Search Results for: cummins-plans-electrified-powertrain-system-2019

2024-01-22

Thailand Lithium Deposit World’s Third Largest

THAILAND REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

The Thai government has announced the discovery of a large lithium deposit, calling the deposit the third largest in the world after Bolivia and Argentina. It has estimated reserves of approximately 14.8 million tons. The deposit was found at two sites in the southern province of Phang Nga. However, it will take some time to find out how much of the discovered resources can be used.

Thailand is keen to become the center of EV production in Southeast Asia, leveraging its experience in assembling conventional cars, and the discovery of the lithium deposit will give the country a boost in achieving this goal.

Source: AFPBB

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Q4 2023 Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) Climbs 8.4%

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA— The Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) increased from 107 to 116, or 8.4% for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2023. For the fourth quarter of 2023, ending Dec. 31, 2023, the index increased from 112 to 116, or 3.6%, compared to Q3 2023.

The PSR-TPI is a quarterly truck production report that measures global truck production across six regions: North America, China, Europe, South America, Japan & Korea and Emerging Markets. This data comes from OE Link™, the proprietary database maintained by Power Systems Research.

The next update of the Power Systems Research TPI will be in April 2024 and will reflect changes in the TPI during Q1 2024. PSR

Jim Downey is vice president – global data products at Power Systems Research and Chris Fisher is the senior commercial vehicle analyst at Power Systems Research 

South America TPI Expected To Climb 22% in 2024

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA— The Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) increased from 107 to 116, or 8.4% for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2023. For the fourth quarter of 2023, ending Dec. 31, 2023, the index increased from 112 to 116, or 3.6%, compared to Q3 2023.

South America. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle production is expected to increase by 22.1% this year after a significant decline in 2023 primarily driven by a weaker economy and the implementation of the Proconve 8 emission regulations in Brazil last year.

The PSR-TPI is a quarterly truck production report that measures global truck production in six regions: North America, China, Europe, South America, Japan & Korea and Emerging Markets.

This data comes from OE Link™, the proprietary database maintained by Power Systems Research.

The next update of the Power Systems Research TPI will be in April 2024 and will reflect changes in the TPI during Q1 2024.  PSR

Jim Downey is vice president – global data products at Power Systems Research and Chris Fisher is the senior commercial vehicle analyst at Power Systems Research 

2024-03-17

Van Hool To End City Bus Production in Belgium

GLOBAL REPORT
Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

Van Hool has announced its exit from the City Bus business and focus on Hydrogen fuel cell coaches which appears to have been a serious miscalculation.  As the market transitions away from internal combustion engine buses toward battery electric buses, Van Hool has been left behind.

Van Hool recently lost a bid for 300 electric city buses to BYD which assembles their buses in Hungary at a lower cost than Van Hool could manufacture these in Belgium.  It was reported that the BYD bid was approximately 20% less than the Van Hool bid. This along with other issues will result in Van Hool ending most if not all of their bus and coach operations in Belgium and transfer the bus and coach making activities to their assembly plant in Macedonia. 

However, Van Hool will need a significant cash infusion in a short period of time to cover the cost of their existing debt and the coming redundancy payments in order to stave off insolvency.

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Rolls-Royce Reports 16% Revenue Growth in 2023

EUROPE REPORT 
Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

Rolls Royce Power Systems Business Unit, based in Friedrichshafen, Germany, reported sales of EUR 4.56 billion in fiscal 2023, a 16% increase over 2022. Operating profit hit 10.2%, up from 8.4% in 2022.

The operating profit increase is due to the investments in transformation and process optimization, implementation of a new commercial policy, better cost, and stock management.

Strong demand for standby power generation especially for data centers, implementation of the “From bridge to the propeller” strategy for large yachts, and development of an energy storage systems in Europe integrating renewable energies into the Duch public grid have contributed significantly to the revenue growth.

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Van Hool Making Major Changes

Emiliano Marzoli
Emiliano Marzoli

At a special works council recently, bus manufacturer Van Hool announced over 1,100 jobs will be lost at the company between now and 2027. The redundancies and other job losses are part of the ‘Van Hool Recovery Plan’ the company is introducing to get the business back on track.

The largest number of job losses – about 830 – are planned for this year.  Bus production is now being moved to Macedonia, while trailers, industrial vehicles, R&D will remain in Flanders. 

Source:  VRT News.     Read The Article      Read This Article, Too

PSR Analysis:   Van Hool has struggled recently under the pressure of competition from Chinese manufacturers.  Even in the Flanders, home of Van Hool, Chinese bus manufacturer BYD was able to win a public tender for the supply of 300 electric urban busses.  The biggest advantage of Chinese companies is the know how and attractive price they can offer on battery powered busses.   In recent time, Van Hool has invested heavily in Fuel cells busses, but this move has not pay off. 

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2024-04-17

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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