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Bosch China Establishes Commercial Vehicle Group
CHINA REPORT

Jack Hao Bosch Powertrain announced the establishment of a commercial vehicle group, aiming to strengthen cross-domain cooperation at the same time it introduced a new electronic pneumatic braking system and intelligent mobility solutions for commercial vehicles at the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.
Bosch also has developed an advanced super thermal management system to address the thermal management challenges in the commercial vehicle industry. Bosch says it is optimistic about the development prospects of hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles and is actively promoting the adaptive development and promotion of related technologies.
During the Beijing Auto Show, Wang Weiliang, the President of the Board of Bosch Intelligent Transportation Solutions China and the President of Bosch Powertrain Systems China, announced Bosch’s significant strategic initiatives for this year. Wang Weiliang said that China, as the world’s largest commercial vehicle market, is in a golden era of booming development for the commercial vehicle industry.
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Kubota Plans India as Global Production Hub
INDIA REPORT

Aditya Kondejkar In a strategic move reminiscent of Suzuki Motor’s successful expansion strategy, Japanese agricultural equipment giant Kubota is carving out a path to global dominance by establishing India as its production nucleus. The recent acquisition of Escorts, a leading tractor manufacturer in India, marked a pivotal moment for Kubota, propelling it into a position of strength in the Indian and international markets.
Kubota’s journey in India began in 2008, albeit with sluggish growth and single-digit market share due to its specialization in lightweight tractors, which initially lacked the requisite power for Indian applications. However, with the acquisition of Escorts in 2022 and subsequent rebranding as Escorts Kubota, the company gained a significant foothold, complementing its expertise with Escorts’ established presence in the Indian market.
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PowerTALK™, May 2024
Download PDFThe May 2024 issue of PowerTALK News presents articles about Chinese EV production, Agrishow 2024 news, EV production in SE Asia and Kubota’s plans for production in India.
IN THIS ISSUE
ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT
- Chinese EVs Pile Up in European Ports
- Europe Studies Chinese EV Subsidies
- How Valuable Is Fools Gold?
- Hyundai and Kia Develop Hydrogen Engine
GLOBAL:
- Volvo To Build Plant in Mexico
- ATV, S&S Market To Hit $22.9 Billion
DATAPOINT: North America Skid Steer Loader Production
EUROPE: World Hydrogen Summit Report
BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA:- Storms Batter Brazilian OEMs
- Agrishow 2024 Report
JAPAN: Komatsu Develops Mobile Hydrogen Generator
South Korea: Kia To Double Hybrid Sales
Thailand: Malaysia Overtakes Thailand in New Vehicle Sales
CHINA: Bosch China Sets Up Commercial Vehicle Group
INDIA: Kubota Sees India as Global Production Hub
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Alternative Power Report, May 2024
Download PDFThe May 2024 Alternative Power Report from Power Systems Research features several stories on Chinese EVs and the impact they are having on European and US markets. There also are stories on hydrogen development and hydrogen fueling stations. PSR
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2024 NA Skid Steer Production
Download PDFA Skid Steer Loader also known as a Skid Loader, Skid-Steer Loader, or Skidsteer, is a small rigid frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments.
Four major uses for Skid Steer Loaders are: Agricultural, 29%; Rental Fleets, 22%; Construction, 20%, and Landscape, 12%.
This product information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ , which provides information on engines, and OE Link™, a database of equipment manufacturers. PSR
Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations, at Power Systems Research
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Are Sodium Ion Batteries Viable Alternative to Lithium?
ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT

Guy Youngs Despite lithium ion battery prices continuing to fall, interest in sodium ion (Na-ion) energy storage has not waned. Sodium ion batteries are undergoing a critical period of commercialization as industries from automotive to energy storage bet big on the technology. Sodium ion looks well placed, with superior safety, raw material costs, and environmental credentials.
Sodium ion cells, produced at scale, could be 20% to 30% cheaper than the dominant stationary storage battery technology, lithium ferro/iron-phosphate (LFP), primarily due to abundant sodium and low extraction and purification costs. Sodium ion batteries can use aluminum for the anode current collector instead of copper, which is used in lithium ion batteries, further reducing costs and supply chain risks.
Source: PV Magazine: Read The Article
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New Hydrogen Colors to Watch in 2024
Hydrogen has the potential to be emissions free but only if we understand how the hydrogen is generated / manufactured or whether it occurs naturally. Several new terms have been used recently in the press, and this article explains them.
Gold hydrogen refers to naturally occurring deposits of the gas trapped underground in a way similar to how natural gas and oil deposits are found under the Earth’s surface. This type of H2 is different from White in that White now typically refers to the gas when it is above the surface, such as in the atmosphere, but Gold refers specifically to the gas found in underground deposits.
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Study Shows Plug-in Hybrids Aren’t as Clean as We Thought
A new report by the European Commission shows that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles create much more emissions than we previously thought – by an average of 3.5 times as much as lab testing indicates.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were thought to bring the best of both worlds – a large enough battery to take care of your daily tasks, paired with a gas engine for longer trips. There are downsides in cost and complexity, but the powertrain choice does provide more options than others.
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CATL, Yutong Launch Long-life EV Battery
CATL has launched a battery pack with Yutong Bus Co to power commercial vehicles like buses and trucks. Yutong said the new battery packs will be used in upcoming electric vehicles and that the new long-lasting EV battery has zero degradation through the first 1,000 cycles.
The new EV battery pack, made with CATL, has a 932,000 mile (1.5 million km), 15-year warranty. Yutong calls the long-life battery an industry first. The bus manufacturer introduced another battery with a 10-year and 621,000 mile (1 million km) lifespan.
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Global Lawn and Garden Equipment Market
GLOBAL REPORT

Michael Aistrup The global lawn and Garden Equipment Market, which includes commercial and residential equipment, is projected by Power Systems Research to reach sales of $46.16 billion by 2030. This is a projected increase of $15.96 billion dollars from 2023 to 2030, an increase of 52.8%.
The global impact of COVID-19 is stating to wane and the market is returning to a normal growth rate. Individual homeowners are still interested in lawn and garden care, just not as much as during COVID-19. More people are returning to recreational activities.
PowerTALK Reports