesme Hub project in Sardinia, Italy (earlier post) to expedite the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate. Phase 1... Read more →
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved a new law to increase the uptake of sustainable fuels, such as advanced biofuels or hydrogen, in the aviation sector. The RefuelEU aviation rules are part of the “Fit for 55 package”, the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least... Read more →
OCSiAl, a leader in graphene nanotube technologies (earlier post), has been granted a construction permit for a nanotube production facility near Belgrade, Serbia. (Earlier post.) The new nanotube synthesis plant will be launched in 2024 and will have a planned annual capacity of 120 tonnes per year. The project will... Read more →
Stellantis has concluded that 24 engine families in European vehicles sold since 2014, representing 28 million vehicles on the road, are ready to use advanced drop-in eFuel without any powertrain modification, following months of testing at its technical centers across Europe. The tests were conducted using surrogate eFuels provided by... Read more →
China-based BYD unveiled a full spectrum of electric passenger cars at the Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Munich: five all-electric cars and a sixth new energy model, the DENZA D9, an exclusive European premiere of the premium BYD sub-brand, DENZA. The BYD HAN (E-segment sedan) and the BYD ATTO 3 (C-segment... Read more →
Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK) has announced its third order for Solaris hydrogen buses. With a current fleet of 35 hydrogen Solaris buses, RVK will further enhance its green initiative by adding 18 more hydrogen e-buses in an articulated version. The selected model, Urbino 18 hydrogen, will feature advanced driver assistance... Read more →
The Nikkei reports that Japan and the UK are set to make joint investments in critical minerals in Africa and other places. The two countries will also establish a framework for discussing economic security at the ministerial level, with a focus on supply chains. The two countries reportedly aim to... Read more →
The electrolyte additive Trinohex Ultra, manufactured and marketed exclusively by Ascend Performance Materials, is now approved for import into the EU in quantities up to 100 metric tons annually per REACH, the regulation for registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals in the region. Trinohex Ultra is high-purity 1,3,6-hexanetricarbonitrile designed to... Read more →
Zepp.solutions, a Dutch company specialized in hydrogen fuel cell technology, has secured a €1.98-million grant from the European Just Transition Fund (JTF) for the development of a fuel cell systems factory. The factory will be situated in Europe’s strategic transport hub, the Greater-Rijnmond region. With the support of the Ministries... Read more →
Shortly before the updated EU Battery Regulation comes into force, the chair “Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components” (PEM) of RWTH Aachen University has published a study on the European battery recycling market. Due to high investment costs, the current structure of the value chain will move toward large recycling centers,... Read more →
TSMC, Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG, and NXP Semiconductors N.V. plan to invest jointly ina joint venture—European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) GmbH, in Dresden, Germany—to provide advanced semiconductor manufacturing services. ESMC marks a significant step towards construction of a 300 mm fab to support the future capacity needs of... Read more →
Westport Fuel Systems has been designated as the supplier of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) systems to a global original equipment manufacturer (OEM). This is in addition to the previously announced production supply agreement, adding new Euro 7 vehicle platforms planned for production by the OEM. This is forecasted to generate... Read more →
Ballard Power Systems signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Ford Trucks to supply a fuel cell system as part of the development of a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle prototype. The partnership includes an initial purchase order for two FCmove-XD 120 kW fuel cell engines that are planned to... Read more →
Taiwan-based ProLogium, a developer and manufacturer of next-generation EV solid-state battery solutions selected France as the location for its first large-scale solid-state battery manufacturing plant outside Asia. The European Commission has now given a green light to a €1.5-billion grant from the French government to support ProLogium’s project. (Earlier post.)... Read more →
Li-Cycle Holdings announced the start of commercial operations at its first Spoke recycling facility in Europe, located in Magdeburg, Germany. The Germany Spoke’s first main processing line has now commenced operations, with the second main line expected to start later in 2023. Each main line has the capacity to process... Read more →
Since the EU imposed sanctions on Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, there has been a redrawing of the global oil map, a new study by Transport & Environment (T&E) shows. Instead of cutting demand, Europe has simply replaced imports from Russia with oil from other producing... Read more →
In November 2021, Finnish Minerals Group announced that it was negotiating with China-based Beijing Easpring Material Technology on the possibility to establish a cathode active materials (CAM) plant in Kotka, Finland. The parties have now agreed to set up a joint venture company by the end of 2023, of which... Read more →
TECO 2030 and its consortium partners will receive HORIZON EUROPE funding of €13.5 million to build and demonstrate a passenger ferry powered by TECO 2030 fuel cells. The grant amount reserved for TECO 2030 is €2.3 million. The principal goal of the project is to accelerate the transition towards safe... Read more →
The European Council has formally adopted the FuelEU Maritime Regulation. The main objective of the FuelEU Maritime initiative, as a key part of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, is to increase the demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from... Read more →
Porsche is planning to set up its own fast-charging stations offering a premium charging experience along Europe’s most important routes. As a pilot site, the first Porsche Charging Lounge has opened outside Bingen am Rhein. Two minutes from motorway junction A60/A61, it offers six 300-kW DC fast-charging stations and four... Read more →
Tata Sons will build a 40GW battery cell gigafactory in the United Kingdom (UK). The investment of more than £4 billion (US$5.2 billion), will deliver electric mobility and renewable energy storage solutions for customers in UK and Europe. JLR and Tata Motors will be anchor customers, with supplies commencing from... Read more →
Demand for battery raw materials in Europe will increase rapidly between now and 2050/ The region can curb the expected consumption of key metals from electrifying passenger transport by up to 49% over that period, according to new analysis. Environmental NGO Transport & Environment, which conducted the study, said governments... Read more →
FREYR Battery has been awarded a €100-million grant from the European Union to support development of FREYR’s Giga Arctic project in Norway. The grant will be funded through the EU’s Innovation Fund (EUIF) as part of the EU’s efforts to promote localized production of battery solutions. Giga Arctic, which has... Read more →
Poland-based battery systems maker Impact Clean Power Technology unveiled a visualization of GigafactoryX—a large-scale battery factory for electric vehicles and energy storage which will be launched in the city of Pruszków, near Warsaw. The Li-ion battery systems to be manufactured will include LTO, LFP and NMC technologies. Its construction will... Read more →
In an open letter, Nick Molden, CEO, Emissions Analytics and Dr Andreas Mayer, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, VERT Association, call on European regulators to apply the same approach they have applied to the tailpipe to the growing issue of tire emissions. The authors urge the inclusion of particle mass,... Read more →
Consip S.p.A. Roma, the central purchasing agency in Italy, has placed an order for 98 Solaris electric buses. Among them, 80 are Urbino 12 electric models, and 18 are articulated buses. The vehicles will be delivered to CTM Cagliari, the company managing urban transport in the capital of Sardinia, in... Read more →
NIO officially opened its new 1,500 square meter Innovation Center in Berlin, Germany. In response to the need for software that’s central to the user experience, the Berlin Innovation Center will be responsible for the development of new technologies and its respective localisation, testing and validation in Europe. NIO’s new... Read more →
Imerys, a global leader in mineral-based specialty solutions, and British Lithium, a private company having developed a processing route to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from mica in Cornish granite, (earlier post) have formed a joint venture with the objective of creating the United Kingdom’s first integrated producer of battery-grade lithium... Read more →
Iveco Group N.V. announced that, following the finalization of the definitive agreements with Nikola Corporation as per the terms sheet described on 9 May 2023, its subsidiary Iveco S.p.A. has acquired the full and sole ownership of the German company resulting from the former joint venture Nikola Iveco Europe, now... Read more →
BASF has opened Europe’s first co-located center of battery material production and battery recycling in Schwarzheide, Germany. The inauguration of a production facility for high-performance cathode active materials (CAM) and the unveiling ceremony for a battery recycling plant for the production of black mass represent steps toward closing the loop... Read more →