WEG Building Plant for EV Batteries in Brazil

Brazilian WEG has announced plans for a new 6,000 m2 plant in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, to produce battery packs for EVs. With the investment, the annual capacity will be 1 GWh in battery packs. WEG plans a highly automated plant, with 140 direct employees; WEG’s timeline calls for completion of the plant in 1H 2024.

Source: Automotive Business    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: WEG aims to supply EV production for OEMs located in Brazil. With strong background in drives and industrial electrical components, WEG could be a natural selection for many OEMs in Brazil.    PSR

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

20-Year Changes in Top Construction OEM Hierarchy

A new animated chart shows the dramatic changes in the evolving hierarchy of the biggest construction equipment manufacturers over 20 years. The chart draws on data from International Construction’s Yellow Table, which tracks the top 50 construction OEMs across the world. The data stretches back to 2003, and up until the latest version in 2022.

Source: International Construction: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: This animated chart is especially interesting in that it allows you to track the growth of up to half a dozen big Chinese OEMs who have grown among the top companies.    PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

2032 Marine Inboard Market Forecast: $4.45B

GLOBAL REPORT
Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

The global marine inboard engines market is expected to grow from $2.75 billion in 2022 to $4.45 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.1%, according to forecasts by Power Systems Research.

A marine inboard engine is a reciprocating engine mounted within a boat’s hull.  It is a four-stroke engine that has been modified for maritime usage. The engine spins a drive shaft that passes through the hull and is connected to a propeller. While outboard engines must be periodically serviced to ensure they remain watertight, inboard engines typically do not require much maintenance. Additionally, inboard engines tend to be more fuel-efficient than outboards.

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Battery Recycling Center Will Have A Big Impact On Europe

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

Recycling lithium-ion batteries is extremely important, as these batteries contain valuable metals such as cobalt, copper, and lithium that can be recovered and reused. By recycling these metals, we can reduce our reliance on mining and extractive activities that aren’t free or even cheap.

Li-Cycle (a recycling company) and Glencore (a mining company) have partnered to do something significant in this space. The proposed “Portovesme Hub” would focus on producing essential battery materials like cobalt, lithium, and nickel by recycling used battery content. A letter of intent has been signed to commence the preliminary discussions.

Source: CleanTechnica   Read The Article

PSR Analysis:  This facility can’t take care of Europe’s full battery recycling needs, but the research and development of mass recycling processes sets the stage for future facilities that will take care of the rest of the needs. So, this announcement is both good for the near-term and the long-term future.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

DATAPOINT: NA Off-Highway Trucks 2023 Production

1,600 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Off-Highway Trucks expected to be produced in the United States and Canada in 2023. None of these trucks are electric units.

Unlike On-Road Trucks, Off-Highway Trucks are specifically designed to work in punishing environments and are made to haul material and debris around a work site. These purpose-built vehicles are not constrained by the weight limits of their smaller on-road counterparts.

Expect production to increase 5% by 2025 as the need for new equipment for mining operations increases.  It is speculated that there will be growth in the excavation of iron ore, nickel and bauxite followed by gold and copper.  PSR

Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations, at Power Systems Research

Alternative Propulsion MHVs Down 55% YTD in Brazil

Unlike what happened with automobiles, in which new propulsion technologies registered an increase of almost 60% in the first half of 2023, heavy vehicles powered by electricity or gas dropped 55.5% in this period.

From the 604 units licensed in H1 2022, the volume fell to 269 from January to June this year. The survey was released by the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea).

Source: Automotive Business    Read The Article

PSR Analysis. Although OEMs say the drop is in line with the overall market reduction, the ICE market does not account for the significant decrease in sales. Sales from January to June 2023 are only 1% below 2022 in the same period. The small volumes and the size of orders can explain the oscillation with orders postponed from Q1 2023 and Q2 2023 with expectations for incentives and better credit in the second half of 2023.

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

BYD Establishes JV To Produce Sodium-Ion EV Batteries

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

Chinese automotive conglomerate BYD is establishing a joint venture with Huaihai Holding Group to establish themselves as the world’s largest supplier of sodium-ion batteries for small EVs. Previously, we’ve seen CATL (BYD’s main competitor), announce plans to produce sodium-ion cells.

Sodium-ion batteries deliver a lower energy density than traditional lithium-ion cells but cost notably less to produce. Their main component (sodium) is also safer and more abundant than lithium. The chemistry is ideal for smaller EVs that generally deliver less range and have less demand on a daily mobility basis.

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DATAPOINT: NA Personal Watercraft

89,700 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Personal Watercraft (PWC) expected to be produced in North America in 2023. In this category, we include jet drive boats and jet drive pontoons as well as personal watercraft.

Jet Drive Boats are boats propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft; they have no propeller and can maneuver in shallow water. PWCs are also driven by jet water and come in several styles: Stand-Ups or Sit-Downs. They are often referred to as jet skis. Sit Downs are designed for one, two or three persons in a sitting position, one in front of the other. PWC Stand-Ups are designed for one rider standing or kneeling on the watercraft.

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