The PowerLink 3.0 application has been updated for Q4 2025 and you can now access the system.
Contact support@powersys.com if you have any questions or concerns. PowerLink™ 3.0 Login
March 10, 2022–Foreign companies which have paused their business operations in Russia must resume their work, or face bankruptcy of their Russian division.
Foreign companies made huge investments to localization production in Russia, and they don’t want to leave the Russian market, but they face unprecedent pressure by their own regulators. In this situation the government has developed three scenarios for foreign concerns’ subsidiaries which have production plants in Russia.
March 10, 2022—The American company Caterpillar, specializing in construction and mining machines, has suspended work at its plants in Russia because of the situation in Ukraine. Caterpillar said it is donating more than US$ 1 million to the victims of the crisis.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events continuing to occur in Ukraine and hope for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Through the Caterpillar Foundation, we are donating more than $1 million to support both urgent and long-term needs of the Ukraine humanitarian crisis. We are complying with all applicable laws and evolving sanctions, while remaining focused on our employees, dealers and customers. Operations in Russia have become increasingly challenging, including supply chain disruptions and sanctions, and we are suspending operations in our Russian manufacturing facilities” – said in the company statement.
According to the company website, it has a production plant in Tosno (Leningrad region) and a distribution center in Moscow region.
PSR Analysis: Evidently, Cat business in Russia continues, however in reduced size. It’s not possible to maintain production operation with absence of parts. Same reasons were stated in press-release of Hitachi, which has also suspended production in Russia with Cat and Komatsu. PSR
Maxim Sakov is Market Consultant – Russia Operations, for Power Systems Research
March 10, 2022—The KAMAZ plant, which was hit by sanctions, has production orders only until the end of March. Currently, the OEM is working through orders for April and May, according to a company official. Company operations are linked to supplies from Europe, which have been halted, he said.
He also added that production continues, but changes in model range cannot be avoided. The main efforts of the OEM will be concentrated on deeper localization of trucks and rearranging production using local components.
VWCO will increase the offer of homologated chargers and now it can be charged in more than 10 different wall boxes. In addition to the new chargers, VW is starting the sale effort in Colombia in agreement with Porsche Colombia, with versions of 11 and 14 tons.
PSR Analysis: Colombia is a market with high acceptance for EV and alternative propulsion and sales of this vehicle should grow fast. Total cost of ownership is still an issue for this product in Brazil, but many companies are investing in these products to associate the green and environmental appeal to its brands. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development South America, for Power Systems Research
The São Paulo Government has announced the start of a BRT line, going through cities surrounding the São Paulo capital city with plans to be operating in 2023. This line has 17 km of extension and will use 82 Battery Electric Articulated 23 meter buses.
PSR Analysis: The cities surrounding São Paulo Capital have started deploying the initiatives of the main city, as expected. São Paulo City has a more aggressive plan for using BE Buses with 800 for 2022 and the average of 1600 per year from 2023 to 2032. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development South America, for Power Systems Research
Taxes on Industrialized Products (IPI) will be reduced by 25% for most of industrialized goods, in a Governmental effort to boost Industry production. The total impact in federal revenue will be US$ 5 billion in 2022.
PSR Analysis: This should affect positively sales and profitability in all engine powered segments. However, profitability should be more impacted than volume. Construction Equipment should have the higher impact as well as spare parts. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America, for Power Systems Research
Piaggio, which sells electric scooters in Europe, is developing products specifically for India but it will take 18-24 months to enter the market. It will focus on scooters and not launch electric motorcycles.
The large automaker has 2024 in its sights as a realistic go-to-market timeline for the new scooter.
“We are interested in providing customers with a solution in the two-wheeler space that (makes sense) even beyond the effect of subsidies. It is a matter of fact that the players that have entered recently in this space are gaining volumes on the base of subsidies,” says Diego Graffi, MD & CEO Piaggio India
On March 5, the Sony Group unveiled its prototype EV “VISION-S” SUV to the public for the first time in Japan. The vehicle brings together Sony’s strengths in sensor, audio, and video technologies. On March 4, Sony announced a partnership with Honda, and the two companies will jointly develop EVs through a new company in which both companies will invest, with the aim of launching the EVs in 2025.
Following a sedan-type prototype announced in 2020, Sony unveiled an SUV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a digital technology trade show held in the U.S. in January 2022.
The side mirrors will have no mirrored surfaces and will use images and data collected from nearly 40 sensors, including those in the front and rear of the vehicle, to enhance safety. The dashboard has three displays that can show movies and other content in addition to driving information. Inside the car, Sony’s audio technology is used to provide a realistic music experience.
“China has the largest automobile production in the world, the most complete industrial foundation, supply chain foundation, talent foundation and market foundation,” said Li Bin, chairman of Weilai automobile.
These factors provide China with a significant advantage in developing intelligent EVs, he said “In fact, if we can have the advantages of these four aspects at the same time, China is the only one in the world,” he added.
The penetration rate of new energy has exceeded 10% in 2021. From the trend, this target will exceed 20% in 2025. China’s penetration rate of intelligent electric vehicles in 2030 will exceed 90% in new car sales. In recent years, with the accelerated popularization of intelligent electric vehicles, the automotive industry will once again become the commanding height of scientific and technological innovation.
PSR Analysis: Today, new bus procurement is fully electrified. Buses have fixed routes, and the operation range is relatively stable. At the end of 2020, all buses in key regions and major cities have been replaced with new energy. The trend of bus electrification will continue to be promoted nationwide and gradually electric buses will replace diesel vehicles.
Considering that the running distance and working environment are relatively controllable, the market promotion of oil and electricity price difference, and the gradual completion of bus electrification, taxis will also accelerate electrification.
The second step is to accelerate the electrification of trucks such as urban logistics, environmental sanitation and muck trucks. The State Council proposes to promote green and low-carbon means of transportation, port and airport services, urban logistics distribution and postal express to give priority to the use of new energy or clean energy and strengthen the charging and switching facilities of new energy vehicles.
The penetration rate of private car electrification will also continue to increase. According to the current situation, electric vehicles can replace unified fuel vehicles in terms of price and mileage around 2025. At the same time, with the promotion of electrification in the field of public transport and trucks, driving the continuous improvement of infrastructure, the electrification of private cars will proceed more smoothly. PSR
Jack Hao is Senior Research Manager – China, for Power Systems Research
The last two years have seen a turnaround in the global economy and the way of doing business. Many habits have changed, and trade shows were severely impacted by the pandemic. For 2022, however the MEE is back live in Dubai. The floor plan has been reduced, removing roughly half of the space used in previous edition. This is not a surprise considering that the show was not busy in 2020, with many last-minute withdrawals, and that it was cancelled for 2021. With many countries around the world relaxing Covid restrictions, attendance was positive, with the halls and stands buzzing during the show. One common comment, it’s good to be back.
The energy sector is thriving now, pushed by investments in renewables and need for backup power. During the last few years, critical power (Data centres and hospitals), infrastructure investments and telecommunication have created a strong demand for diesel and gas generators.
However, the current supply chain shortages, logistic issues and rising costs have represented a tricky challenge for the industry. From OEMs to engines and components suppliers, companies are working around the clock to find solutions to deliver their products to partners and customers.
While in the third quarter of 2021, there was optimism looking at 2022, things are not developing as hoped. In fact, most companies reported an even more challenging environment, with components and raw material shortages continuing, rising prices, and increasing shipping costs. As already mentioned, during our 2021 forecast, we are not expecting a significant improvement in the supply chain until 2023. PSR
Emiliano Marzoli is Manager-European Operations for Power Systems Research
