August 13, 2024
The international insurance company Allianz Trade warns that the fall in prices of critical metals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, is hindering the global energy transition. According to the credit insurer, price drops create uncertainty and deter investors in sustainable energy. The postponement of investments is bad news for Europe. Brussels wants to catch […]
August 12, 2024
On Saturday, thousands of people demonstrated in Belgrade against Rio Tinto’s controversial mining project to extract lithium in western Serbia. Serbia has massive lithium deposits near Loznica, in the country’s west. Still, the controversial mining project, developed by British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, has been causing a political rift for several years. The demonstrators fear […]
August 06, 2024
Geely has launched the second electric model in its new Galaxy lineup, following the E8 electric saloon. The Galaxy E5 is a mid-size electric SUV with an affordable price tag, modern tech on board, and the company’s newest Aegis Short Blade Battery, which promises a 1 million-km lifespan. The Geely Galaxy E5 challenges other China-built […]
August 06, 2024
Samsung is upping the stakes in the race to commercialize solid-state batteries. At the SNE Battery Day 2024 event in Seoul, South Korea, the tech company announced that its pilot production line is now fully operational, with plans to transform into mass production by 2027. Early customers have already returned feedback on their solid-state oxide […]
August 05, 2024
As is commonly known, freezing cold temperatures affect an EV’s range. But how do extreme summer temperatures affect its battery capacity? When temperatures rise to 38 degrees Celcius, like in Southern Europe, that can shorten your range by 31%, an ongoing study by American Recurrent Motors Inc. shows, using data from 7,500 live connected cars. […]
July 30, 2024
The BMW Group is significantly expanding its production network for the next generation of high-voltage batteries. Across the globe, the principle of ‘local for local’ will apply, so plants will be built in Germany, Hungary, China, Mexico, and the US. “Close connection of battery production with vehicle production is part of our strategy,” explains Markus […]
July 30, 2024
Dutch paints company AkzoNobel’s Resicoat brand has developed innovative powder coating technology that provides improved electrical protection for electric vehicle (EV) battery systems in just one spray. There’s a growing demand in the EV market for coatings with a high dielectric strength to help increase the safety of battery systems. AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business has […]
July 30, 2024
Chinese premium carmaker NIO has officially rounded the cape of 2,500 Power Swap Stations (PPS), of which 2,454 are located in China and 51 in Europe. Besides some local minor projects from Californian start-up Ample, NIO is the only one offering swappable batteries in Europe. But currently, only for its own models. However, NIO has […]
July 29, 2024
Turkey wants to become a significant player in producing batteries for electric cars. That is what President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. To this end, it has launched an ambitious 15 billion-dollar public subsidy program. “We have made battery production a priority for our auto industry to maintain its competitiveness,” said Erdogan, who wants to […]
July 29, 2024
The growing popularity of rideable electric suitcases to get people quickly around airports and train stations has alarmed Japanese authorities following a rise in incidents of foreign visitors using them illegally on public roads. A rideable suitcase, particularly popular in parts of Asia, has a built-in electric motor, is powered by lithium-ion batteries, and can […]
July 19, 2024
Serbia wants to allow carmakers Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Stellantis to buy lithium from the large lithium mine in the west of the country that mining group Rio Tinto is building there. Barely a week after a Serbian court decision allowed the resumption of the controversial lithium mining project, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the German […]
July 16, 2024
Volkswagen subsidiary PowerCo wants to industrialize solid-state batteries and use the technology of US specialist QuantumScape. The companies have agreed to “industrialize QuantumScape’s next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology.” The VW battery subsidiary and QuantumScape know each other well. They have had a joint venture since mid-2018, which will now be replaced by the new agreement. […]
July 15, 2024
Energy provider Luminus, a subsidiary of the French EDF, intends to build a giant battery park on its site in Ghent. On Friday, the company announced it has submitted a permit application for a battery project with a storage capacity of 400 megawatt hours and a capacity of 100 megawatts. That should be sufficient for […]
July 12, 2024
Serbia’s highest court opened the way on Thursday to authorize a lithium mining project by mining giant Rio Tinto after a government decision that suspended it while many activists remain firmly opposed. Rio Tinto welcomed the court’s decision. At the same time, project director Chad Blewitt wanted to be reassuring by telling AFP that the […]
July 09, 2024
Mercedes-Benz has opened the eCampus at its headquarters in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, Germany. The manufacturer will pool battery research to develop innovative high-performance cells and new manufacturing processes. By doing so, Mercedes wants to reduce battery costs by more than 30%. Ola Källenius, the Mercedes CEO himself, kicked things off at the opening of the eCampus, evoking […]
July 08, 2024
Under the slogan ‘Proud of your terminal’, Sibelga has launched an information campaign to alert Brussels citizens to the mandatory declaration of charging stations for electric vehicles in Brussels. This gesture allows the Brussels grid operator to list and monitor all electricity purchases in Brussels to ensure the proper functioning of the grid and the […]
July 08, 2024
French energy giant Engie has started constructing one of Europe’s largest battery parks in Vilvoorde, near Brussels, accounting for 200 megawatts and an investment of 250 million euros. By 2025, the park will be able to store 800 megawatt hours of electricity and inject it into the grid for up to four hours if there […]
July 05, 2024
Ferrari has introduced a new warranty scheme for owners of its plug-in hybrid models to preserve battery performance. Customers can opt-in for a yearly fee, which not only extends the warranty of the entire vehicle but also gives them a ‘free’ battery replacement at 8 and 16 years, with future upgrades also on the cards. […]
July 05, 2024
French mining group Eramet and its Chinese partner Tsingshan have inaugurated a major lithium mine site in Argentina. Lithium is the white metal essential for the energy transition, particularly in most automotive electric batteries. The plant in Centenario in Salta’s northwestern province represents an 870 million-dollar investment. Eramet, of which the French state is one […]
July 02, 2024
Ampere, Renault Group’s electric vehicle department, has secured the supply of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries from LG Energy Solution and CATL. These cheaper batteries will be used from 2026 in a cell-to-pack configuration to lower the purchase price of the group’s electric models and sell sub-€20,000 EVs. Until now, Renault has only used nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries […]
June 27, 2024
According to the business newspaper De Tijd, Chinese electric truck builder Windrose is to establish its European headquarters and first workshop in Zele. Zele is considered the gateway for constructing an assembly plant for e-trucks in Antwerp port, potentially creating 3,000 jobs. An “operational base” consisting of an office and a workshop will be set […]
June 24, 2024
Belgian high-voltage operator Elia is calling on the market to be vigilant this summer. There is a chance that Belgium will produce too much power because all available nuclear power plants are running, and especially because a lot of solar panels have been added this year. This threatens to put pressure on the electricity system. […]
June 21, 2024
BMW announced on Thursday it’s pulling back from the €2 billion deal it concluded in 2020 with Swedish battery maker Nortvolt to deliver cells from 2024 as part of a long-term contract. But Northvolt is two years behind schedule and would deliver ‘too many rejects’, German media, like Manager Magazine, report. BMW Group downplays the […]
June 18, 2024
Audi is following the slipstream of the recently facelifted Porsche Taycan and unveiling an updated version of its all-electric sports car, the E-Tron GT. The new version boasts enhanced range, sharper performance, and faster charging capabilities to align with the advancements seen in its Porsche Taycan counterpart. The E-Tron GT was introduced in 2021 as […]
June 14, 2024
Mercedes-Benz is accelerating its electric vehicle infrastructure plans with a new deployment of cutting-edge charging technology from supplier Alpitronic. The German carmaker already collaborates with the provider for its branded high power charging (HPC) network, but the announced charging points offer up to 400 kW peak power. Alpitronic is Mercedes’ partner for the rollout of […]
June 13, 2024
The listed group Warehouses De Pauw (WDP) plans to build a battery park in the Genk-Zuid industrial zone. The investment can amount to 50 to 80 million euros. The company aims for 2028 for commissioning. The project should help balance the power grid now that more energy is generated with solar panels and wind turbines. […]
June 12, 2024
Chinese Gotion High Tech, one of the ten leading global players in battery technology with sites in the USA, Japan, Germany, and Singapore, has signed an investment agreement with the Moroccan government to build North Africa’s first EV battery gigafactory. The Kenitra city project will cost 1.3 billion US dollars (12.8 dirhams). The first phase […]
June 07, 2024
Solid-state battery developer Factorial Energy has delivered B-samples of its cells to Mercedes-Benz. The German company is now integrating these into modules and battery packs before extensively testing them. The American company has also publicized an energy density value for the first time: 391 Wh/kg. According to Factorial Energy, the B samples are solid-state battery […]
June 06, 2024
Volvo will launch the world’s first electric vehicle (EV) battery passport with its new EX90 electric SUV, which has finally gone into production. The move aims to provide customers with detailed information about the battery’s composition, material origins, carbon footprint, and usage. Despite many brands diluting their commitment to a deadline for an all-electric portfolio, Volvo’s […]
June 05, 2024
The market uncertainty surrounding electric car sales is impacting the Franco-German battery cell manufacturer Automotive Cells Company’s (ACC) plans. The joint venture of Stellantis, Mercedes, and TotalEnergies has decided to pause the construction of its factories in Germany and Italy. In addition to the EV slowdown, other reasons are cited. ACC, the joint venture between […]
June 04, 2024
The BMW 3 Series has received a model-year update, while the 5 Series (Touring) range has been expanded with more powertrain options. In both cases, a large(r) high-voltage battery of 19.4/19.5 kWh makes the plug-in hybrid 330e and 530e more attractive, offering up to 101 kilometers of all-electric range. Following the facelifted 4 Series and […]
June 03, 2024
Volvo is expanding its range of emission-free construction machines with a battery-powered excavator and a set of wheel loaders. To keep them operational in remote areas, the company is introducing a mobile energy storage system for grid-independent recharging. At the showcase event, Volvo Days in Eskilstuna, Sweden, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) introduced an array […]
May 31, 2024
According to news agency Reuters, China is set to invest more than 6 billion yuan (765 million euros) in a government-led project to develop solid-state batteries (SSB). The state funding will be attributed to six companies supporting their work on next-generation battery technology and securing the nation’s lead on the global EV playing field. Belgian […]
May 28, 2024
In the annual charging test from P3, the Lotus Emeya set a new benchmark, charging 458 kilometers in only 20 minutes. This is the highest ever recorded, highlighting Chinese advancements in charging technology and crowning the Lotus the long-distance champion. Previous winners in the test were the Mercedes EQS, Kia EV6, and Lucid Air. Every […]
May 28, 2024
Those planning an electrified car holiday for the upcoming summer must plan their trip when visiting Greek islands. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) have imposed new safety guidelines on electric and hybrid vehicles traveling on ferries, which Greece has adopted as restrictions. For safety reasons, electric […]
May 27, 2024
Daimler Truck North America (Freightliner, Detroit Diesel) has detailed its end-of-life strategy for used electric truck batteries. The strategy uses a waterfall process in three stages: remanufacture, repurpose, and recycle. The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality for its entire operations by 2039. When debating the environmental benefit of electric drivetrains compared to traditional combustion […]
May 24, 2024
The world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer is intensifying its global expansion efforts as it seeks to sustain its growth amid increasing competition in China’s EV market. CATL believes it can only maintain its dominant position by focusing on international markets. As the Chinese domestic market heats up over EV price wars and factory overcapacity, […]
May 14, 2024
According to a new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E), onshoring the EV supply chain to Europe would cut the emissions of producing a battery by 37% compared to a China-controlled supply chain. This carbon saving rises to over 60% when renewable electricity is used. “Producing Europe’s demand for battery cells and components locally would […]
May 13, 2024
Stellantis has received testing samples from Lyten, a start-up in lithium-sulfur battery technology that it started investing in last year. It’s the first time a company has set up a production line for this type of chemistry. Lyten says it has also shipped samples to other major automotive OEMs on both sides of the Atlantic. […]
April 30, 2024
China’s biggest battery maker, CATL, aims to produce all-solid-state batteries by 2027-2028 in small batches, according to one of its executives at the China International Battery Fair (CIBF) 2024 event. The Chinese, being world-dominant in liquid lithium-ion batteries, fear future solid-state battery technology could turn their pole position into an otherwise arrear. It’s the first […]
April 26, 2024
Honda has announced building four electric vehicle and battery plants in Canada, which is increasingly becoming an eldorado for the global electric vehicle industry. The move from the Japanese automaker marks the largest automotive investment in Canadian history, representing a historic €10.2 billion investment. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe announced during a press conference in Alliston, […]
April 26, 2024
CATL, the world’s biggest battery maker, has once again pushed back frontiers by presenting the newest generation of its Shenxing LFP battery. This battery offers EV ranges of more than 1,000 km and can charge 600 km in only ten minutes. The first generation launched last year provides a 700 km range and 400 km […]
April 12, 2024
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 341,000 of its cars worldwide because of a fire risk. GLE and GLS models built from 2017 to 2023 are concerned. Meanwhile, the Stuttgarters are upgrading their electric flagship EQS. The recall has been announced by the German transport authority Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). The cause for the possible fire risk is a possibly […]
April 12, 2024
Officials failed to reach on agreement on EV subsidies for cars exported from the EU to the US. The recent negotiations were considered a last chance before presidential elections might turn the tables. However, negotiations will continue. The EU and the US have held talks for some time to reach a bilateral agreement over EV […]
April 09, 2024
The BMW Group and Rimac Technology, headquartered near Zagreb, Croatia, officially announced a long-term partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to co-develop and co-produce innovative solutions in the field of high-voltage battery technology for battery-electric vehicles. The results will be used in the BMW Group’s future product range, more specifically, in model generations slated […]
April 05, 2024
Tailan New Energy, a Chinese company developing solid-state lithium battery technology, has disclosed significant advancements in its latest prototype cell. In its most recent announcement, the researchers point to an extremely high energy density, aiming to deliver a 2,000-kilometer range for BEVs on a single charge. Tailan isn’t one of the household names in solid-state […]
March 25, 2024
When BMW’s next-generation electric cars hit the showroom, customers can charge the lights, the oven, or the washing machines in their houses through their car’s battery. The Neue Klasse will be equipped with bidirectional charging when it arrives in 2025. BMW CEO Oliver broke at the Annual Conference 2024: “With the Neue Klasse, we are […]
March 19, 2024
Audi has taken the wraps from the much-anticipated Q6 e-tron, poised to challenge the best-sellers with the cutting-edge architecture it shares with the Porsche Macan EV. The zero-emission model must mirror the success of its combustion-engined sibling, the globally acclaimed Q5. After a prototype reveal last year, Audi has released the full specs and final […]
March 12, 2024
Volvo has announced a significant charging improvement for cars built on its next-gen EV platform. Their batteries will charge up to 30% faster than the current line-up, and it has nothing to do with revolutionary chemistries or a different manufacturing approach. The secret weapon is an algorithm. Volvo Cars is investing in Breathe Battery Technologies, […]
March 12, 2024
In an interview with the American car magazine Car and Driver, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares says his group has to produce its own batteries. Meanwhile, he also stresses that EVs have to become lighter and batteries more efficient to maintain the expected range of an EV. The most expensive part of an EV is the […]
March 07, 2024
The fire on the cargo ship Felicity Ace, which caused the loss of several thousand vehicles, is finding its way to court. A probe points to a Porsche EV aboard with a defective battery having ignited the fire. That kept the ship burning for two weeks before it sank. The Volkswagen Group is facing lawsuits […]
March 05, 2024
BMW has started building its own production facility for fifth-generation high-voltage batteries in Thailand. The high-voltage battery assembly facility on the site in Rayong will prepare the plant there for the production of purely electric cars. According to the Munich-based company, local BEV production is set to begin in the second half of 2025. The […]
February 21, 2024
Brainiacs from South Korea’s Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech) have discovered a way to maximize the potential for using silicon in lithium-ion batteries for electric cars. As a result, their next-generation battery packs increase the maximum range by 30%, up to 1,000 km, and keep costs down. Has the home country of Hyundai […]
February 14, 2024
American carmaker Chrysler has presented a new concept that shows a glimpse into the brand’s electric future, however far it may be. Unlike the Airflow concept of 2022, the Chrysler Halcyon EV Concept demonstrates technologies that don’t exist. The Chrysler Halcyon EV Concept features a lithium-sulfur battery, inductive charging that could give it unlimited range […]
February 08, 2024
The European Investment Bank will grant Belgian Umicore an eight-year loan of 350 million euros for research. The money is intended for the technological development, innovation, and recycling of batteries for e-cars. In 2022, Umicore invested 316 million euros, or 7,6% of its revenues, in research and development. Umicore’s battery materials technologies, innovation roadmap, and […]
February 05, 2024
As of March, the Italian government is activating a new subsidy scheme aimed at decarbonizing its polluting old car fleet. The plan entails substantial aid for lower incomes and incentives for hybridized vehicles and charging infrastructure. Almost one billion euros is put aside for the national clean sweep. The 950 million euro plan was unveiled […]
February 02, 2024
It’s a half-yearly tradition for the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) to organize the El Prix event, the world’s most extensive range test for electric vehicles. The winter test was won four times in a row by Tesla, but the American EV maker fell back to the middle field in the latest edition with the gold […]
January 24, 2024
The French oil and gas group TotalEnergies has signed a deal with Danish sustainable energy company European Energy for a majority stake in two wind projects. Under the arrangement, TotalEnergies will take an 85% stake in the Jammerland Bugt project (240 MW), and 72,2% in the Lillebaelt South nearshore development (165 MW), both in Danish […]
January 17, 2024
Swedish battery maker Northvolt will get 4,6 billion euros to expand its large battery factory in Sweden and the Revolt Ett recycling plant next door. It is the largest green loan given to a company so far in Europe, according to the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is issuing the loan with 23 commercial banks […]
January 15, 2024
The Dutch energy storage company Giga Storage plans to develop Europe’s largest battery park in Dilsen-Stokkem (Belgium). The 60 MW energy storage project will have a 2 400 MWh capacity. This means that the average energy consumption of 330 000 families can be stored here each day and fed back into the electricity grid. “In […]
