EV | Power Systems Research

2025-06-22

South Korea’s LG Energy Withdraws Expansion Plans

LG Energy Solution, a major company in South Korea, has withdrawn its investment plan for a materials factory. The company cited a slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market and a diminishing competitive advantage in Indonesia, where nickel is widely produced, as reasons for the decision.

Battery production involves processes from material manufacturing to productization, and the withdrawn plans included the construction of a nickel smelter for the main cathode material, as well as the production of cathode precursors and other materials.

Categories: Batteries, EV, Japan, Production

Office: Japan Office

Sodium Batteries: Another Sign EVs Here To Stay

Guy Youngs

The rising demand for zero-emission mobility goes beyond the nice idea of preventing a catastrophic climate crisis. EVs are a better fit for the connected, electrified lifestyle of the 21st century; they offer more opportunities for convenience, they are more useful for weathering power outages and climate-connected emergencies, and they are more adaptable to the needs of fleet managers, among other advantages.

However, while some researchers note that “salt batteries” are not quite ready for prime time, other stakeholders — including industry leader CATL — are already laying plans for mass production. Last month, CATL also burned up the Internet when it announced a suite of two sodium-ion batteries ready for full volume production by the end of this year.

Categories: Alternative Power, Batteries, Electrification, eMobility, EV, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

Office: United States Offices

2025-03-20

Kia To Offer Corporate Clients Custom EVs

Akihiro Komuro

Kia is launching a new range of EVs that can be easily modified to meet different interior and design needs and will begin selling a mid-size van in Korea in July. The company is currently in talks with about 100 companies in the transportation and logistics industry. Although global EV sales are currently sluggish, Kia hopes to develop a new revenue stream by promoting the fact that the specifications of these vehicles can be changed to suit the needs of different industries.

“We have opened up a new paradigm with our customized EVs.” The CEO spoke with great enthusiasm at Kia’s EV Day event in Spain. The company unveiled the first production model of the “PV5,” a mid-size van that is the first in a series of independently developed EVs called “Platform Beyond Vehicle” (PBV).

Categories: EV, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production, South Korea

Office: Japan Office

2025-02-24

Tesla Sales Drop 60% in Germany

Guy Youngs

Tesla’s sales dropped nearly 60% in January in Germany compared to the same period last year, and the same thing is happening throughout Europe. The two main reasons are believed to be the introduction of the new Model Y and the disapproval of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his meddling in politics, which is especially not appreciated in Europe

Obviously, Tesla will use the Model Y transition as an excuse, and there’s some truth to it. However, Tesla was transitioning the Model 3 around the same time last year, which also negatively affected 2024 sales

Categories: Alternative Power, EV, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Sales

Office: United States Offices

Lexus China Plant To Begin Production in 2027

Jack Hao

Toyota has announced plans to build a research, development, and production company for Lexus electric vehicles and batteries in Jinshan District, Shanghai, and plans to start production in 2027.

“China has a complete electrification and intelligent technology industry chain,” says Ji Xuehong, Director and Professor of the Automotive Industry Innovation Research Center at North China University of Technology, “and stablishing a factory locally will allow Toyota to deeply integrate into China’s industry chain, quickly access advanced electrification technologies and high-quality parts resources, and thereby enhance the overall competitiveness and price advantage of its products.”

Localization will also enhance Lexus’ export capabilities, he says. Production in China can meet domestic demand, also reduce costs and improve the competitiveness of products in the international market.

Categories: Electrification, EV, Greater China, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: China Office

2025-01-27

Honda, Nissan Near EV Merger

Guy Youngs

Japanese automakers are taking drastic measures to keep pace with Tesla and Chinese EV leaders like BYD. Honda and Nissan are now closing in on an EV merger to join resources and fend off the incoming competition. The merger is designed to help survive industry’s rapid shift to electric power. The tie-up could likely involve a third auto partner from Japan which reports suggest might be Mitsubishi

Honda and Nissan have been paving the way for an EV partnership for several months now. In March, the Japanese auto giants announced plans to co-develop new software and other EV tech.

Categories: Alternative Power, EV, Mergers & Acquisitions, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, PowerTALK

Office: United States Offices

2024-12-16

Alternative Power Report, December 2024

Guy Youngs

Alternative Power Report – Dec 2024 Download

The December 2024 issue of the Alternative Power Report published by Power Systems Research includes articles the successful trends in Chinese EV production, Mercedes’ solar paint product for EVs, new research on sodium-ion batteries and the development of rotary engines powered by hydrogen. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Categories: Alternative Power, Alternative Power Reports, AltPwr, Batteries, Electrification, EV, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: United States Offices

2024-12-13

Thai Government To Ease Some EV Production Quotas

Akihiro Komuro

The Thai government says it will relax the requirement for EV manufacturers receiving subsidies to produce a certain number of vehicles by 2024. There had been calls for a revision from Chinese manufacturers and others. This is in response to poor market conditions for EVs.

The Board of Investment (BOI) of Thailand provides subsidies to manufacturers that can be applied to the purchase of EVs. The subsidy amount is up to about US$ 3,000 (100,000 baht or about 440,000 yen) per vehicle, which is about 10% of the purchase price of a medium-sized SUV.

Categories: EV, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, PowerTALK, Production, Thailand

Office: Japan Office

2024-10-12

Your EV May Fall Apart Before Its Battery Pack Does

Guy Youngs

ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT

Geotab, an automotive telematics company, is using its in-depth access to EV data to track battery health. And its new study of 10,000 electric cars shows that their battery packs could outlast the vehicles themselves

With five years of data, the company recently released a new study that shows the average degradation per year is actually 1.8%. The company believes that it could translate to EV batteries lasting 20 years.

Source: Electrek Read The Article

PSR Analysis: When EVs first appeared, there was a lot of talk about needing to replace the batteries after five years. That soon became 10, 15 and now 20 years, and so proving many ICE doubter wrong. Battery replacement need not be a concern when buying an EV. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Categories: Alternative Power, Batteries, EV, PowerTALK

Office: United States Offices

2024-09-23

Fast Charging Gets Faster in LFP Batteries

Guy Youngs

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.

Source: PV Magazine: Read The Article

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

Categories: AltPwr, Batteries, eMobility, EV, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, PowerTALK, Production

Office: United States Offices

News: EV

Alternative Power Report, December 2024

Fast Charging Gets Faster in LFP Batteries

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