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  • Alternative Power Report, December 2023

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    Read about new high energy density, cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries, CATL’s fast charging electric skateboard, a new lithium bonanza in the US and more in this month’s Alternative Power Report produced by Guy Youngs of Power Systems Research. PSR

  • 2024 Combine Production: 7,100 Units

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    7100 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Combines to be produced in North America (United States) in 2023. Final 2023 production numbers will be available later in Q1 2024.

    A combine is a farm machine that harvests grain crops. Combines can reap, thresh and winnow crops into a single process. Crops include wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, etc. Combines overall boost crop output and farm income. 

    Trends: In 2022, production of Combines in North America increased nearly 12.5%, climbing from 6,372 units in 2021 to 7,162 units in 2022. Production is expected to remain flat in 2023 with a nominal decrease of less than 1%.  The Combine market steadily rose this past year and farmers are upgrading to new machines. PSR

    Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations, at Power Systems Research

  • PowerTALK™, November 2023

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    EV activity continues to increase across the globe as reported in the November issue of PowerTALK News. This issue features EV reports from China, Japan, North America, Brazil, South Korea and Thailand.

    IN THIS ISSUE

    ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT

    • China Discovers Unique Battery Material
    • Toyota Joins Race To Mass Produce Solid-State Batteries
    • Could Toyota’s Ammonia Engine Bring the End of EVs?
    • White Hydrogen Could Reduce Decarbonization

    GLOBAL: Outboard Marine Engine Market Hits $5.5 Billion
    NORTH AMERICA: Transitioning from ICE Buses to Zero-Emission Engines
    DATAPOINT: NA Graders      
    BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA:

    • XCMG To Invest US$ 55 Million in Brazil Electric Truck Plant
    • Vehicle Production in Brazil Stagnates
    • Brazilian Marcopolo Approves its Fuel Cell Bus in Europe
    • VW Announces Pickup Truck To Fight with Fiat Toro

    JAPAN: Kubota and Sumitomo Plan Mutual Supply of Equipment
    SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Sells EVs To Oil-Producing Countries
    THAILAND:      China Auto Manufacturer To Invest in Thai EV Motorbike Plant
    CHINA: Weichai-BYD JV Begins 56 Billion Yuan, 50GWh Battery Project
    INDIA: Construction Equipment Sector Poised for Substantial Growth

  • Alternative Power Report, November 2023

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    Reports of scientific discoveries highlight this months Alternative Power Report produced by Guy Youngs of Power Systems Research. Read about a new ore discovered in China, Toyota’s work on solid state batteries and an ammonia-powered engine, and finally new work on white hydrogen.

  • China Discovers Unique Battery Material

    Guy Youngs
    Guy Youngs

    A newly discovered ore containing vast quantities of an element widely used in semiconductors has been found in China. The discovery could propel new advances in battery technology.

    Geologists have found the rare earth metal niobium inside the new ore named niobobaotite from north China’s Inner Mongolia. The rare earth metal is widely used in alloys for jet engines and rockets and has also been shown to have exceptional current conducting properties in low temperatures.

    Researchers have said batteries made from niobium have several advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries. The Brazilian Metallurgy and Mining Company (CBMM) has been working on new projects towards the use of niobium to make advanced lithium-ion batteries.

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  • Toyota Joins Race To Mass Produce Batteries

    Toyota Motor Company is the latest automaker delving into solid-state battery technology, vowing to mass produce the safer and more energy dense cells in four years.

    The Japanese automaker has recently changed its tune about building BEVs and is now claiming solid state batteries will be in vehicles starting in 2027.

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  • Could Toyota’s Ammonia Engine Bring the End of EVs?

    The technology is the result of a collaboration of Toyota with the GAC Group, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer. The ammonia engine is a form of internal combustion engine (ICE) powered primarily by ammonia, (ammonia is comprised of a nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms). It does not contain carbon. As a result, when it’s burned in an ICE, it does not release carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases. In the effort to decarbonize, the potential of this type of technology is considerable.

    Source: Hydrogen Fuel News: Read The Article

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  • White Hydrogen Could Reduce Decarbonization

    Early this summer, scientists in northern France discovered what has the potential to be a huge white hydrogen deposit, (white hydrogen is naturally occurring H2). Not all forms of the hydrogen are equally clean, and this depends on how hydrogen is produced. Brown, black and grey H2, for instance, are all produced using processes with fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas and are therefore not environmentally friendly.

    Depending on how this H2 is extracted, it could prove to be one of the cheapest and cleanest forms of hydrogen. The natural H2 deposit was found in July 2023 by Philippe de Donato and Jacques Pironon, scientists at the Université de Lorraine.

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  • XCMG To Invest US$ 55 Million in Brazil Electric Truck Plant

    BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 
    Fabio Ferraresi
    Fabio Ferraresi

    XCMG has signed a letter of intent to invest in Pouso Alegre, in the south of the state. XCMG also plans to invest in the creation of a research and development center in the state.

    Source: Brazil Mineral     Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: The letter of intent reaffirms the intention of XCMG to gain market share in Brazil, not only on the Off Highway Electric Truck segment, but also in Brazil’s On Highway Truck segment they entered…

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  • Vehicle Production in Brazil Stagnates

    During the first 10 months of 2023, Brazilian On Highway Vehicle production faced challenges, with an increase in imports of approximately 58,000 units from January to October and a simultaneous drop in exports by more than 52,000 vehicles. The outcome was a stagnation in production, as only 1,950,000 passenger cars, Minivans and SUVs, light commercial vehicles, trucks, and bus chassis were produced. This marked a decrease of 0.6%, equivalent to almost 12,000 vehicles, compared to the same period in 2022, as reported by Anfavea on Nov. 8, 2023.

    Read More »

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