PowerTALK™, March 2022

This issue of PowerTALK News contains several articles about the situation in Russia, including news about plant shut downs and operational adjustments by OEMs. Several EV articles, too.

Inside:

  • Medium and Heavy EV Testing
  • DataPoint: NA Dumpers/Tenders
  • Europe: Middle East Energy Show Resumes
  • South America
    • Brazil Cuts Production Taxes
    • VW Plans EV Charger Program
    • Sao Paulo EV Bus Program
  • China: 90% EV Penetration Expected
  • Japan: Sony, Honda To Develop EV SUV
  • India: Paggio Developing EV Scooter for India
  • Russia:
    • Half of Auto Plants Shut Down
    • KAMAZ Adjusts To Daimler Exit
    • CAT Plans To Stop Russia Production
    • Foreign Automakers Face Ultimatum

Piaggio Developing Electric Scooter For Indian Market

INDIA REPORT 
Aditya Kondejkar

Piaggio, which sells electric scooters in Europe, is developing products specifically for India but it will take 18-24 months to enter the market. It will focus on scooters and not launch electric motorcycles.

The large automaker has 2024 in its sights as a realistic go-to-market timeline for the new scooter.

“We are interested in providing customers with a solution in the two-wheeler space that (makes sense) even beyond the effect of subsidies. It is a matter of fact that the players that have entered recently in this space are gaining volumes on the base of subsidies,” says Diego Graffi, MD & CEO Piaggio India

Read The Article

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Maruti Suzuki To Build EV-Battery Plant

INDIA REPORT 
Aditya Kondejkar

The development work has already been started on a project codenamed YY8 planned for 2024-2025.

Source: Economic Times.    Read The Article

Major auto players in India like Tata Motors, MG Motors and Hyundai have already announced their investment plans in the electric vehicles sector, there wasn’t any formal announcement from Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest automaker. But now, the penny has dropped.

Suzuki Motor, parent of Maruti Suzuki, says it has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat State government, and plans to invest Rs 10,440 crore in there to build an EV and battery factory. The MoU was signed at the India-Japan Economic Forum held in New Delhi.

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Buffett-backed BYD Will Supply Batteries To Tesla

CHINA REPORT

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

BEIJING— Chinese electric vehicle (EV) and battery maker BYD is going to become Tesla’s battery supplier for the first time, a senior executive at the company backed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway said recently.

“Tesla is a very successful company. BYD has great respect for Tesla and raises our hat to it,” said BYD’s executive vice president Lian Yubo in an interview with the state-owned news channel China Global Television Network (CGTN), when he was asked his thoughts of China-made vehicles in comparison with Tesla.  “(Tesla CEO) Musk and us are good friends now as we are preparing to supply batteries to it very soon. We learned a lot from Tesla,” Lian added, noting the U.S. rival’s positioning itself as a high-end EV brand.

Lian’s remark suggests BYD is set to be the second China-based battery supplier of Tesla next to CATL, the world’s largest EV battery company. LG Energy Solution, the South Korean battery maker second to CATL, and Tesla’s long-time partner Panasonic currently are another two battery makers in Tesla’s supplier list.

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BorgWarner Buys EV Charging Company

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

Global auto supplier, BorgWarner has announced it is buying EV charging company Rhombus Energy Solutions. The deal will boost its EV charging presence in North America while adding to its European market and will accelerate its charging business by leveraging its existing capabilities. This is the latest in a round of EV related acquisitions the company has made. In August 2021 it took control of AKASOL,(a German EV battery company) and in March 2022, BorgWarner acquired 100% of Santroll Automotive Components (a light vehicle eMotor business).

Source: Electrek Read The Article

PSR Analysis: This acquisition will generate good revenue for BorgWarner and continues their move into this market. It’s also a good example of the many acquisitions that OEMs are making into the broad arena of electric power as they see future opportunities. Other recent examples include: Nikola acquiring Romeo Power to bring its battery supply inhouse, Terex investing in Acculon Energy, and Cummins acquiring Meritor (Cummins believes eAxles will be a critical integration point within hybrid and electric drivetrains).    PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

PowerTALK™, September 2022

South Korea is looking at its first trade deficit with China in 28 years, according to a report in the September issue of PowerTALK News, the monthly report of news and analysis from Power Systems Research. Also in this issue is a report from Guy Youngs on Alternative Power sources, as well as reports from two important industry shows: The Cannes Yachting Festival in France and the M&T Expo in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

IN THIS ISSUE
  • Alternative Power
    • Electric Battery Power Forecasts
    • Can EV Enthusiasm Trigger Global Growth?
    • Lithium Spot Prices Climb Nearly 900% Since January 2020
    • Cummins Jumps On New Energy Storage Iron Salt Formula
    • EV Shipping Set To Blow IC Engines Out of the Water
  • North America:
    • Navistar Introduces S13 Engine Platform
    • Outdoor Power Equipment Forecast To Grow 5.3%
  • DataPoint: NA Crawlers
  • Europe: Report from Cannes Yachting Festival 2022
  • Brazil/South America: Special Report: M&T Expo
  • China: Drought Forces Sichuan Power Cuts at Factories
  • Japan: Vinfast To Export Initial 5,000 EVs To Europe and the U.S.
  • Japan: Honda To Discontinue Two-Wheel Gasoline Vehicles
  • South Korea: South Korea Sees First Trade Deficit with China in 28 Years
  • India: Festive Demand Expected To Boost Auto Industry

PowerTALK™, November 2022

IN THIS ISSUE

Bauma 2022 was held in Munich this year during October, and Power Systems Research sent a team of analysts to the show to meet with exhibitors and attendees to discuss industry changes and to study new products. Read their complete report. Also in this issue is the expanded Alternative Power sources report prepared by Guy Youngs.

  • Alternative Power
    • JCB Unveils Mobile Hydrogen Refueller
    • Massive Hydrogen Fuel Truck To Help Decarbonize Mining Industry
    • 50-Ton Battery-Powered Electric Crane Introduced
    • World Needs To Mine 25× More Lithium By 2050
    • US Increases EV Battery Recycling Capacity
    • Penn State Offers Smaller, Faster Charging Batteries
    • Liebherr Leads Bauma Innovation Award Winners
  • Miners Cut CO2 Emissions by Switching To EVs
  • DataPoint: Utility Vehicles
  • Global Report: Powersports Market Expected To Exceed US$ 50 Billion
  • North America: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck News
  • Brazil/South America:
    • Foton Aumark Shuts Down Operations in Brazil
    • São Paulo Partners with ENEL To Replace Diesel Buses To BEV
  • Randon Acquires US Trailer Maker Hercules
  • Show Report: Bauma-Munich 2022
  • Japan: Semiconductor Development Companies Set Up
  • South Korea: Korean Electric Motorcycle Maker Builds Factory in Vietnam
  • SE Asia: New Vehicle Sales Increase 33% in September
  • India: Cheering Festive Season for Auto Industry

Randon Acquires US Trailer Maker Hercules

Randon, an Brazil-based OEM, has agreed to invest $40 million to acquire the US-based trailer manufacturer Hercules. Randon’s purchase agreement for Hercules is expected to be finalized within 120 days. Randon Implementos is the largest semi-trailer manufacturer in Latin America. The company maintains a manufacturing park in Argentina and works with partners to assemble semi-trailers at several points in Central America and Africa. It is the main Brazilian exporter in the segment, with a historical market share of 60% in exports.

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India Bets on Green Hydrogen

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

The electric vehicle market in India is mostly dominated by lithium-ion battery technology, which powers two-, three- and four-wheeler vehicles. But this situation comes with its own set of challenges.

For instance, each battery chemistry has a different energy density, peak power output and charging time. Hence, the industry is working on alternative green solutions, and the government of India is aggressively working on hydrogen as a fuel option.

In terms of refueling time, hydrogen has a definitive advantage over batteries. It takes just a couple of minutes for a hydrogen vehicle to be refueled, irrespective of size, compared to the hours it takes to recharge an electric vehicle.

The union cabinet approved US$ 2.4 trillion (Rs 19,744 cr) for National Green Hydrogen Mission. The mission has four components aimed at enhancing domestic production of green hydrogen and promoting the manufacturing of electrolysers — a key constituent for making green hydrogen. The initial target is to produce 5 million tons of green hydrogen annually.

Source: Business Standard    Read The Article

Along with the government, other industry stakeholders are taking significant steps to develop hydrogen fuel. Ashok Leyland (one of the largest CV makers) is working with Reliance industries on the development and supply chain of hydrogen-powered engines.

Ashok Leyland plans to install fuel-cell engines in an existing fleet of 45,000 trucks that RIL has hired to transport refined products and other marketing goods as a first stage in the strategy. Also, Adani (diversified business portfolio) and TotalEnergies (French energy and petroleum company) have entered into a partnership to jointly create the world’s largest green hydrogen ecosystem.

The potential of the country towards the production of hydrogen is attractive to many companies. European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is looking to source green hydrogen from India as well as Australia and Latin America. 

“India is an amazing location with huge potential for the production of (green) hydrogen at a very exciting cost,” says Glenn Llewellyn, VP Zero-Emission Aircraft at Airbus.

In the 16th edition of the motor show Auto Expo Toyota, MG motors, Tata motors, Hyundai, and VECV,  showcased their hydrogen-powered vehicles across several segments. It’s evident that OEMs are seriously exploring the option of Hydrogen powered vehicles.   PSR

Aditya Kondejkar is Research Analyst – South Asia Operations for Power Systems Research

EV Purchase Subsidies Planned To Promote Sales

SOUTHEAST ASIA: 6 MAJOR COUNTRIES REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

Indonesia plans to introduce a subsidy program to encourage the purchase of EVs starting in 2023. The goal is to increase the number of EV users to 2.5 million by 2025 and reduce air pollution. The EV purchase subsidy program will be added to the list of EV policies introduced by President Joko Widodo over the past year.

Transportation Minister Boudi Karya Sumadi said the government is also considering subsidies for retrofitting internal combustion engine vehicles, but the government is carefully considering this plan because it would bring major changes to the labor-intensive auto industry. The Ministry of Transport plans to approach existing Indonesian automakers, such as South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and China’s BYD, to create an EV ecosystem for Borneo’s new capital city, he said.

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