Previously it was thought that oxygen in the battery was “passive”. But the study found that while phosphates showed little oxygen participation, the layered oxides (in the cathodes) showed “significant” electron extraction from oxygen

Source: MSN: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Our current battery technology is limited by our understanding of the underlying physics of how and why batteries fail over time. This research opens new avenues to explore and will help design batteries with much longer lifetimes.   PSR

Full sized airplanes represent a significant challenge, which requires a completely new generation of lighter, higher performing (increased energy density) batteries. And, the US startup Air Energy may have a solution: solid State Lithium-Air batteries.

The idea is to use oxygen as a key ingredient in a rechargeable lithium-based battery, thereby saving considerable weight while potentially boosting energy density far beyond the capacity of ordinary lithium-ion technology

The US Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory discovered that the cathode-centered assumption behind all the previous work, was mistaken. They observed lithium hydroxide forming on the anode during operation, causing the battery to degrade, and the research work kicked off.

Source: Clean Technica: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Obviously we are not there yet, and the batteries are not suitable for the larger aircraft, but if the latest research can be upscaled into production, then light aircraft may just have found their zero-emission option.   PSR

Guy

The paper argues that not every ship needs to become battery-electric. This goes against the standard anti-eco argument, that states that marine transport is not suitable for electrification. Inland vessels, ferries, coastal ships, offshore support vessels, service craft, port craft and many short-sea routes operate in regular patterns that are much friendlier to electrification.

The report finds that, by 2030, roughly 30% of maritime energy consumption and nearly 20% of maritime greenhouse gas emissions are technically electrifiable.

Source: Clean Technica: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The report / paper infers that by electrifying smaller vessels, maritime emissions can be significantly reduced. Meanwhile, when the industry focusses on larger, deep-sea vessels and looks towards alternative fuels such as ammonia or hydrogen, it may be missing a relatively easy win. And it’s something that has already started to happen with vessels such as ferries.   PSR

Guy

Leaving aside the issue of Inland sea vessels, ferries, coastal ships, offshore support vessels, service craft, port craft and whether they can or should be electrified, one of the issues that is not being discussed (until now that is), is what happens to the marine market in terms of cargo capacity and cargo hauled, when fossil fuels are replaced.

Fossil fuels are roughly 40% of maritime tonnage, but they represent about half of maritime freight energy because coal, oil, and gas are mostly long-haul bulk trades.

Source: Clean Technica: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Fossil fuel cargos travel long distances in very large tonnages, so any decline removes more than a proportional share of cargo mass. It removes a larger share of the ocean work and the fuel burned to do that work. This means that elimination of fossil fuels from the high seas may have a greater effect than simply a reduction in the fuels burnt by shipping.   PSR

Guy Youngs

They go on to suggest that improved electrolytes, catalysts, separators, and cell designs, alongside standardized testing and flow-type architectures, are needed.

Source: PV Magazine: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: These batteries were first demonstrated nearly a decade ago, but development of the technology has been limited. One reason why these batteries may be important in the future is that in the battery, lithium reacts with nitrogen gas to form lithium nitride (Li₃N) during battery discharge and, ideally, regenerates lithium and nitrogen during charging. If researchers can resolve these issues, this battery has great potential.   PSR

The STEM scholarship is made through the non-profit Eagan Community Foundation, which has donated more than $3 million in scholarships, grants and initiatives to the Eagan community since it was founded in 1990.

Power Systems Research, a global data research and intelligence company, has been providing a STEM scholarship annually to the Eagan Community Foundation since 2013.

“Power Systems Research has been promoting engineering-based research since its founding in 1976,” noted Joe Zirnhelt, PSR president, in discussing the scholarship program. “We believe it’s extremely important to encourage and support STEM education at the high school level.”

PSR also is a major supporter of the internationally recognized Experimental Vehicle Team (EVT) program at St. Thomas Academy in St. Paul, MN, and has supported the Lightning Robotics FIRST teams at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, MN.

Power Systems Research monitors global equipment production in 13 industry segments across 12 countries.  The focus of Power Systems Research in the powered products industry highlights a close tie to STEM, since technologies requiring continued advancements in science, engineering and mathematics are critical elements towards ensuring a thriving industry well into the future.

“Ryan Houth has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, the laboratory, and in his extracurricular activities throughout his high school career,” notes Zirnhelt, “and we’re proud to help fund his collegiate studies and activities.”

During his four years at Eagan High School, Ryan particularly enjoyed his chemistry classes and his extracurricular activities on the swimming team, as a member of several science clubs and as a tutor for students in pre-calculus, chemistry, and history. 

Chemistry was especially appealing to Ryan because, “it really applies to all the fundamentals of life,” he says. “Our entire life is built on chemicals.”

He also works as a lifeguard in the District 196 Aquatics program and the Cascade Bay Water Park in Eagan. “I particularly enjoyed my lifeguard work,” says Ryan, “because it taught me to be assertive with customers without being rude. It teaches responsibility. And it teaches me how to tell kids what they can do and what they can’t do.”

Ryan plans to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison this fall where he will pursue a double major in biochemistry and Musical Performance. After graduation from UW, Ryan plans to enter dentistry school and possibly join a musical organization, perhaps a jazz band. He hopes to continue his musical involvement because he’s developed a great passion for music after playing in bands for nearly eight years.

Ryan plays the euphonium, an instrument that looks like a miniature tuba but sounds more like a trombone. Ryan’s somewhat humorous description of the instrument: If a tuba and a trombone had a baby, it would be a euphonium.

One of Ryan’s most memorable high school achievements was winning a spot in the prestigious Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) band. “It was a huge accomplishment for me,” he says. Only about four candidates win the euphonium spots in the band out of the more than 20 who apply. 

Of all his activities, Ryan especially enjoyed tutoring. ‘’I really liked doing that,” he said. “Watching students do well in tests makes me really happy, it makes me happy to see them do well, to succeed.”

“It sounds as though you might be headed for a career in teaching,” I suggested.”

“Maybe,” he said. “Maybe.” PSR

Testifying before a Senate subcommittee on transportation technology recently, American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear lobbed criticism at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), blasting its regulatory framework as economically unworkable and completely detached from operational reality.

“California Air Resources Board does not sit down with our industry,” Spear told lawmakers. “They don’t care what our industry has to say. Their attitude is: ‘You’ll figure it out.'”

The trucking industry narrowly avoided being the epicenter of what Spear characterized as an economic collapse when the Trump administration last year spiked the California Truck Emission Standards (CARB’s Omnibus rule) and California Truck NOx Emission Standards (CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulations), respectively. California withdrew its waiver request in January 2025 to implement its Advanced Clean Fleets rule, which would have effectively mandated electric trucks in the state.

Spear cautioned that California’s push to rapidly electrify heavy-duty commercial fleets ignored massive deficits in power generation, grid capacity, and raw material supply chains.

Electric semis accounted for just 0.2% of total heavy-duty truck sales last year, and Spear noted that zero-emission tractors cost three-and-a-half times more than modern, clean diesel equipment. 

Fleet managers, too, face operational hurdles with current battery-electric setups, which can require six to eight hours of charging to achieve maximum rage (generally just more than 200 miles), compared to a 15-minute diesel fill up that can cover 1,200 miles.

Spear stated that if the now-repealed truck rules had remained intact, laws would have forced a mandatory 10% adoption rate by 2030, requiring roughly 3.5 million electric trucks to hit the road over a five year period. 

Spear further noted the irony that California relies on an electrical grid already plagued by seasonal rolling blackouts; that the critical minerals needed for vehicle batteries are currently sourced almost exclusively from international adversaries and volatile regions like China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and that domestic environmentalists routinely block mining initiatives stateside that take upwards of a decade to permit.

ATA’s top executive argued that state regulators often ignore the environmental leaps achieved by modern internal combustion technology. 

“Sixty trucks today on the road—brand new diesels—emit what one truck emitted in 1988,” Spear said. “That’s how far we’ve come… If they just focused on getting the 2010 or older trucks off the roads in California, they would’ve exponentially reduced emissions. They could’ve done that right now without turning on electricity, which they don’t have.”

Source: Clean Trucking

PSR Analysis. The ATA Chairman Spear discussed what many in the industry have known years.  The initiative to ultimately transition from the internal combustion engine to zero-emission medium and heavy trucks would not be possible until a number of the barriers have been overcome.  Barriers such as charging and grid infrastructure, total cost of ownership and misaligned duty cycles prohibit mass adoption of battery electric trucks.  Basically, an implementation timeline without a plan to achieve the milestones is impossible.   PSR

Chris Fisher is Senior Commercial Vehicle Analyst at Power Systems Research

A 4-Wheeled ATV is another term for All Terrain Vehicle. It has 4 wheels and is designed to be driven off road. It seats one person, or sometimes two, one in front of the other.

This product information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink , which provides information on engines, and OE Link, a database of equipment manufacturers.

Market Share. With 27% of total units produced, Honda leads the production of 4-Wheeled ATVs in North America.  In second position is Polaris with 26%; third, Yamaha with 15.5%.

Exports: Mexico: Up to 45% worldwide. United States: Up to 30% worldwide. Approximately 60% of the ATVs made by Suzuki in Rome, GA, remain in the U.S. while the remainder are sold internationally.

Trends. In 2025, production of ATVs in North America decreased 12%. But production is expected to gain a nominal 1% in 2026. Uncertain economic outlook, rising production costs and the growing popularity of side x side units (utility vehicles) are main reasons for the production decline. 

Manufacturers have discontinued less popular models/variants and are concentrating on bestselling units due to saturation in the market.  ATVs are used in a variety of activities that include recreation, sport and military related needs.

 According to investor relations for Yamaha, Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat, consumer discretionary spending is on the rise.  Production is expected to improve as indicated by current economic factors along with the introduction of innovative products and technologies.  Look for an additional increase up to 5-10% by 2035, although gas price increases caused by the war in Iran may affect sales.

No electric/battery powered units were produced until 2026 MY. BRP Mexico has two Outlander electric models it is introducing 2026 MY.    PSR

Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations at Power Systems Research

Toyota is scraping its plans to launch a next-generation luxury EV, the Lexus LF-ZC electric sedan, which was expected to enter production later this year with advanced new batteries that would delivery significant range improvements, and a dedicated platform.

The model was planned to use the gigacasting production technique that would split the vehicle body into three parts, front, center, and rear, to cut costs.

On paper, this car would have been brilliant, but like many Toyota promises over the years, it’s not going into production. In model terms, Toyota promises much but delivers so little. Toyota is the latest Japanese automaker, following Honda and Nissan, to discontinue development of a major EV project, blaming changing market conditions.

Source: Electrek: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: While Japanese automakers continue to delay the inevitable shift to electric by cancelling projects, Toyota will likely fall even further behind Chinese brands, which own nearly every aspect of its supply chain.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

The researchers found that cars in Central Europe could generate up to 55% of their annual electricity demand and in Southern Europe, the share could rise to 80% (this assumes relatively low annual mileage and large roof surfaces, such as those found on SUVs)

The study found that truck trailers equipped with a roof PV can generate up to 55 kWh per day during summer months. If solar modules are also integrated into the side walls, daily yields could increase to between 90 kWh and 110 kWh, enough to fully power cooling or hydraulic systems.

Source: PV Magazine: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: We have reported about this technology being used on trucks before, and the Toyota Prius even has (or had) and option of a roof mounted solar panel, so all of this is not news, but this is yet more evidence of the way things will probably move in the future., especially with oil prices so high.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research