Power Systems Research (PSR) is an international research company headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. PSR has offices or staff in seven global regions, including China. PSR analysts have been compiling and analyzing global vehicle, equipment and powertrain data since 1976; data which can be used to develop targeted forecasts by industry segment and region.​

Our experienced analysts, including our team in China, work with OEMs, engine and component manufacturers, dealers, fleet managers and industry experts to compile model-level data that is considered the leading source of global information on engines, drivetrains and powered vehicles and equipment. Whether you need detailed global data, forecasts or customized local market studies, our business development team can work with you to help you find the Data, Forecasting and Solutions you need to succeed.

Understanding the Global Chip Shortage

Erik Martin
Erik Martin

Semiconductors help power everything from your phone to your car. Here’s what to know about the major supply chain problem.

There are chips in nearly everything electric you own, from your phone to your computer to your car. There are even chips in items you wouldn’t expect, such as your washing machine, electric toothbrush, and refrigerator. But these tiny parts that power so much of our lives are now in critically short supply.

“Right now we have a global supply chain in crisis,” says Patrick Penfield, a professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University. “We’ve just never ever seen anything of this magnitude impact us before.”

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ENGIE EPS Acquisition May Create Euro-Asian Powerhouse

Erik Martin
Erik Martin

TAIPEI–The acquisition of a 60.5% stake in ENGIE EPS by Taiwan Cement Corporation (TCC) was finalized and completed in July.

The deal, which was announced in April, saw the Italy-headquartered stationary storage and e-mobility solutions subsidiary of French multinational Engie taken over by TCC subsidiary Taiwan Cement Europe Holdings.

What both parties get out of the deal

In a press release, TCC said it has now become a “major player” in electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as its newly acquired capabilities in building large-scale battery storage systems and microgrids.

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Taiwan Pushing into Next-Generation EV Battery Development

Erik Martin
Erik Martin

TAIPEI. As electric vehicle (EV) development becomes a global effort, batteries that play a vital role to EVs’ cost-performance ratios are a focus to manufacturers with ambitions to expand in the EV market…

Taiwan’s battery industry may not be backed by well-known brands and abundant natural resources. Nevertheless, a large part of Taiwan-based battery suppliers have been assembling battery modules for Taiwan’s ICT industry. For example, Simplo, Dynapack and Celxpert with a long-term focus on manufacturing battery modules for consumer electronics such as notebook only started to set foot in EV battery solutions in recent years…

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Parched Taiwan Prays for Rain as Sun Moon Lake Hit by Drought

Erik Martin
Erik Martin

TAIWAN — Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake is so low that parts of it have dried and turned to grass. Jetties that normally float are sprawled awkwardly on dry land, and tour boats are crowded at the tail ends of pontoons still in the water.

Usually one of the island’s most famous tourist destinations, the lake has recently become a star of a different kind. Following the worst drought in 56 years, it is now famous for all the wrong reasons. These days, Instagram influencers photograph themselves posing in a dust-colored, dinghy half-buried in a cracked and cratered lakebed…

But away from the quirky headlines, the situation is dire. Other reservoirs across central and southern Taiwan are effectively empty, down to 5% or less.

Taiwan has had drought before, but observers are hoping the severity of this one – which has lasted 18 months and threatens Taiwan’s economic lifeblood of semiconductor production – is enough to prompt real action on climate change.

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Beijing Accelerates “Fuel for Battery” Policy

Qin Fen
Qin Fen

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport in February issued an action plan describing how to switch out IC-powered light commercial vehicles in urban areas.

The city government will subsidize fleet companies switching out 20 gasoline or diesel powered vehicles to battery-powered cargo vehicles one time before Aug. 31, 2021.  The government will issue city passes to fleet companies on more favorable terms than ICE powered cargo vehicles.

There will be a government transportation center to monitor every battery-powered vehicle on operating range, GPS, etc., in case someone embezzles government subsidy.

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Gogoro Network Powered Through Innovative Solutions

To date, there have been over 151 million battery swaps, an average of 2.8 per second.

Erik Martin
Erik Martin

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Imagine being asked to design and build a totally new, green energy infrastructure for an entire country — from scratch.

This was the goal given to Gogoro Network (GN) General Manager Alan Pan (潘璟倫) by Gogoro founder and CEO Horace Luke (陸學森). Sitting down for an interview with Taiwan News, Pan described some of the issues electric scooters faced before Gogoro, including limited charging solutions due to lack of space in Taiwan and high battery and maintenance costs.

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Weichai Takes 60% Stake in Agricultural Equipment Maker

Qin Fen
Qin Fen

Weichai Holding Group Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese powertrain manufacturer, has acquired a controlling stake in Lovol, one of the country’s major agricultural equipment makers.

Source: Xinhua News Agency    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: People look up to leading companies in industry because often times they are not just leading the trend, they are also setting an example of weathering the storm during crisis.

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Italy’s CNH and China’s FAW in Talks Over Truck Maker Iveco

CNH Industrial is in talks with China’s FAW over the future of truck maker Iveco, the Italian-American group said recently after sources told Reuters it had revived previously aborted negotiations.

Source: Reuters    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Another positive development in the industry during such a gloomy crisis, FAW fits the merger success story I just mentioned about the few surviving companies.  There are for sure many challenges ahead with the acquisition, particularly after the take-over, but there are so much to celebrate if the deal can be finalized.

Both Europe and China are investing in each other’s market, Scania, MAN, Daimler and Volvo are all setting up new factories or strengthening ties with current partners in China. 

And now we see FAW is putting their focus in the European market by engaging with Iveco.  Both sides have seen potential growth on one another’s market.  European truck makers will bring along new concept and technology to China’s market and likes of FAW will bring along cost saving and localization practices for its European counterparts

This is another sign that Chinese companies are moving more and more of their focus on the overseas markets, we will only see more of this coming in the future.  PSR

Qin Fen is Business Development Manager-China for Power Systems Research

VW To Build $3 Billion EV Plant in East China

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

VW China has increased its share in the electric vehicle joint venture JAC Volkswagen to 75% and obtained joint venture management rights. At the same time, it has obtained a 26% stake in the EV battery maker Gotion High-Tech to support the future electrification of the group. The total investment of the above two projects is estimated to be about €2 billion.

The plant, which has an estimated investment of US$3.06 billion (20 billion yuan) from both Volkswagen and JAC Motors, will be finished by the end of 2022, and its first vehicle will roll off the assembly line in 2023.

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Tesla Cuts Prices of China-Made Cars

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

Taking advantage of new battery options and big government subsidies, Tesla has slashed its Model 3 prices in China. The company’s Chinese website is now advertising a base price for the popular battery-electric sedan of 249,900 yuan, or roughly $36,800.

While this is big news for the company in its efforts to remain dominant in the Chinese market, U.S. consumers won’t be affected…at least, not yet

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