Hyundai-Kia and Stellantis Plan Different EV Strategies in India

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

“India is a key market for vehicle electrification, particularly due to the government’s carbon neutrality goals, which makes securing cost competitiveness through localized battery production crucial,” Heui Won Yang, president and head of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s research and development division.

Source: Business Standard.     Read The Article

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Kubota Unveils First Fuel Cell Tractor

JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

On March 28, Kubota unveiled the first prototype of a fuel cell-powered tractor. Although no release date has been set, the company will consider installing fuel cells in unmanned, automated tractors. Kubota is also developing battery-powered agricultural equipment, but the company believes that hydrogen-powered fuel cells will be effective for medium-large sized agricultural equipment.

Kubota is rushing to commercialize fuel cells because it believes demand will grow in developed countries such as Japan, Europe and the United States as a result of the trend toward decarbonization. The prototype machine has about 60 horsepower and has three hydrogen tanks installed above the cabin, which are used in Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell car. It generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen to power the engine. In the experiment, a tractor was equipped with a plowing unit to till the soil.

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John Deere Announces Investments in Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

John Deere, has announced the acquisition of the condominium housing the company’s regional office in Indaiatuba (SP) and the Parts Distribution Center for South America (SA-PDC) in Campinas (SP), along with adjacent land for future expansion. The company also recently has acquired two plots in the Montenegro Industrial District (RS). These investments are part of the company’s ongoing commitment to development and expansion in the national market.

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A New Path for Van Hool

EUROPE REPORT 
Emiliano Marzoli
Emiliano Marzoli

Brussels, Belgium – After weeks of uncertainty and, finally, a bankruptcy, bus and trailer manufacturer Van Hool can look to the future again.  The company trustee has accepted the bid from the competitor VDL – Schmitz-Cargobull.  This move was seen by the trustee as the quickest and most efficient way to restart the operations without losing additional company value, and important resources. 

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Global Lawn and Garden Equipment Market

GLOBAL REPORT
Michael Aistrup

The global lawn and Garden Equipment Market, which includes commercial and residential equipment, is projected by Power Systems Research to reach sales of $46.16 billion by 2030. This is a projected increase of $15.96 billion dollars from 2023 to 2030, an increase of 52.8%.

The global impact of COVID-19 is stating to wane and the market is returning to a normal growth rate. Individual homeowners are still interested in lawn and garden care, just not as much as during COVID-19. More people are returning to recreational activities.

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Are Sodium Ion Batteries Viable Alternative to Lithium?

ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT
Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

Despite lithium ion battery prices continuing to fall, interest in sodium ion (Na-ion) energy storage has not waned. Sodium ion batteries are undergoing a critical period of commercialization as industries from automotive to energy storage bet big on the technology. Sodium ion looks well placed, with superior safety, raw material costs, and environmental credentials.

Sodium ion cells, produced at scale, could be 20% to 30% cheaper than the dominant stationary storage battery technology, lithium ferro/iron-phosphate (LFP), primarily due to abundant sodium and low extraction and purification costs. Sodium ion batteries can use aluminum for the anode current collector instead of copper, which is used in lithium ion batteries, further reducing costs and supply chain risks.

Source: PV Magazine: Read The Article

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