Follow PSR’s team of analysts as they track the rapidly expanding global battery electric power market, including, battery technology, transportation, eMobility, mergers and acquisitions and more.
MOSCOW–Despite the number of COVID-infected people in Moscow increasing since the middle of June, the trade shows have not been affected by the pandemic restrictions. Another fair started 21 June in Moscow Expocenter. It’s Renwex – the fair dedicated to renewable energy and electric transport.
The fair is relatively new and small. It took about 3000 sq. meters and accommodated 80 participants. Most of them were local companies, although there were some participants from Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany and China.
The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro has announced a package of alternative power measures and goals with two important milestones for 2030 and 2050. Here are the main goals affecting the mobility and transportation industry:
2030
Replace 20% of Public Service of Bus Transportation by Zero Emission Vehicles.
Reduce by 10% the average time of commuting by public transportation.
Increase by 400% the number of trips by bicycle.
Reduce by 20% the emission of GHG.
Reach 100% of city regions with selective refuse collection.
While smaller players are struggling to remain competitive in the EV bus space, Mercedes-Benz is targeting more clients and more volumes.
Mercedes-Benz has handed over one eCitaro G electric articulated bus with solid-state batteries each to Hamburger Hochbahn and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein. The two new electric articulated buses each have seven battery packs with solid electrolyte and an energy content of 441 kWh, allowing up to 200km range, depending on operational conditions.
It’s often said that there’s nothing new under the sun, only new ways of doing old things. That may be especially true in how we handle data.
Ever since Power Systems Research began tracking global production of engines and powertrains in 1976, its analysts have been alert to new trends surrounding power and data movement.
Today, as three essential metrics in data handling change— cloud costs, volume and processing time—, the structure of data networks also is changing. In many cases, it’s not practical to send vast amounts of data to the cloud to be processed and then wait for the results. Now, it’s often necessary to have smaller data centers located near the activity, at the edge of the action, if you will.
We have heard during the past few years that battery electric commercial trucks will ultimately replace the diesel-powered internal combustion engine for commercial trucks. At some point in the future this might be true for short and regional haul freight carriers, but what about the long-haul heavy truck segment?
Currently, the lack of charging infrastructure, range anxiety and the extreme weights associated with the batteries will be a significant deterrent to mass adoption of long-haul battery electric trucks.
On May 13, Komatsu announced that it had developed a fully electric compact excavator equipped with lithium-ion batteries. This is Komatsu’s first excavator that does not use cylinders or other hydraulic equipment in the drive unit. In addition to emitting no exhaust gas, the new excavator can be operated remotely and can be used in dangerous places.
Komatsu, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding on May 13, announced this concept model as a response to a decarbonized society.
For the time being, the company does not plan to sell it to the general public. This model is connected to the outside world via wireless LAN, and the driver can operate it remotely without boarding the machine. The remote operation makes it suitable for indoor demolition, disaster rescue, and other dangerous work sites.
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.
Frankfurt, Germany–For the first time, Continental has won an order to supply the commercial vehicle sector with telematics units that include high-performance computers. This means that the technology company now also offers a solution that can master the increasing requirements for connectivity, complexity and functional scope in trucks.
Continental will use its telematics know-how – already proven in the passenger car sector – to complete this order from Volkswagen. Last year, Continental was the first supplier to put a high-performance computer with software into serial production. The computer connects the electronics architecture, controls data streams, and enables over-the-air updates for VW’s all-electronic ID series.
In its solution for trucks, Continental combines the telematics unit with a high-performance computer, enabling the mapping of a large number of additional functions and different applications. Particularly in the efficiency-driven transportation industry, this entails competition-relevant applications ranging from the digitalization of the logistics chain and remote diagnostics to secure over-the-air software updates.
Continental says its solution can manage the large data streams generated in the vehicle much better than conventional computers. As a result, it not only can create opportunities for even more innovative functions and services, but also can ensure a high degree of flexibility for the customer.
Founded in 1871, Continental offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. PSR
After three years, Alstom is halting their EV bus production. By the end of 2021, the production lines will be stopped, and unless a buyer will take over, most of the operations will be shut down. Twenty employees will remain active to assure maintenance for the existing vehicles in operations with RATP.
Just two years ago, Alstom was one of the winners of a contract to supply electric buses to the French operator. However, this was not enough to maintain profitability.
PSR Analysis: We believe that electric buses have a great future, particularly in Europe. According to our database CV Link™, alternative drive buses, including Hybrid, Fuel Cells and Battery Electric, will grow at a 22% CAGR between 2020 and 2030.
EDITOR’S NOTE. Power Systems Research tracks the global trends powersports recreational equipment, especially the electrification of these units. This is one of a series of reports on these trends.
Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire strategy includes these key take-aways:
Unique lineage: LiveWire draws on its DNA from the lineage of Harley-Davidson, capitalizing on a decade of experience in the EV sector.
Motorcycles + beyond: with an initial focus on the urban market.
Virtual HQ: LiveWire will be headquartered virtually, with initial hubs in Silicon Valley, CA (LiveWire Labs) and Milwaukee, WI.
Marketplace: LiveWire will work with participating dealers from the Harley-Davidson network as an independent brand. A go-to-market model will blend digital and physical retail formats.
Dedicated showroom: LiveWire will operate dedicated EV showrooms in select locations, starting in California.
Technology focus: LiveWire plans to develop the technology of the future and to invest in the capabilities needed to lead the transformation of motorcycling. LiveWire expects to benefit from Harley-Davidson’s engineering expertise, manufacturing footprint, supply chain infrastructure, and global logistics capabilities.
Technology sharing: Harley-Davidson and LiveWire intend to cooperate and share their technological advancements to ensure an industry leading application in their respective core segments.
POLARIS FIRST QUARTER 2021 EARNINGS RESULTS. Polaris released first quarter 2021 results with reported sales of $1,951 million, up 39% from reported sales of $1,405 million for the first quarter of 2020. The company reported first quarter 2021 net income of $134 million compared with a net loss of $5 million for the 2020 first quarter.
Gross profit increased 64% to $481 million for the first quarter of 2021 from $293 million in the first quarter of 2020. Reported gross profit margin was 24.6% of sales for the first quarter of 2021.
Polaris Product Segment Highlights:
Off-Road Vehicles (“ORV”) and Snowmobiles totaled $1,232 million for the first quarter of 2021, up 50% compared to $824 million for the first quarter of 2020. PG&A sales for ORV and Snowmobiles combined increased 51% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter last year.
Motorcycles totaled $166 million, up 31% compared to the first quarter of 2020, driven primarily from increased sales of Slingshot, Indian Motorcycles.
Global Adjacent Markets segment sales, including PG&A, increased 27% to $125 million in the 2021 first quarter compared to $98 million in the 2020 first quarter driven by increases in demand in North America and EMEA.
Aftermarket segment sales of $230 million in the 2021 first quarter increased 14% compared to $202 million in the 2020 first quarter. Transamerican Auto Parts (TAP) sales of $193 million in the first quarter of 2021 increased nine percent compared to $177 million in the first quarter of 2020.
Boat segment sales increased 29% to $199 million in the 2021 first quarter compared to $155 million in the 2020 first quarter, driven by sales growth in all three brands, Bennington, Godfrey and Hurricane.
POWERSPORTS MARKET ANALYSIS. The powersports market observed a slowdown during the first two quarters of 2020 driven by the spread of the COVID-19. Shortages of labor and materials in the first quarter led to many industry challenges. Governments began lifting the lockdown restrictions to stabilize the economic activities in the third quarter of 2020. During this period, the powersports industry witnessed steady growth owing to the rising inclination of individuals toward participating in outdoor recreational activities while complying with social distancing norms.
Powersports market size exceeded $34 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at around 6% CAGR between 2021 and 2027. The global power sports unit sales are anticipated to reach over 3 million units by 2027. PSR
Michael Aistrup is Senior Analyst covering Recreational Products for Power Systems Research
