Tesla’s Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai has received its first “comprehensive acceptance certificate,” a necessary permit from the government to begin operations, China’s Global Times reported. Both bureaucracy and construction are moving at record speed – the certificate was approved within 3 days, and a mere 7 months after construction began, Tesla is already installing production… Read more »
Nano One Materials has secured a US patent for its NMC cathode powders, which it says offer a proprietary means of making Li-ion batteries more durable, safer and cheaper. NMC cathodes are typically comprised of lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt. Global battery makers are keen to limit the use of cobalt, which has a dodgy… Read more »
Several countries, including the UK, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, have announced plans to eliminate ICE vehicles, and a few cities are proposing to ban them from city centers. Paris and Amsterdam have ambitious plans to banish dinosaur burners by 2030. Obviously, such plans have opponents, and they aren’t likely to become law without political battles…. Read more »
MAHLE has developed a new battery housing concept with integrated thermal management designed to increase rapid charging capability and vehicle range. MAHLE claims the new housing allows manufacturers to use batteries that are about 40% smaller, which not only reduces the CO2 footprint of the EV, but also lowers the demand for raw battery materials…. Read more »
Ports of Auckland has purchased an electric tug boat called the Damen RSD-E Tug 2513. The boat features a 70-ton bollard pull, estimated lifespan of 25 years, and an initial price tag roughly double that of a diesel tug boat, according to Tony Gibson, CEO of Ports of Auckland. However, the operating cost of an… Read more »
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is launching a $40-million program called the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE), which is designed to aid in the purchase of zero-emission off-road freight technology. CORE will offer vouchers for buyers to offset the higher initial costs of zero-emission equipment, including the following: On- and off-road terminal… Read more »
Japanese auto and motorcycle parts maker Musashi Seimitsu has invested in KeraCel, a Silicon Valley-based company that is developing solid-state batteries using 3D printing technologies. KeraCel says its 3D printing can create safe, low-cost, compact and flexible solid-state batteries. The company plans to commercialize these technologies and products in the near future. This long-term partnership… Read more »
The American automakers’ plug-in programs may seem to have stalled, but both GM and Ford have exciting things bubbling beneath the surface, which are expected to burst forth sometime in the next couple of years. Ford has said it plans to invest $11.5 billion to introduce 40 electrified vehicles by 2022, of which 16 will… Read more »
Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz Energy and BAIC’s Beijing Electric Vehicle Co. will partner to establish second-life energy storage systems in China. The companies plan to set up the first second-life energy storage unit in Beijing, repurposing retired batteries from BAIC’s BJEV models. Gordon Gassmann, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Energy, said, “The extension of regenerative and thus high-fluctuation energy… Read more »
Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Renesas Electronics has announced its fourth-generation Li-ion battery management integrated circuit (IC). The company says its new ISL78714 IC provides accurate cell voltage and temperature monitoring, cell balancing, and extensive system diagnostics to protect 14-cell Li-ion battery packs, all while maximizing drive time and range for hybrid and electric vehicles. The ISL78714… Read more »
