Volkswagen Truck and Bus and CBMM To Develop Niobium Battery for EV

Volkswagen Truck and Bus, part of the Traton Group, and CBMM, a Brazilian giant of niobium mining, announced an agreement to develop batteries with Niobium for Electric Vehicles. It promises to recharge a Truck Battery in less than 10 minutes and provide a traveling higher range. Volkswagen will start tests in 2022 to develop a functional vehicle with Niobium batteries by the end of 2022.

Source: Revista Oeste     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Primarily used to improve the strength of high grade steels, Niobium is also used for super conductors and has been tested by CBMM and Toshiba in batteries for three years with positive results. The solution applied for MHV may put Brazil in a strong position in MHV EV segment, since 97% of the Niobium reserves in the world are in Brazil.

Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development , South America, for Power Systems Research

Brazil Motorcycle In-Service Population Grows

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

During the pandemic, the number of motorcycles in Brazil grew with the demand for delivery and e-commerce and boosted other business, from clothes for motorcyclists to spare parts.

Source: M&T     Read  The Article

PSR Analysis: The effect is seen not only because of the incremental sales and consequent in-service population increase, but because of the profile of utilization that changed. Motorcycles in Brazil are used for last mile delivery and delivery in urban centers, because of the low cost of acquisition and the low cost of operation, flexibility, and agility in traffic. The pandemic accelerated some changes in e-commerce and food delivery and created some demands above the standards already in place. It’s time for many to analyze and grab opportunities that sudden changes bring.   PSR

By Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development ,South America, for Power Systems Research

Hyundai Motor Launches ‘Wage Half Price Plant’

For the first time in 23 years, a finished car plant has started operations in South Korea. The operator is Gwangju Global Motors (GGM). This unfamiliar company was established under the leadership of the city of Gwangju in southwestern South Korea, with Hyundai Motor taking a stake, to specialize in contract manufacturing of small cars. The city of Gwangju, which aims to attract industry and create jobs, and Hyundai Motor, which wanted a plant where production can be outsourced at a low cost, coincided in their intentions.

The site area of 455,000 square meters is lined with three buildings: a pressed car body factory, a painting factory, and an assembly factory. Inside the assembly plant, which measures 340 meters by 140 meters, eight colorful car bodies flow smoothly down a three-dimensional production line.

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PowerTALK™, May 2022

The May 2022 issue of PowerTALK News features articles on the NA production of Hydraulic Power Units, development of bio-fuels in Europe and the successful sales effort of Hyundai EVs at the Indonesia Auto Show.

Inside:

  • DataPoint: NA Hydraulic Power Units
  • Europe: Plant-Based Bio-fuel May Not Replace Fossil Fuels
  • South America:
    • Komatsu Announces Expansion in Brazil
    • Agrishow 2022 Sells US$ 5 Billion in Ag Equipment
  • China: Beijing Plan Calls for 100% EV Commercial Vehicles
  • Japan: MEGURI2040: The Fully Autonomous Ship Program
  • South Korea: Hyundai Sells EVs at Indonesia Auto Show
  • Vietnam:  Dat Bike EV Motorcycle Enters SE Asia
  • India:
    • PMI Electro To Set Up EV Manufacturing Plant
    • Tata Motors: Electrification Is Irreversible Trend

PowerTALK™, May 2023

Read about Show Reports in Europe and South America in the May issue of PowerTALK Report. In this issue, you’ll also find a global forecast for inboard marine engines, Kia’s plans for tailored EVs and Weichai’s plans to join forces with BYD to jointly produce batteries.

IN THIS ISSUE
  • Alternative Power:
    • Caterpillar and NMG Join Forces
    • Volkswagen Plans Its Largest Battery Factory In Canada
    • Cummins To Invest $1 Billion in Hydrogen Network
    • Japan’s Love of Hydrogen Power Could Lead To Failure
  • Global: Marine Inboard Market Forecast: US$4.45B
  • North America: EPA Releases Phase Three GHG Standards
  • DataPoint: North American Lawn Mowers
  • Brazil/South America:
    • Show Report: Agrishow 2023
    • Show Report: Automec Special
  • Europe: Show Report: Hannover Messe 2023
  • Japan: Hitachi Plans Remote Excavator
  • South Korea: Kia Plans Customer Specific EVs
  • Thailand:  China To Build EV Plant in Thailand
  • China: Weichai, BYD To Jointly Produce Batteries
  • India: Rural Areas Play Vital Role in EV Adoption

PowerTALK™, April 2024

Get the current PowerTALK

The April 2024 issue of PowerTALK News presents another excellent report by analyst Guy Youngs on Alternate Power sources, an update on the OEM Van Hool, John Deere’s aggressive plans for expansion in Brazil, and an analysis of the market strategies being developed by two OEMs in the India market.

IN THIS ISSUE

ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT

  • Are Sodium Ion Batteries Viable Alternative to Lithium?
  • New Hydrogen Colors to Watch in 2024 and Why They Matter
  • Study Shows Plug-in Hybrids Aren’t as Clean as We Thought
  • CATL, Yutong Launch Long-life EV Battery

GLOBAL:  Lawn and Garden Equipment Market

DATAPOINT: North America Plate Compactor Production  

EUROPE: A New Path for Van Hool   
BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA
:

  • John Deere Announces New Investments in Brazil
  • Volvo To Begin Testing Heavy Trucks

JAPAN: Kubota Unveils First Fuel Cell Tractor
CHINA:
VW To Inject € 2.5 billion into its Hefei Base
INDIA: Two EV Strategies for India Market

EV Postal Delivery Motorcycle Is Honda’s New Opportunity

This article initially appeared in the February 2020 issue of PowerTALK News.

JAPAN–Honda plans to introduce 200 electric motorcycles for postal delivery services by March 2020, and around 2,000 units are expected be introduced in FY2020. Approximately 85,000 postal delivery motorcycles are running in Japan today, and all are made by Honda. There are also three-wheel models, but most are Super Cubs, which has a reputation for reliability. At first, these EV bikes will be deployed in Tokyo, where the driving range is small, and in other local ordinance-designated cities.

Akihiro Komuro
Akihito Komuro

The base unit is the electric motorcycle for business use, the Benly e-series. Honda will start selling it to corporations in April 2020. This is a 96V system in which two lithium-ion batteries with a voltage of 48V are connected in series. Charging is performed by removing the battery from the vehicle and using a special charger; it takes about four hours to reach full charge from zero.

Honda says the bike has a maximum output of 3.8PS and achieves a 12-degree slope uphill performance with maximum load capacity. The cruising range is 87km for Benly e: I and 43km for Benly e: II. According to Honda officials, the bike can be operated for one day considering the delivery range, but in most cases it will return to the post office during lunch break, and a battery can be replaced at that time.

Source: Response

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Komatsu Launches SMARTCONSTRUCTION Retrofit Kit

This article appeared in the March 2020 issue of PowerTALK™ News

March 23, 2020–Komatsu has launched the SMARTCONSTRUCTION Retrofit kit, the add-on kit to offer ICT capabilities, such as 3D machine guidance and payload measurement, to conventional construction equipment in Japan in late April through LANDLOG Ltd.

Akihiro Komuro
Akihito Komuro

Conventional construction equipment with no ICT capabilities account for over 98% of all construction equipment working on construction sites in Japan. When the SMARTCONSTRUCTION Retrofit kit is added to conventional equipment, it will enable the equipment to use ICT functions, such as 3D machine guidance and payload measurement, about on par with ICT-intensive equipment.

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Impact of COVID-19 in India on Engine-driven Applications

As of today, India is relatively less impacted by COVID than other nations. Because of the very bold and unprecedented move of a complete lockdown for about 40 days, India has managed to restrict the number of positive cases to 17,000.

Ritvik Kulkarni
Ritvik Kulkarni

Considering that India is a country with a population of over 1 billion persons living in challenging on-ground conditions, it is a phenomenal effort of proactive and timely response from the government as well as restraint observed by citizens.

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JAPAN REPORT: The Impact of COVID-19 on Manufacturers

Japanese OEMs are struggling to adapt to the COVID-19 problem. Plants are being temporarily shut down and production adjustments are being made.

Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

While domestic plants are generally operating quietly, overseas bases are being affected in various ways, depending on the country. Here is a summary of announcements by the major companies.

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