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Honda To Produce FCVs in the U.S. in 2024
FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Honda announced that it will produce electric fuel cell powered vehicles in the U.S. in 2024. They will also be equipped with a plug-in function that allows them to be recharged externally. Honda has set a goal that all new vehicles sold by 2040 will be either EVs or FCVs.
In North America, its main market, Honda will offer FCVs as an option. The new FCV to be produced is based on the CR-V SUV model and will be manufactured in small quantities at the Performance…
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China 2023 EV Sales To Grow To 8.4 Million Units
CHINA REPORT
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.
Although the subsidy for new energy vehicles will be withdrawn at the end of this year, the exemption for the new energy vehicle purchase tax will continue next year.
At the same time, the new energy vehicle market is still good under the effect of non-financial means, including the right of way. Cui Dongshu predicted that the sales volume of new energy vehicles in China would reach 8.4 million in 2023, with a year-on-year growth of more than 30%. “With a high penetration rate of 36% in November this year, the new energy vehicle market has entered a supermarket driven stage.
Source: The Paper Read The Article
PSR Analysis: At present, new energy vehicles have entered the stage of accelerated growth, and the process of replacing fuel vehicles has been accelerated. Due to the expanded sales of new energy vehicles, unit costs also have been gradually reduced. At the same time, China has gradually canceled epidemic prevention and control measures, which has injected confidence into the car market again and is expected to boost sales.
Presently, exports of Chinese independent brands to European and American markets and developing countries is accelerating. Sales of international brands to China’s base is increasingly, and this growth rate will remain strong for new energy vehicles.
Car ownership in China has reached 315 million units and 223 units per 1000 people. Compared with 600 units per 1000 people in developed countries, China’s car market still has a lot of room for growth. The annual sales volume is expected to reach 40 to 50 million units in the future.
Given the government’s dual carbon strategy, the trend of automobile market electrification seems to be irreversible, and new energy vehicles will gradually replace the stock of fuel vehicles.
Second, maturity of the supply chain system of new energy vehicles will lead to a decline in the cost of new energy vehicles.
Third, with the progress of electrification technology and intelligent technology, the product strength of new energy vehicles will be further improved, the energy supplement facilities will be gradually improved, and the appeal to consumers will be further enhanced. The market penetration rate of domestic new energy passenger vehicles will further increase, and it is expected to reach 46% and 54% in 2025 and 2029, respectively. PSR
Jack Hao Is Senior Research Manager-China, for Power Systems Research
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Solaris Buses Purchases 25 Fuel Cell Engines
EUROPEAN REPORT
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
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John Deere Plans Construction Equipment Plant
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 …
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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.
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Royal Enfield Starts Assembly Plant in Brazil
BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT
Royal Enfield has started its first assembly line in South America to produce motorcycles. The plant is located in Manaus-AM, Brazil and is the fourth in the world to operate under the CKD system.
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DATAPOINT: North America Terminal Tractors
Estimated 2022 Production: 3,800 Units
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
This 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.
Exports: Collectively, up to 40% worldwide
Market Share: With 31% of total units produced, Tico leads in production of Terminal Tractors in North America. In second position is Kalmar–Ottawa with 26%; third is Capacity Trucks with 19%.
Trends: In 2021, production of Terminal Tractors in North America increased nearly 16% over 2020 production. Production is expected to gain another 22.5% in 2022. Over the past few years, airlines have tightened expenditures and reduced purchases of Terminal Tractors. This is accredited to the downfall of the industry with no leftover monies for new units due to tight or minimal budget constraints.
The production increases in 2021 and 2022 are the result of increased demand for new products that improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
2018 was an exceptional year in the North American Terminal Tractor industry. Hesitations of increase in prices from additional tariffs and trade wars made several customers bring forward orders, resulting in significant growth in sales for most manufacturers. Production is expected to remain steady with an additional increase of 10% by 2025. PSR
Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations, at Power Systems Research
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Redwood To Supply Cathode Materials To Panasonic
Guy Youngs Panasonic Energy said it has agreed to purchase cathode active materials and copper foil for lithium-ion batteries from Redwood Materials. The recycled cathode active materials will be used to manufacture batteries in the company’s new $4 billion factory located in De Soto, Kansas, starting in 2025, and the recycled copper foil will be used to make batteries at Panasonic’s facility in Sparks, Nevada, starting in 2024.
“Recycling and a localizing supply chain are both essential to make the best use of limited natural resources,” said Kazuo Tadanobu, President and CEO of Panasonic Energy, in a press release.
This may amount to 50% of the cost of the battery and add around 900 new workers to Redwood Materials workforce once in full scale production
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U.S. Powersports Industry Grows in 2021
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.
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Acquisitions in Light/Medium EV Segment
NORTH AMERICA REPORT
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.
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