News: Commercial Vehicles

2022-08-20

Daimler Beefs Up Western Star Brand


For a number of years, we have been hearing rumors that Daimler will likely put the Western Star truck brand out to pasture, primarily due to the brand’s low market share in the class 8 truck segment.  However, this does not appear to be the case. 

Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

During the past two years, Western Star has upgraded or is planning to upgrade their entire truck lineup based upon their current platforms.

Western Star typically focuses on the on-highway vocational side of the heavy truck segment along with other niche applications.  DTNA has recently placed an emphasis on the on-highway vocational segment with both the Freightliner and Western Star brands.

The vocational truck segment represents approximately 25% of the class 8 truck market. This is somewhat low volume when compared to the class 8 freight segment, but the vocational trucks are highly profitable for the OEMs. Also having more diversification within the heavy truck market somewhat shields the OEMs from the volatility of the freight only segment.

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Australian Solar Park Could Generate Hydrogen for Less Than $2/kg


Frontier Energy conducted a pre-feasibility study (PFS) at its Bristol Springs Solar project in Australia to show that it has the potential to be a low-cost green hydrogen producer, with power sourced from the company’s planned first stage 114 MW DC solar farm. The solar would power a 36.6 MW alkaline electrolyser, producing an estimated 4.4m kilograms of green hydrogen per year.

Source: PV Magazine Read The Article

PSR Analysis: With green hydrogen costs being around $3/kg to $6.5/kg, production of green hydrogen at this cost significantly boosts the use of hydrogen as a fuel for either Hydrogen ICEs or FCEVs. It also closes the price gap with dirty hydrogen which is generated using fossil fuels. Dirty hydrogen costs around $1.8 per kg, according to S&P Global.  PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

BMW Focuses on Hydrogen Fuel-cell EVs


BMW remains primarily focused on electrified combustion engines and battery electric cars, but it is adamant that hydrogen FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) will play a part of its transportation package. A limited batch of hydrogen-fueled BMW X5s soon will enter production, and the company says it is already planning for the next model with FCEVs making their way into its 2025 next-generation electric vehicle portfolio

Source: H2 Energy News Read The Article

PSR Analysis: This moves BMW into the Toyota/Hyundai camp supporting FCEV, with Tesla and VW being firmly in favor of battery-powered Electric Vehicles only. BMW is developing its position so that it can offer a full range of alternative power vehicles and meet customer demand whichever way it goes.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

2022-07-20

CNG Vehicles Are Moving in Cruise Mode

INDIA REPORT 
Aditya Kondejkar

Sales of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) vehicles in India are set to scale a new peak, driven by robust double-digit expansion in 2023 demand, with lower total ownership costs decidedly tilting the scales in favor of gas-powered cars instead of those running on liquid automotive fuels.

“We are seeing excellent traction for CNG vehicles,” says Tarun Garg, Director – Sales, Services and Marketing, Hyundai Motor India. “CNG provides a very good option to customers in terms of reduced total cost of ownership. Not only is the price of CNG fuel less than petrol/diesel, the fuel efficiency, too, is relatively better and emissions are lower.”

Currently, the country has more than 4,500 operational CNG stations, compared with fewer than 1,000 in 2014. To push adoption of CNG vehicles in the personal mobility space, in 2019, the petroleum and natural gas ministry announced plans to set up more than 10,000 CNG stations over the decade. It is anticipated that the country will save approximately  Rs 2 lakh crore in oil imports if personal car users switched to CNG vehicles. Read The Article

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Heavy Truck Sales Fall by More Than 60% in H1 2022

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

The heavy truck industry fell in the first half of 2022 by more than 63% from the previous year. According to the latest statistics from the China Automobile Association, for January to June this year, the overall sales volume of the domestic heavy truck market was about 380,000 units, a decrease of 63.6% compared with the same period last year.

In June, the sales volume of China’s heavy truck industry was only 55,000 units, a year-over-year decrease of 65%. The main reasons for the decline in heavy truck sales this year are the upgrading of emission standard from “China V” to “China VI” last year, which caused a pre-buy in the market, and the impact of the epidemic this year, which depressed the logistics and transportation market, further curbing demand for new trucks.

The heavy truck industry is a cyclical industry, and its development cycle fluctuates due to changes in environmental protection policies and the overall economy. Following a 14 month decline in sales, the primary concern in the heavy truck industry is this: When will there be a turnaround?

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Brazil Government Announces US$ 65 Billion Agriculture Funding Plan

The Brazil government announced June 29 the new Safra Plan for 2022/2023 with a total of R$ 340 Billion (US$ 65 Bi) to fund business related to Agriculture,  including Agricultural Machines and Trucks for product transportation. The amount is 36% higher than the previous year plan.

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: While the volume of funds is higher, the interest rates are also higher. In addition, the prices of agricultural supplies are higher than in the previous cycle. Agricultural Machines should maintain its high production and sales trend while Trucks should grow due to pre-buy caused by Proconve P8 (Equivalent to Euro 6) by January 2023. PSR

Mercedes Makes Fourth Production Shutdown in Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT  

Despite high demand, Mercedes announced its fourth temporary production stop at the plant in São Bernardo do Campo-SP, from July 4-15. In the announcement, Mercedes mentions the shortage of components and its effort to work with the supply chain to meet commitments with customers.

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis. The shortage of components, particularly semiconductors, is taking longer than expected and is affecting the MHV market more than expected. It may affect market projections if the supply chains do not recover 2H 2022.    PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development-South America, for Power Systems Research

2022-07-01

Sustainability, Reliability Keys for Future e-Mobility Solutions

PSR-PowerTALK_July_2022-F2Download
Emiliano Marzoli
Emiliano Marzoli

STUTTGART, Germany— One critical trend emerged during my conversations with many industry players at the Battery Show Europe and the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe here last month: Battery thermal management is an important element in EV development and operations. 

I attended the Battery Show Europe here June 27-30 with Dalibor Sablic, PSR senior business development manager-Europe.

An estimated 6,000 attendees walked the floor to discuss products and services with nearly 600 exhibitors at the show. There was a positive energy and outlook for the future of the e-mobility industry, a refreshing change in atmosphere following many quiet months caused by the COVID pandemic. 

During the show, I had an opportunity to meet with representatives of Dow and learn about the wide array of products and services the company is developing for the e-mobility segment.  

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2022-06-25

Brazilian Marcopolo Launches H2 Bus in Australia

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Brazilian-based Marcopolo has expanded its product line of renewable and zero-emission fuels. Volgren, a company owned by the Brazilian manufacturer, is Australia’s largest bus producer. It has signed an agreement with Wrightbus, an Irish bus manufacturer, and market leader with Hydrogen technology in Europe, to develop and launch hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses for the Australian market.

The first units of the Volgren-Wrightbus are expected by early 2023. The vehicles will be the first Hydrogen buses in Australia to be built by a local manufacturer using European fuel cell technology.

Source: Press Release     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Marcopolo is committed in its strategy on new propulsion, either with their own EV chassis in Brazil or with the H2 chassis in other markets, such as the Volgren in Australia. It enables Marcopolo to compete better in growing markets while it keeps its position in ICE markets with its current products.    PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director-Business Development South America for Power Systems Research

Trailers with Electric Drive Axle Authorized in Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT  

Heavy vehicles using electric axle systems in the trailer now can be driven on Brazilian Roads, following approval by the National Traffic Council (Contran) at its meeting in May.

Suspensys, a Brazilian company part of Randon group launched the product at Fenatran of 2019, but only now has it been approved by traffic authorities.

Source: M&T Magazine     Read The Article

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