Nikola Plans To Develop Hydrogen Fuel Network

The lack of a refueling infrastructure is one of the largest challenges facing H2 development, so Nikola plans to start building a hydrogen fuel network. The network would make it possible for H2-powered vehicles to refuel conveniently, particularly when those vehicles are the company’s own trucks.

The company has already started the construction of H2 plants in order to produce the H2 necessary to supply the hydrogen fuel network. Once those are in place and the refueling stations are built, it will become feasible for companies to begin including H2-powered trucks in their fleets.

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Lithium-Air Battery Could Offer Longer Range

Most owners of electric cars have wished for a battery pack that could power their vehicle for more than a thousand miles on a single charge, and Range Anxiety is a big issue for EV adoption. Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have developed a lithium-air battery that could make that dream a reality.

The main new component in this lithium-air battery is a solid electrolyte instead of the usual liquid variety. Batteries with solid electrolytes are not subject to the safety issues of liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion and other battery types, which can overheat and catch fire.

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Subway Sandwiches To Add EV Charging Stations

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

In the August 2022 issue of PowerTALK, we reported that Tesla had deployed cube lounges at Supercharger stations with automated coffee, food, and even a swimming pool. Well, the Subway sandwich folks want to get in on the act, too.

Subway is teaming up with Miami-based GenZ EV Solutions to provide an “EV charging oasis” of the future so you can eat while your EV charges. Starting in 2023, “Subway EV charging oasis” parks with multiple spots, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, restrooms, green space, and playgrounds will be installed at select locations. As part of the plan, new or freshly remodeled stores will get small-format, fast EV charging stations.

Source: Electrek: Read The Article

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Alternative Power Report, March 2023

Hydrogen power continues to be a hot topic as an alternative power source, as you’ll see when you read the March 2023 issue of the Alternative Power Report from Power Systems Research. Development of the charging infrastructure is a hot topic, too, as we see with the article on Subway tying its sandwich shops in with charging stations. PSR

Alternative Power Report, February 2023

Read about the 240 ton electric mining truck that can charge in 30 minutes in the February 2023 issue of Alternative Power Report produced by PSR’s Guy Youngs. The same issue contains articles about Volvo’s electric concrete mixer truck and its wheel loader. Europe’s charging corridor will make driving easier for MHVs. PSR

From Diesel to DC

For a long while, it looked as if hydrogen fuel cells would be the technology of choice for emissions-free road transport. However, truck manufacturers and freight forwarders recently turned their attention to battery-electric vehicles.

For logistics companies, the shift to zero emissions will be difficult. While it only takes a few minutes to top up the tank of a truck with diesel, it takes hours to fully charge the battery of an EV, which presents a real challenge for logistics businesses with zero-emission aspirations.

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240 Ton EV Mining Truck Can Charge in 30 Minutes

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

A 240-ton mining haul truck is being fitted with a 1.4 megawatt-hour (MWh) prototype battery system that global green energy company Fortescue has developed with equipment maker Liebherr.

UK-based engineering company WAE Technologies, (acquired by Fortescue in March 2022), completed and delivered the battery system to Fortescue’s workshop in Perth, Australia. The battery will be assembled and installed in the mining haul truck before it’s transported to the Pilbara in Western Australia for onsite testing this year.

The battery system marks several firsts for an electric mining haul truck battery: In addition to having energy storage of 1.4 MWh, it also has the ability to fast-charge in 30 minutes, and it can regenerate power as it drives downhill.

Source:Electrek: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: This is a good view of the potential for all mining trucks, but it should be noted that a lot of these huge mining trucks are diesel-electric to start with, (a diesel generator powering electric drives), so this is a matter of replacing the generator with the battery pack. They also can recharge on the way down, so the battery size can be relatively smaller.     PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Global Motorcycle Market Grows at 5.48% Rate

GLOBAL REPORT
Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

The global motorcycle market is growing at a healthy CAGR of 5.48%, according to Power Systems Research. Revenue for 2021 was approximately $107.1 Billion and projected to be $146.6 Billion by 2030.

Growth during this period is primarily due to increasing demand from China, India, and ASEAN countries. In addition, growth in traditional markets such as Europe and North America is also anticipated.

The growth of drivers for the Motorcycle industry come from the requirement for cost-effective private transportation among people around the world.

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Alternative Power Report, January 2023

The January 2023 Alternative Power Report produced by PSR’s Guy Youngs and other analysts at Power Systems Research includes several articles on hydrogen power. New applications of hydrogen power from construction to marine are discussed in this issue. Plans by OEMs Audi and BMW for new EV cars also are discussed. PSR