Bus Sector Bounces Back: EVs Fuel Post-Covid Growth

News: Industry Segments

2023-09-16

Bus Sector Bounces Back: EVs Fuel Post-Covid Growth

Aditya Kondejkar

OEMs increasing their focus on the Bus sector to drive growth in the post-Covid period.

Ashok Leyland. One of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, Ashok Leyland has announced plans to invest ₹1,000 crore in setting up an integrated commercial vehicle (CV) and electric bus (e-bus) manufacturing plant in Uttar Pradesh. This plant is expected to have a planned production capacity of 2,500 buses annually, with the potential for expansion to 5,000 buses per year.

This significant investment is a strategic move for the company and carries several implications and opportunities. This critical analysis examines the key aspects of this investment decision.

“Contingent on market adoption and demand of alternative fuel vehicles in the state, Ashok Leyland intends to invest up to ₹1,000 crore in this new facility over the next few years,” says Shenu Agarwal, Ashok Leyland MD & CEO.

Read More»

Redesigned Zinc-Air Batteries ‘Better’ than Lithium, say Researchers

Researchers at Edith Cowan University in Australia have redesigned zinc-air batteries and have found the technology to be preferable to lithium-ion batteries – even for electric vehicles, and they claim to have overcome the technology’s notorious power output limitations.

Zinc-air batteries consist of a zinc negative electrode and an air positive electrode. The chemistry holds promise and is significantly more sustainable than lithium-based counterparts, but the poor performance of air electrodes and short lifespan has limited the technology’s power output.

Read More»

2023-09-15

Strong E-Bike Market Growth Seen

The pandemic bike boom boosted e-bike sales 145% from 2019 to 2020, more than double the rate of classic bikes, according to the market research firm NPD Group.

Research by Power Systems Research estimates the global e-bike market size at US$ 23.2B in 2022 and expects the market to reach US$ 78B by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.5%.

E-bikes are bicycles equipped with electrical motors for transforming electrical energy into mechanical energy to assist pedaling. They use rechargeable batteries that require minimum maintenance and provide power to the motor.

Read More»

Hydrogen Fuel Cell MH Commercial Vehicle Update

Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

With regards to zero-emission medium and heavy vehicles, 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.  However, hydrogen fuel cell trucks for long-haul applications appear to be a viable option in this segment.  Even though fuel cell trucks currently have a greater range and lighter weight than battery electric trucks, they have the same problem as electric trucks due to a lack of a power infrastructure.

Read More»

2023-09-05

DataPoint: North America Tractor/Loader/Backhoes (TLBs)

NA Tractor/Loader/Backhoes – Sept 2023Download

7,450 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Tractor/Loader/Backhoes (TLB) expected to be produced in North America in 2023.

Tractor/Loader/Backhoes are full-size machines that are three pieces of construction equipment combined into one: the tractor, the loader and the backhoe. These units are designed to tackle an array of construction and agricultural related activities.

Read More»

Companies Support Government Fleet Renewal Program

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Gerdau, Vamos and Volkswagen Caminhões have formed a partnership to support the national fleet renewal program, aimed at removing from roads vehicles more than 20 years old.

The fleet renewal program provides for the purchase of low emission and more efficient vehicles by self-employed drivers and other operations. Under the plan, 140 acquired vehicles were sent to Gerdau’s headquarters in Araçariguama, which is responsible for their destruction and recycling.

At the same time, an extension for the incentives program of up to 1 Billion Reais, (US$ 200 M) was announced.

Source: G1      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The total of resources and mechanisms to allow the access to the resources still are not sufficient for the program to impact the market significantly. However, the small inroads demonstrate the desire of Government and private entities to make changes and should impact the market going forward. More deployments and adjustments in the program should come in the medium term. We will keep monitoring and adjusting our short-medium term forecast as it progresses.   PSR

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

Brazil Motorcycle Production To Reach 1.5 Million in 2023

In the first seven months of 2023, manufacturers affiliated with Abraciclo assembled 887,000 motorcycles, up 14.3% over the same period in 2022. Registrations totaled 903,200, up 21.4%, including imports and sales from automakers not yet linked to the association, such as India’s Bajaj and Royal Enfield, which began production in Brazil at the end of last year. The entity’s expectations for 2023 are for expansion of 10.4% (1.56 million units) in production and 10.9% (1.51 million motorcycles) in licensing.

Source: Valor      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: In 2011, Brazil produced 2 million units, its best year in the history of the segment. However, this year was the beginning of consecutive annual declines that reduced production to 890,000 motorcycles in 2016. The start of the rebound in 2018 was interrupted in 2020 by the shutdown of factories brought on by the pandemic. The industry finally looked to the future again in 2023 and expects to reach a volume of 2 million motorcycles within five years.   PSR

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

BEV Demand Boosts Brazil Mining Investment

The increase in global demand for clean energy is accelerating investments in the exploration of reserves of so-called critical or strategic minerals in Brazil. Over the next five years in Brazil, companies are expected to invest approximately US$ 8 billion in key strategic minerals. In copper the expectation is that the resources will reach US$ 4.47 billion, while nickel is in second place, with investments of US$ 2.3 Billion forecast.

Source: Valor      Read The Article

PSR Analysis:  A significant part of the investment will take place in Construction and Mining Equipment such as Hydraulic Excavators, Heavy Duty Wheel loaders and Graders that helps to sustain and increase the growth in the segment in Brazil.   PSR

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

2023-08-21

Maruti Suzuki Plans India Market Expansion

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

Under Maruti’s 3.0 Strategy, the company proposes to expand annual capacity by 2 million units within nine years, and it plans to feature 28 distinct models by 2031. The automaker aims to reach an annual production volume of more than 4 million vehicles by 2031. Of this total, approximately 15% (about 600,000 units) will be electric vehicles (EVs), and about 1 million will be hybrid units.

This represents a substantial 75% surge from the current production capacity of 2.25 million units.

Foreseeing a threefold increase in export volume to 750,000 units by FY31, Maruti intends to allocate 3.2 million units for the domestic market. The company envisions hybrids and EVs comprising approximately 40% of this portion, translating to over 1.2 million units.

Read More»