Follow PSR’s ongoing global coverage of eMobility across a wide range of segments, including electric cars, commercial vehicles, electric motorbikes and e-buses.
Zeekr, an electric vehicle (EV) maker within the Geely Auto group, has integrated its self-developed fast-charging battery technology, based on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry, into its latest vehicles
According to the company, the 75 kWh battery pack supports ‘5.5C ultra-fast charging,’ enabling vehicles to charge from 10% to 80% in just 10.5 minutes using 800V charging at Zeekr’s proprietary stations.
PSR Analysis: Until this, all Lithium -ion batteries using NMC cathodes were faster than LFP batteries. This reverses that and means that this ultra fast charging together with safer LFP chemistry could eventually replace standard NMC battery chemistries
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
The E-bike market size was estimated at USD 38.3 billion in 2023 and is forecast by Power Systems Research to increase to $97.3 B in 2033 with a CAGR of 9.77% between 2024 and 2033. Cities globally are investing in dedicated bike lanes, charging stations, and bike-sharing initiatives for facilitating easier e-bike usage. Moreover, consumers are drawn to the substantial cost savings offered by electric solutions compared to conventional vehicles.
E-Bike Market Trends. Several important technological trends have boosted the production and sales of e-bikes.
Battery Technology. Improved batteries provide lighter weight, lower cost, longer range and quicker charging times.
Smart features, such as GPS navigation, app connectivity, and digital displays enhance the user experience, making e-bikes more appealing and user-friendly.
Shared micro-mobility is part of the public transportation ecosystem. As a flexible transportation option with comparatively low overhead and operation costs, shared micro-mobility can complement higher-volume fixed-route transit services by offering mobility services for many trips at a lower per-traveler cost.
Hyundai Motor in August announced plans to expand its lineup of hybrid vehicles from seven to 14 models in response to slowing global demand for electric vehicles. The company will also use HVs for the first time in its Genesis luxury car brand. The company also announced plans to increase its annual global sales volume by 30% from 2023 to 5.55 million units by 2030, and to invest 120.5 trillion won (about 13 trillion yen) in R&D and capital investment over the 10 years out to 2033. The company will focus on advanced technologies such as next-generation HVs, in-vehicle batteries and automated driving technology.
China may place 25% tariffs on EVs in retaliation for similar moves by the US and the European Union. Read about this as well as articles on new battery development, the decline in diesel sales and a new battery from CATL in the June 2024 Alternative Power Report from Power Systems Research. PSR
Volvo has received authorization from the Ministry of Transportation to begin testing its heavy electric trucks in Brazil. The vehicles will be part of a study and will be able to operate in urban areas, metropolitan regions, and short to medium-distance intercity transportation, aiming to evaluate their performance and impact on pavement in this type of operation.
The transport companies ReiterLog and Ritmo Logística will be the first to operate the Volvo electric trucks. Preliminary results from the study, led by Senatran (National Traffic Department), with technical coordination from Inprotran (National Institute of Traffic and Safety Projects), in partnership with Volvo, Prometeon, UNB, and UFRGS, indicate benefits of operating zero-emission CO2 vehicles, such as high energy efficiency, absence of noise, low vibration levels, and increased driver comfort.
On March 28, Kubota unveiled the first prototype of a fuel cell-powered tractor. Although no release date has been set, the company will consider installing fuel cells in unmanned, automated tractors. Kubota is also developing battery-powered agricultural equipment, but the company believes that hydrogen-powered fuel cells will be effective for medium-large sized agricultural equipment.
Kubota is rushing to commercialize fuel cells because it believes demand will grow in developed countries such as Japan, Europe and the United States as a result of the trend toward decarbonization. The prototype machine has about 60 horsepower and has three hydrogen tanks installed above the cabin, which are used in Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell car. It generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen to power the engine. In the experiment, a tractor was equipped with a plowing unit to till the soil.
“India is a key market for vehicle electrification, particularly due to the government’s carbon neutrality goals, which makes securing cost competitiveness through localized battery production crucial,” Heui Won Yang, president and head of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s research and development division.
Like it did with passenger EV rebates in December, Germany has decided to pull the plug on subsidy programs for electric semi-trucks and city buses. What happens to the nation’s commercial EV market now?
When the German government established the funding program for climate-friendly commercial trucks in 2021, the subsidies were seen as a highly effective tool to drive up demand for electric vehicles in the medium- and heavy-duty truck markets.
Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s chairman, has expressed skepticism about the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), estimating they will achieve only a 30% market share despite evidence of higher adoption rates in countries like Norway and China. This stance aligns with Toyota’s continued focus on hybrids and fuel cell vehicles, contrasting with the rapid EV market growth and the aggressive EV strategies of competitors. Toyoda’s comments reflect a cautious approach to EV adoption, diverging from industry trends favoring more substantial EV penetration.
Hyundai Motor Company is developing a hybrid vehicle for its Genesis luxury brand. The company had planned to focus on EVs and FCVs for the Genesis, which will be launched after 2025. The recent slowdown in the growth of the EV market has forced the company to change its strategy.
According to industry insiders, Hyundai Motor is developing a hybrid engine and related systems for the Genesis, which is expected to be launched in 2025. Hybrid models will be added to the mainstream GV80 and GV70 models. The company plans to expand its HV lineup under the Hyundai Motor and Kia brands as well, having decided to introduce HVs under its luxury car brands due to the risk of slumping sales if it continues to shift more toward EVs. Hyundai Motor’s HV sales in 2023 were up 53% from the previous year to approximately 380,000 units.
