-
Brazil To Become Hub for EV Bus Chassis Production
BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT
Fabio Ferraresi Mercedes is exhibiting its electric bus chassis eO500U at Busworld in Brussels targeting other markets where the body is assembled over the bus chassis. Traditionally, the exports of Mercedes from Brazil are over 50% of the total production and it targets to expand this percentage with the new BEV, that has WEG drives, BorgWarner batteries assembled in Brazil with imported battery supplies.
Source: Valor Economico Read The Ar…
-
Higer Azure Electric Bus Debuts in São Paulo
The Azure A12 BR electric bus, from China’s TEVX Higer, has started operating in the South Zone of São Paulo. The vehicle has been put into use by Transwolff. According to the company, the 12-meter-long vehicle was made especially for the Brazilian market. It has a low floor and a suspension “kneeling” system. This feature provides more safety, comfort, and ease when boarding and disembarking passengers.
The bus has wide aisles and an access ramp at the central door. Thus, there is more accessibility for people with special needs related to reduced mobility.
-
Brazil’s School Bus Program Postponed
Initially scheduled to begin Sept. 12, 2023, the auction of the federal program “Caminhos da Escola” was postponed indefinitely. A new date has not been set. The new stage, which provides for the purchase of 163,000 buses was eagerly awaited by chassis and body manufacturers, would have been delayed until 2024 because of the time needed for the production.
The reason is technical: according to the bidding notice published at the end of last month, important chassis manufacturers as Volvo and Merecedes would be excluded from the bidding process due to new certification demanded.
-
2023 Cannes Yachting Festival Sets Records
EUROPE REPORT
Natasa Mulahalilovic The 46th Cannes Yachting Festival was the largest one ever, hosting 610 exhibitors and 705 boats. The Cannes Yachting Festival remains the largest and the most visited European pleasure boat show organized on the water.
The show’s organizers said the event has never hosted that many motor and sailing, mono and multi hulls, outboard boats, ribs and semi-rigid boats, tenders, electric, hydro-foiling, and other types of boats.
The show ran Sept. 12-17, offering six days of meetings and exchange with boat builders, engine and equipment manufacturers, designers and architects and other professionals from the pleasure marine industry.
The event hosted by a beautiful Mediterranean Cannes attracted 55,000 visitors coming from more than 130 worldwide countries. As usual, it was organized in two locations in the city, Vieux Port and Port Conto des Cannes. Motorboats and yachts in all sizes and with all propulsion types were displayed at the Vieux Port and sailing yachts and catamarans at the Port Canto des Cannes.
-
Global Economy Seeing Modest Growth with Positive Outlook
GLOBAL REPORT
SUMMARY. Many factors are pointing to modest growth in Q3 2023. This should lead to total production globally growing at +2.4% in 2023 vs 2022 (it was 2.6% in Q2 2023), and the outlook for the next few years remains positive with growth accelerating from 2025. Apart from Russia and Ukraine, the main countries to show a decline are South Korea, Slovakia, Netherlands. However, the segment picture shows some differences.
Several drivers are influencing the global economic picture.
- Fuel prices eased earlier this year, recently they have grown slightly and are no longer showing signs of easing. This remains a serious issue.
- Supply chains remain constrained and show no signs of improving.
- The war in Ukraine shows no sign of a speedy conclusion, despite recent successes by Ukraine.
- Ukrainian exports of wheat, other grains and fertilizer have declined massively following Russia’s ending on the Grain Deal. Alternative routes (overland, and via the Danube) simply don’t have the necessary capacity.
- Inflation is easing, but it continues to be a major concern for central banks as they consider raising their interest rates. This will pose a risk to economic growth in all regions. Inflation and price increases are putting OEMs in a difficult situation.
- Risk of recession continues in the background for several countries, notably China, USA and Germany, and this could drag other countries into recession.
- Covid is still lingering with global deaths now at over 6.9 million, and a new variant has the medical world concerned.
- Latent demand for machinery keeps building, which is a positive sign.
-
Tesla Breaks Ground for Diner with Theater and Supercharger
Guy Youngs Tesla has broken ground on the site of its planned futuristic diner with a drive-in theater and Supercharger station. This project has been in the works for several years. In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, (with) roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.”
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations. Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. Last year, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
Source: Electrek: Read The Article
-
Lithium Deposit In Nevada Could Be World’s Largest
The Chinese were way ahead of the rest of the world when it came to recognizing the value of lithium. While most nations slept, China was busy identifying lithium deposits around the world and either buying them or negotiating deals with those who may not have fully appreciated lithium’s value.
It incentivized others to seek alternatives. New companies sprang up to extract lithium from salt brine, especially in the Salton Sea area of California. But these are years away from being able to supply America’s and the world’s needs.
-
EU May Impose Tariffs on Chinese EVs
In her annual State of The EU address on Sept. 13, 2023, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Chinese manufacturers are dumping Chinese EVs on EU customers that are priced below what domestic manufacturers charge.
She suggested that the root cause of the problem is the heavy subsidies provided to Chinese automakers by the central government — subsidies that allow them to sell Chinese EVs at artificially low prices to the detriment of domestic companies. If so, she warned the EU would consider imposing new tariffs on Chinese cars to level the playing field.
-
DataPoint: North America Production of Scooters
Download PDFScooters are motorized 2-wheeled vehicles used primarily for recreational.
Production climbed sharply in 2022, increasing by 24,686 units, or 14.6%, from 2021. We expect production to climb in 2023 as well, growing by about 3,725 units or 2%.
This product information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ , which provides information on engines, and OE Link™, a database of equipment manufacturers.
Market Share: With 58% of total units produced, Honda leads in production of Scooters in NA. In second position is Italika with 42%. Third is US-based Go-Ped with 225 units.
Applications:
- Honda manufactures scooters that include models Cruising 125, DIO110, Elite Series, ADV150, PCX150, Ruckus & Metropolitan. NAVI (motorcycle crossover) produced at the Tapukara plant in Rajasthan.
- Italika manufactures a complete line up of scooters (motoneta) for industry related needs.
- Go-Ped manufactures a variety of gas scooters (12 models plus 2 electric).
Trends: In 2022, production of Scooters in NA increased 14.6%. It is expected that production will gain nearly 2% in 2023. Despite Honda having record lows in 2020, production at Honda has rallied in subsequent years, as it has at Italika. Honda reported 2020 sales of only 47,851 units, down more than 5 million units or 24% from 2019, but rallied in 2021 to post scooter sales of 90,128 units.
Increased demand for efficient and eco-friendly models will boost the electric scooter market along with the threat of rising gas prices. Not only are scooters convenient and offer independence, but they also provide faster commutes as opposed to using other modes of transportation; electric models are also extremely popular. Expect production of scooters to increase 15% by 2025.
Electric Units:
2021: 3622
2022: 4056
2023: 4039
Bell Custom Cycles 13 *
Go-Ped Werx 56
Z Electric Vehicle 3987 *
2022: * Exclusively electric
In 2022, production of Electric Scooters in NA increased nearly 12% over 2021. Production is expected to be flat in 2023. PSR
Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations, for Power Systems Research
-
The Hydrogen Stream: Hydrogen Buses Less Efficient than Battery Models
Eurac Research scientists have analyzed data from 21 fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) and battery electric buses (BEB) in Italy, comparing efficiency, consumption, temperature sensitivity, distances, and cost, and they discovered that Hydrogen buses’ tank-to-wheel (TTW) efficiency is lower than battery electric buses, indicating higher consumption variation for BEBs.
DataPoint Reports
TPI
PSR Truck Production Index
Free quarterly global commercial vehicle production report.
Alternative Power Report
The latest EV and power source news including batteries and fuel cells with analysis by PSR experts.
PowerTALK News
Stay informed each month with insights from Power Systems Research’s analysts working around the world as they identify and comment on important news items in the company’s monthly newsletter.
Subscribe View Archive
OE Link™ Offers
Global
Coverage
OE Link™ database provides OEM products, both On-Road and Off-Road, in 12 regions.
Current Reports
Download complimentary reports that show the type of information available from Power Systems Research.
PowerTALK News
Stay informed each month with insights from Power Systems Research analysts working around the world as they identify and comment on important news items in the company’s monthly newsletter.
Subscribe