China-based Tianqi Lithium has purchased a substantial number of shares in Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), which claims to be the world’s largest lithium producer, in a deal worth approximately $4.07 billion. Chinese companies have been on a lithium buying spree recently, as prices of the “white gold” steadily climb. Tianqi and SQM… Read more »
Semiconductor specialist Infineon Technologies has announced plans to build a fully automated new facility in Villach, Austria. The new plant will complement Infineon’s existing facility in Villach, and will focus on producing the company’s 300 mm power semiconductors. Infineon will invest $1.6 billion in the plant over the next six years. “Global demand for power… Read more »
Hydro-Québec and Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) have reached a research and licensing agreement that they hope will make Québec a contender in the booming battery business. The government-owned utility Hydro-Québec will assist NMG in developing small-scale mining operations to produce graphite which will be used as anode material for Li-on batteries. NMG’s graphite operation began… Read more »
NIO, the Chinese EV startup backed by Tencent Holdings, has filed for a US initial public offering, Bloomberg reports. The Shanghai-based carmaker NIO (formerly known as NextEV) has submitted an initial confidential filing with the SEC, according to unnamed sources. The share sale, which could raise as much as $2 billion, is expected to take… Read more »
Aluminum rolling and recycling specialist Novelis has broken ground on a new $300-million automotive aluminum sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. The plant, with an annual nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons, will begin producing aluminum in 2020. The facility will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines, which prepare aluminum for use in vehicle parts… Read more »
As China evolves into a world leader in battery and EV production, the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced plans to develop a system to track the fabrication, sale and recycling of EV batteries. The new “traceability management platform” will cover the entire lifecycle of batteries from production to recycling, clarifying who… Read more »
Netherlands-based Heliox will supply fast charging for 10 electric double-decker buses that are to go into service in Wellington, New Zealand in July. The new e-buses, operated by local transit agency Tranzit, will be joined by another 10 in 2020 and another 12 in 2021. Heliox’s charging network includes a CCS plug-in system for depot… Read more »
Ultracapacitor specialist Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq: MXWL) has formed a technology partnership with Zhejiang Geely, the Chinese parent company of Volvo and Geely Auto to integrate ultracaps and power conversion electronics into Geely’s global vehicle lineup. Geely will include Maxwell’s ultracapacitor-based peak power subsystem in five mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles for the North American… Read more »
Sponsored by Keysight Technologies Today’s vehicles are designed with more electronic systems including powertrain control, power steering, brake systems, power door/window controls and various sensor functions. Complete solutions providing simulation and test are essential to ensure reliable performance of automotive electronics exposed to extreme voltage/currents, a wide range of temperatures and numerous hazardous conditions. New challenges… Read more »
Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) will be providing batteries for Nissan’s Sylphy electric sedan, which is scheduled to hit the Chinese market in the latter half of the year. This marks the company’s first deal with a Japanese automaker. The Sylphy, one of 20 electrified vehicles Nissan plans to release in China… Read more »