News: PowerTALK

2023-05-21

Weichai, BYD To Jointly Produce Batteries

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

Weichai Power and BYD have agreed to jointly produce power batteries in Shandong, and to cooperate in programs to develop EV commercial vehicles. On May 23, the companies signed an agreement to build a research and development and manufacturing base for power batteries, continuously strengthen the new energy industry chain, innovation chain, and value chain, and make positive contributions to promoting the industrialization development of China’s new energy commercial vehicles.

Weichai Power is the largest manufacturer of diesel engines in China. Since 2010, Weichai Power has set a strategic goal of leading the global industry development in the new energy business by 2030. Weichai Power has invested more than 4 billion yuan in this effort. It has strategically restructured the Canadian Ballard hydrogen fuel cell, the British Siris solid oxide fuel cell, and the Swiss rapid air compressor, developed the first hydrogen internal combustion engine heavy truck in China, comprehensively laid out the three technical routes of pure electric, hybrid power, and hydrogen fuel cell, and dispersed the risks brought by the uncertainty of industrial development with the investment strategy of coexistence of multiple technical routes.

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EPA Introduces Phase Three GHG Emission Standards

NORTH AMERICA REPORT
Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

In early May, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a virtual public hearing regarding the Phase 3 greenhouse gas emission standards for heavy duty trucks.  There are various comments and opinions from the stakeholders that attended the hearing.  Along with introducing the Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) rules to begin for MY 2028 trucks, the EPA also revised the Phase 2 GHG standards for the MY 2027 truck standards. 

This link from CCJ (Commercial Carrier Journal) is a good overview of the conference.

CCJ: ‘Destined to fail’: Trucking sounds off to EPA on new Phase 3 greenhouse-gas regs

The Environmental Protection Agency this week held virtual public hearings related to its Phase 3 greenhouse gas emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, unveiled last month. Among the dozens who testified during the hearings, trucking industry stakeholders were part of a small minority advocating for EPA to take a step back and reconsider the proposed standards that would take effect beginning with model-year 2027 trucks.

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2032 Marine Inboard Market Forecast: $4.45B

GLOBAL REPORT
Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

The global marine inboard engines market is expected to grow from $2.75 billion in 2022 to $4.45 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.1%, according to forecasts by Power Systems Research.

A marine inboard engine is a reciprocating engine mounted within a boat’s hull.  It is a four-stroke engine that has been modified for maritime usage. The engine spins a drive shaft that passes through the hull and is connected to a propeller. While outboard engines must be periodically serviced to ensure they remain watertight, inboard engines typically do not require much maintenance. Additionally, inboard engines tend to be more fuel-efficient than outboards.

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Cummins To Invest $1 Billion in US Hydrogen Fuel Network

Cummins has announced that in addition to the recent investments it has made in its Fridley, Minn., plant, it will also invest more than $1 billion across its US engine manufacturing network in an effort to support the transition into hydrogen fuel.

The investments are being made in Indiana, North Carolina and New York. The $1 billion is intended to provide an upgrade of facilities supporting the first “fuel-agnostic” engine platforms in the industry. The fuel-agnostic concept refers specifically engines that can use different types of fuel, especially a variety of low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels.

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VW To Build Its Largest Battery Factory In Canada

The battery division of Volkswagen Group, PowerCo SE, said it plans to construct its biggest battery gigafactory to date in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. A potential final expansion stage could produce up to 90 GWh of batteries annually.

This will be the company’s first overseas gigafactory for cell production, and it will provide the company’s BEVs in the North American region with their unified cells technology, a cell technology created for mass production. Construction is expected to start in 2024 and be completed in 2027.

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2023-04-19

Alternative Power Report, April 2023

PSR Alt Power Report-April 2023.Download

Engines powered by gasoline and diesel fuel are reaching a critical point in production compared to electric and hybrid vehicles, according to reports in the April issue of Alternative Power Report. 2026 could be a critical year. Read about this trend and related articles that address alternative power in this issue.

LNG May Be Fuel for Long-Haul Trucking

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

With the increasing penetration of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) network across India, many cities may transition from conventional diesel-powered vehicles to CNG for the last mile.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) could be a favorable option for heavy and long hauls due to its higher energy density and hence a lower payload penalty and potential range, a lower carbon footprint/noise levels and its cryogenic temperatures which makes it a theft-proof fuel option.

At the same time, the use of HPDI (High-Pressure Direct Injection), a system that enables heavy–duty trucks to operate on natural gas with diesel- like performance would also aid in the switch to LNG.

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2023-04-18

Volvo Tests Renewable LNG Truck

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT  
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Volvo plans to test trucks fueled by vegetable origin LNG, gas in liquid form. According to the president of Volvo Trucks in Latin America, Wilson Lirmann, gas from renewable waste makes more sense in the transport operation because it contributes to nullifying the emission of CO2 in the fleet of commercial vehicles.

In this sense, the brand should soon bring LNG-powered trucks to the region. Brazil is a focus market, but possibly these trucks will debut in other South America countries. That’s because the infrastructure is still under development in Brazil. Although Lirmann does not say which countries in the region will receive the brand’s first gas trucks, it is known that Argentina and Chile already have more developed technology and infrastructure. 

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Vale Increases Use of BE Locomotives in Brazil

As part of the strategy of accelerating the use of technologies that use renewable sources, Vale received at the end of March its second 100% electric locomotive, powered by battery. Manufactured in China by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive (CRRC ZELC), the equipment will initially operate in the maneuvering yard of the Ponta da Madeira Terminal in São Luís (MA). Its batteries, made of lithium, have a storage capacity of 1000 kWh, with autonomy to operate up to 10 hours without stops for recharging.

CRRC’s locomotive is part of Vale’s strategy to electrify its mine and rail equipment. The two areas account for 25% of the company’s direct carbon emissions, the so-called scope 1. In 2019, Vale announced the goal of zeroing its net emissions of scopes 1 and 2 (relative to electricity consumption) by 2050. To this end, it is investing between US$ 4 billion and US$ 6 billion.

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Biodiesel Mix Increase Begins in Brazil

During its first meeting March 17, 2023, the new leadership of the National Council for Energy Policy (CNPE) approved an increase to 12% of the mandatory blend of biodiesel to diesel sold in Brazil, after April this year.

The proposal approved by the CNPE sets the addition of biodiesel in the composition of diesel to grow in April this year from the current level of 10% (B10 mixture) to 12% (B12 mixture). The content will be raised to 13% (B13 mixture) in April 2024, to 14% (B14 mixture) in April 2025 and to 15% (B15 mixture) in April 2026.

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