News

2024-09-23

Rural Recovery Drives Surge in Auto Demand

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

The upcoming festive season presents a promising outlook for India’s automobile sector, with expectations of significant growth, particularly in the two-wheeler (2W) segment. A projected increase of over 15% in the sector reflects heightened consumer interest, fueled largely by a recovering rural economy.

Rural areas, which contribute more than half of two-wheeler demand, are showing early signs of post-COVID recovery. The rise in customer inquiries, especially for mass-market brands like TVS Motors, Hero MotoCorp, and Bajaj Auto, suggests a favorable trend for the festive season.

The launch of new two-wheeler models, such as the TVS Jupiter and Hero Xtreme 125R, is likely to further drive sales. However, premium motorcycle manufacturers like Eicher Motors, producing Royal Enfield, may not experience the same robust demand due to a different target demographic, where rural recovery has less impact.

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Thoughts About FCVs and Hydrogen Stations

Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

I traveled recently in the Toyosu area of Tokyo, an upscale residential area, and while there I stopped at a Hydrogen refueling station. While there, I spoke with one of the station’s staff, and I found his comments interesting.

He told me that the only FCVs on the market in Japan are the Toyota MIRAI sedan and Crown FCEV. Honda used to sell the Clarity FCV, but it has been discontinued and few are seen on the road. There are also no FCVs in trucks. There are about 80 hydrogen buses in Tokyo, but they don’t stop at this station because there is a hydrogen station is in the bus company’s office.

On weekends, maybe four or five cars come to the station each day, but on weekdays there are often days when not even one car comes. It’s very quiet. Filling up with hydrogen requires a person with a national qualification, so it’s not possible to operate it like a self-service gas station.

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2024-09-18

Alternative Power Report, September 2024

Alternative Power Report – Sept 2024Download

Read about Greely adding fast-charging batteries to its EV autos; Volvo backtracking on its EV pledge; Volkswagen considering factory shutdowns in Germany, and a new battery made from stone, all this and more in the September 2024 issue of the Alternative Power Report published by Power Systems Research. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

2024-09-06

2024 Light Plant Production

19,200 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Light Plants expected to be produced in North America in 2024.

A Light Plant, also known as a Light Tower, is a piece of mobile equipment which has one or more high-intensity lamps mounted on a mast. The mast is attached to a trailer, with a generator to power the lamps. The generator is powered by a diesel engine. Light plants mostly are used for construction and mining projects.

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. #PSR

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

2024-08-27

BYD Plans Factory in Turkey To Produce 150,000 Vehicles

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao


BYD has signed an agreement with the Turkish government to invest USD 1 Billion to build a factory in Turkey. This is BYD’s second factory in Europe following one built in Hungary. Under the agreement, BYD will build a factory and research and development center with an annual production of 150,000 vehicles. The factory is planned to start production by the end of 2026 and will provide job opportunities for up to 5,000 workers. The factory is expected to improve BYD’s logistics efficiency.

The Turkish government is welcoming the factory construction of Chinese automotive enterprises and is holding discussions regarding factory construction are taking place with SAIC and Great Wall, as well as BYD and Chery. Previously, Turkey announced the cancellation of a plan to impose an additional 40% tariff on all vehicles from China, which was announced a month earlier, to encourage Chinese automotive enterprises to invest in Turkey.

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Wastewater Needed by LFP Battery Supply Chain

Many people are talking about lithium iron phosphate batteries, especially auto industry stakeholders who are eager to get their hands on a higher-performing, lower-costing and safer battery. If the supply chain doesn’t get its act together soon, this may be problematic.

81% of the global supply of phosphate rock is produced by just six countries, with China and Morocco in the lead, but the real problem is further up the supply chain. Regardless of the source, an LFP battery can’t use phosphate rock straight from the mine. It has to be purified with only 3% of total phosphate production currently suitable for lithium ion battery applications, given its refinement needs.

Source: CleanTechnica: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Gathering phosphates from wastewater sludge could be a solution, but as with most new tech, investment is needed. A side effect of this could be improved water quality.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead for Power Systems Research