China 2023 EV Sales To Grow To 8.4 Million Units

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

The development trend for the new energy vehicle (EVs) market remained positive through 2022. In November, retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles reached 598,000 units, with a year-on-year growth of 58.2%. From January to November, the domestic retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles were 5.03 million units, with a year-on-year growth of 100.1%.

As for December, the Passenger Transport Federation believes that the subsidy for new energy vehicles will decline by 12,600 RMB this year, which is much more than the decline of 5000 RMB in the previous two years. In addition, some vehicle enterprises have announced a price increase for next year, which may promote strong pre-buying of new energy vehicles at the end of the year and boost sales.

This year, the new energy vehicle market is expected to achieve the annual sales of 6.5 million vehicles.

Read More»

Solaris Buses Purchases 25 Fuel Cell Engines

EUROPEAN REPORT 
Emiliano Marzoli
Emiliano Marzoli

Ballard Power Systems has announced the sale of 25 hydrogen fuel cell engines to repeat customer Solaris Bus & Coach, a leading European bus manufacturer.

The 70kW fuel cells will be installed in Solaris’ Urbino 12 hydrogen buses for deployment to Polish public transport operator MPK Poznań and are expected to be delivered in H2 2023.

The buses are to be partially funded by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management’s Green Public Transport program. MPK Poznań requires 30% of its fleet to be zero-emission by 2028. These 25 hydrogen fuel cell buses will increase its zero-emission fleet from 18% to 25%.

Source: Ballard       Read The Article

Read More»

John Deere Plans Construction Equipment Plant

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

John Deere has just announced an investment of US$ 35 million (R$ 190 million) in the production facilities for its Construction Division, two manufacturing units located in Indaiatuba, in the interior of São Paulo. The goal is to expand capacity to meet the growing demand for machines and to implement its Smart Connected Factory program, or Industry 4.0, which encompasses technologies to increase efficiency, quality in processes and reduce operating costs.

Source: Investe São Paulo  Read The Article

PSR Analysis: John Deere is reaching production capacity with the huge growth of demand for Construction Equipment in Brazil in recent years. This demand should continue and should keep increasing with the planned Infrastructure Investments and the continued expansion of the Mining business. Moreover, the strategy of localization, making products in Brazil rather than importing, making Brazilian plants a hub for exports, needs continued investment.   PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business, Development South Americafor Power Systems Research

BorgWarner To Produce Vehicle Batteries in Brazil

BorgWarner said it will start producing battery systems for electric vehicles in Piracicaba-SP, Brazil, by Q1 2023 with declared annual capacity of 1,000 electric units.

The plant in Piracicaba formerly belonged to Delphi and was acquired by BorgWarner in 2020. The plant will receive a production line from Akasol, another company acquired by BorgWarner.

Read More»

DATAPOINT: North America Terminal Tractors

Estimated 2022 Production: 3,800 Units

3,800 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Terminal Tractors to be produced in North America (United States) in 2023.

Terminal Tractors are specialized heavy duty vehicles designed to move loads at container ports and container terminals. Generally, they are slow moving (under 30km/h) and employ a high torque diesel engine and 4×4 wheel drive which enables them to move very heavy trailer loads, sometimes up to 200 or 300 tons

Read More»

U.S. Powersports Industry Grows in 2021

Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released economic data for 2021 showing the outdoor recreation industry’s impact on the U.S. economy. Key highlights from the 2021 data on the U.S. outdoor recreation economy include: 1. $862 billion in economic output; 2. 1.9% of GDP, and 3. 4.5 million jobs.

Trips and travel have come back, record sales in many outdoor segments, manufacturing increasing, as well as the drive to continue to recreate for quality of life has allowed the outdoor industry to bounce back from the effects of COVID-19.

“The continued strength of the outdoor economy is no surprise to the marine industry, where we continue to see incredible growth with new and younger customers taking to our brands each year,” said Chris Drees, President of Mercury Marine, the world’s leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines.

Read More»

Acquisitions in Light/Medium EV Segment

NORTH AMERICA REPORT
Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

2022 has been an interesting year on many commercial vehicle fronts including the medium and light electric commercial truck and van segment.  While large established OEMs such as Ford, who is expected to produce approximately 6,500 E-Transits at the Kansas City plant in 2022, there has been some shakeup within the electric commercial vehicle start-ups. 

During the past six months, Mullen Automotive, based in Brea, CA, has acquired the assets of the now bankrupt Electric Last Mile (ELMS) company and has acquired 60% of Bollinger Motors, which has yet to start vehicle production.

In September 2022, Mullen Automotive invested $148 million into Bollinger Motors, giving Mullen a 60% share of the company.  Bollinger plans on introducing their electric class 3 – 6 lineup of cargo vehicles starting in 2023 and it is likely that Bollinger will also manufacture the Mullen electric light commercial vans also starting production in 2023.

Read More»

Container Ships Could Look Like this by 2050

Here’s What Container Ships Could Look Like by 2050

With pressure from regulators to decarbonize international shipping, companies big and small are racing to identify green alternatives to the gas-guzzling container ships that account for an estimated 3% of global greenhouse emissions.

Many of the ideas floating around today leverage some form of high-tech sail, a futuristic take on the wind-powered voyages that have transported goods for as long as global trade has existed.

Many factors need to be considered when designing a wind-powered cargo ship, including safety, functionality, crew comfort, and most importantly, speed.

Source: MSM: Read The Article

PSR Analysis:  Marine transport is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions (see article “EV shipping is set to blow internal combustion engines out of the water” in the September issue of PowerTALK), so any movement to reduce the emissions is positive, and if it happens to reduce the fuel costs for marine transportation at the same time, there is a substantial saving to be made. A real win-win situation. Further information about these can also be found here.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Tesla Refinery Project Advances in Texas

Tesla is currently working on a lithium refinery project that would be coming to Corpus Christi, Texas, and it sounds like the automaker is in the final stretch of its negotiations with the authorities.

In September, we learned that Tesla has a plan to build a lithium refining facility on the Gulf Coast of Texas. At the time, all we knew was that Tesla was planning on moving fast with hope to start building in Q4 2022.

Read More»