GM Declares Equitable Climate Action
GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra expanded on GM’s previous climate commitments, declaring the company would prioritize equitable climate action to help ensure its all-electric future is inclusive for its current and future workforce; customers; and communities that may be more likely to disproportionately experience the effects of climate change.
The company also announced the creation of a new $25 million Climate Equity Fund, dedicated to helping close equity gaps in the transition to electric vehicles and other sustainable technology. The philanthropic fund complements the company’s $35 billion global investment in EV and AV programs, research, technology, manufacturing and charging infrastructure.
“Climate change does not impact every community equally. As we move to an all-electric, zero-emissions future, it is on us to lead positive change and implement inclusive solutions that bring everyone along, especially our employees and communities,” Barra said during the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Barra also shared more about the company’s broader focus on equitable climate action, which is rooted in four key areas:
- The Future of Work: The company reinforced the prioritization of its current salaried and represented workforce, including reiterating its long history of supporting unions to promote safety, quality, training and jobs for American workers. GM also publicly reiterated its support for the UAW’s efforts to organize employees at the Ohio and Tennessee Ultium Cells LLC battery cell manufacturing plants.
- EV Access: The company will offer a wide selection of EVs across a range of price points, from the Bolt EV to the Cruise Origin shared autonomous vehicle. GM also recently announced programs leveraging its HYDROTEC fuel cells for rail and aircraft applications, which could help pave the way for communities to experience the benefits of zero-emissions mobility beyond the motor vehicle.
- Infrastructure Equity: GM is committed to ubiquitous charging solutions that can help meet customers where they are. The company also understands the need to help address charging deserts and other scenarios that can hinder EV ownership.
- Climate Equity: GM will help fund organizations that are closing the climate equity gap at the community level and across four key areas: the future of work, EV access, EV infrastructure equity and climate equity.
As the company works to address the key priorities under its equitable climate action framework, it will be guided by five principles:
- Make mobility safer, more accessible and more environmentally friendly for all.
- Incorporate and normalize equity considerations across our business operations and program implementation efforts, including workforce strategy, sustainability efforts, and products and services.
- Work with community-based stakeholders to identify their unique needs, assets and priorities as well as collaboratively assist impacted communities.
- Advocate for inclusive and equitable climate change, renewable energy and transportation-related policies at the federal, state and local levels to help ensure a sustainable mobility future for all.
- Help fund the organizations that are providing equitable access to a more sustainable future.
Climate Equity Fund
The company is accepting proposals for funding from its new Climate Equity Fund. Potential grantees are encouraged to submit proposals aligned to GM’s four climate equity social outcomes: future of work, EV access, EV infrastructure equity and climate equity. The company will prioritize grassroots organizations working at the community level.
GM Partners with Controlled Thermal Resources
General Motors has agreed to form a strategic investment and commercial collaboration with Controlled Thermal Resources to secure local and low-cost lithium. This lithium will be produced through a closed-loop, direct extraction process that results in a smaller physical footprint, no production tailing and lower carbon dioxide emissions when compared to traditional processes like pit mining or evaporation ponds.
Lithium is a metal crucial to GM’s plans to make more affordable, higher mileage electric vehicles.
The relationship between GM and CTR is expected to accelerate the adoption of lithium extraction methods that cause less impact to the environment. A significant amount of GM’s future battery-grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate could come from CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power development in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, located in Imperial, California. With the help of GM’s investment, CTR’s closed-loop, direct extraction process will recover lithium from geothermal brine.
As an anticipated part of its $35 billion global commitment to EVs and autonomous vehicles , GM will be the first company to make a multi-million dollar investment in CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen project. As the first investor, GM will have first rights on lithium produced by the first stage of the Hell’s Kitchen project, including an option for a multi-year relationship.
Batteries are and will remain one of the largest cost drivers of EVs. Lithium is a key battery material used in the cathodes and electrolytes of GM EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. Lithium will become even more important in battery use as GM explores lithium metal batteries with a protected anode.
Most lithium used in lithium-ion batteries is currently mined and processed outside of the U.S.
The first stage of the Hell’s Kitchen project is expected to begin yielding lithium in 2024, helping GM to meet its aspiration of eliminating tailpipe emissions from light-duty vehicles by 2035.
GM Reveals Ultium Battery Strategy
General Motors is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.
Missouri Cobalt Constructs New Facility
Missouri Cobalt, LLC (the “Company” or “Missouri Cobalt”) announced it is in the final construction stage of a new hydrometallurgical facility which will allow the Company to begin production of large-scale quantities of battery-grade cobalt and nickel. This milestone represents significant progress toward the Company’s objective to become the leading North American supplier of battery-grade cobalt and nickel, and the only company to process in the United States. Missouri Cobalt management believes this goal can be realized over the next two years as the new facility will quadruple current run-rate production volumes.
Missouri Cobalt is the only vertically integrated cobalt producer in North America and is strategically positioned to supply clean, domestic and ethically sourced battery metals required to meet the unprecedented demand for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. The Company previously demonstrated its ability to consistently produce high-grade cobalt utilizing its pilot hydrometallurgical facility in Earth City, MO, which has been operational since 2020. It has been producing a cobalt-nickel-copper concentrate at its Fredericktown, MO facility since 2019.
Having completed an extensive drilling program that confirmed significant geological upside and expanded exploration potential, the Company has enlisted international and local experts for the development of its underground mine. Existing tailings and underground deposits are expected to yield total run-rate production of at least 5 Mlbs per annum of cobalt, 6 Mlbs per annum of nickel and 22 Mlbs per annum of copper by 2023.
Greenland Tech Funding Closed
– Greenland Technologies Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: GTEC) (“Greenland” or the “Company”), a technology developer and manufacturer of electric industrial vehicles and drivetrain systems for material handling machineries and vehicles, announced the closing of an underwritten public offering with gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $7.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The public offering equates to 857,844 of the Company’s ordinary shares at a price of $8.16 per share. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.
The Company has also granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the number of ordinary shares offered in the public offering to cover over-allotments, if any, which would increase the total gross proceeds of the offering to approximately $8.0 million, if the over-allotment option is exercised in full.
Revel Reveals Fast Charging Superhub in NYC
Electric transportation company Revel opened its first electric vehicle (EV) fast charging Superhub to the public at the historic former Pfizer building in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. The Superhub is the largest universal EV fast charging depot in the Americas with 25 chargers, and is the first of a network of Superhubs planned by Revel across New York City. For the first week that the Bed-Stuy site is open, charging will be free to members of the public (through Tuesday, July 6th).
Prior to the opening of Revel’s first Superhub, there were only two publicly-available EV fast charging stations in NYC’s urban core. Most depots in the city are in further-flung locations like JFK airport, and many charge a fee just to enter the parking lot. New York City also has a low rate of electric vehicle adoption, with only 14,000 EVs out of the 1.9 million cars and SUVs registered in the city.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Revel CEO Frank Reig, United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, New York City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy Jr., Con Edison CEO Tim Cawley, Tritium President Mike Calise and New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe spoke to the importance of expanding access to EV charging.
Proterra FTA Grants
Proterra Inc (NASDAQ: PTRA), a leading innovator in commercial vehicle electrification technology, announced that 10 transit agencies have been awarded Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Program Grants (Low-No) to procure Proterra electric transit buses, charging infrastructure, and Proterra Powered low-floor shuttles in partnership with Optimal Electric Vehicles, LLC (Optimal-EV).
The announcement underscores Proterra’s ability to deliver comprehensive fleet electrification solutions to commercial vehicle customers with the company’s EV technology. It marks the sixth consecutive year under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that the FTA has awarded transit agencies Low-No grants to procure Proterra buses and charging systems.
“The road to building the future of zero emission transportation in the U.S. begins with public transit. Proterra is proud to support transit agencies across the country to deliver clean transportation solutions that can accelerate the switch to zero-emission, battery-electric commercial vehicle fleets,” said Proterra CEO Jack Allen.
Powering over 650 vehicles on the road, Proterra’s battery systems have been proven through more than 20 million service miles driven by the company’s all-electric transit buses and have been selected by world-class commercial vehicle manufacturers to power low-floor shuttles, delivery trucks, school buses, coach buses, and construction equipment.
Proterra transit buses feature zero tailpipe emissions, saving approximately 230,000 pounds of greenhouse gases annually when replacing a diesel bus. The company’s fleet of zero-emission, electric transit buses have displaced over 100 million pounds of CO2 tailpipe emissions.
Last year, Proterra and Optimal EV announced an agreement to leverage Proterra’s best-in-class battery technology for the development of an all-electric S1LF low-floor cutaway shuttle bus for the North American market. The Proterra battery system powering the S1LF features 113 kWh of energy capacity and an all-electric, zero-emission drive system that is designed to enable more than 125 miles of driving range.
Proterra also offers turn-key charging infrastructure solutions for heavy-duty fleets through the company’s Proterra Energy business.
A cornerstone of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Low-No grants support the deployment of transit buses and infrastructure that use advanced technologies. Eligible projects include those that replace, rehabilitate, lease or purchase low or no emission buses and bus-related equipment and facilities.
REE Registers Business Combo
REE Automotive (“REE”), a leader in e-Mobility, announced its Registration Statement on Form F-4 in connection with the previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”) with 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. (“10X”) (Nasdaq: VCVC), a publicly-listed special purpose acquisition company, has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Upon closing, REE Class A ordinary shares and warrants will be listed on NASDAQ under the new ticker symbols “REE” and “REEAW.”
Battery Resourcers Partners with Honda
Battery Resourcers, a vertically integrated lithium-ion battery recycling and manufacturing company, announced an agreement with American Honda Motor Co. to recycle Honda & Acura Electric Vehicles (EV) batteries.
The safe and affordable recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries is a significant challenge for carmakers and battery manufacturers, especially since millions of EVs are expected to hit the road in the coming years and new regulations mandate recycling of spent batteries and the use of recycled metals in new batteries. In the future, Battery Resourcers and Honda will also work together to improve recyclability and to reintegrate recycled material back into Honda’s material supply chain.
“We are proud to work with sustainably minded companies like Honda to revolutionize the lithium-ion supply chain and build a more sustainable future,” said Battery Resourcers CEO Mike O’Kronley. “Our innovative, closed-loop recycling process addresses environmental and regulatory issues while unlocking the hidden value in spent lithium-ion batteries. As a result, we can provide safe, convenient and environmentally responsible recycling solutions at an affordable cost.”
Founded in 2015 as a spinout from the lab of Prof. Yan Wang at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Battery Resourcers recently completed a $20 million Series B equity round with financing led by Orbia Ventures, the venture capital arm of the multinational Orbia, and other investors including At One Ventures, TDK Ventures, TRUMPF Venture, Doral Energy-Tech Ventures and Jaguar Land Rover’s In-Motion Ventures.
Unlike other battery recycling companies, Battery Resourcers offers a fundamentally new approach to lithium-ion battery manufacturing, starting with a mixed stream of used lithium-ion batteries and ending with the production of finished, battery-ready cathode active materials. With 97% metal recovery, Battery Resourcers currently produces Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) based cathode active materials.
Honda’s batteries will initially be processed by the company’s recently expanded site in Worcester, Mass. and later at a new commercial scale plant that will be operational in the spring of 2022. The new site which will be capable of processing more than 20 million pounds of batteries.
The company is also engineering a novel process for graphite recovery and purification, which will enable it to return both the cathode and anode active materials back to manufacturers of new batteries.
ABOUT BATTERY RESOURCERS
Based in Worcester, Mass., Battery Resourcers operates the world’s most efficient lithium-ion battery recycling process. A vertically integrated recycling, refining and materials engineering company, Battery Resourcers turns spent batteries and production scrap directly into new, battery-ready cathode active material with significant reductions in cost, emissions and energy consumption. Founded in 2015 with a mission of returning 100% of battery active materials back into new batteries, the company makes EV-grade, finished cathode active materials that perform as well as industry-leading brands.
Core Development Group Signed Contracts for Development of 15K Charging Stations
Core Development Group, a nationally ranked sustainable energy developer, announced it has officially signed contracts for the development of an estimated 15,000 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the U.S.
Per the contract, Core Development Group will be responsible for the design; development; of EV charging station system installations, as well as operation and maintenance.
“We are honored and elated to have the opportunity to design and develop such a large fleet portfolio of EV charging stations,” said Henry Cortes, Owner and Founder of Core Development Group. “This contract is indicative of the hard work and dedication of our team over the past couple of years to cement Core’s position as the preeminent developer of EV charging stations in the U.S.”
The portfolio, which offers 100 to 500 EV charging stations per site, is part of Core Development Group’s sustainable energy expansion of resources, capabilities, and services.
Electric Frog Provides Free Use of LEAF for Burrillville
Electric Frog Company, a climate-tech start-up, announced that it has provided free use of a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV) to the Burrillville Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rhode Island, in a first use of a customer vehicle to support the New England electric grid. When not in use by Burrillville employees the EV is plugged into a state-of-the-art Fermata Energy bidirectional charger and monitored by their energy management software to transfer power back to the grid on 24-hour notice to help meet peak demand.
To allow charging of the electric vehicle for ordinary use and discharge power back to the utility grid on demand, Electric Frog partnered with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) market leader Fermata Energy to install its bidirectional charger and proprietary vehicle-to-everything (V2X) software to manage charging of the EV at the Burrillville facility and deliver power on call to the utility.//
Turntide Tech Buys AVID
Turntide Technologies (“Turntide”), the company responsible for the Smart Motor SystemTM, announced the acquisition of UK-based AVID Technology Limited (“AVID”), a cleantech engineering firm that designs and manufactures electrified powertrain components and systems for heavy-duty and high-performance electric (EV) and hybrid vehicles (HEV).
The addition of AVID comes only one month after the company launched its transport division with the acquisitions of Hyperdrive Innovation Ltd. and the engineering technical center of BorgWarner Gateshead Limited – all based in the North East of England. Turntide now offers full electrification capabilities that deliver one-stop powertrain, intelligence, efficiency, and control to the most critical industrial and commercial vehicles to help meet global net-zero goals.
EVgo Finishes Business Combo
EVgo Services, LLC (“EVgo”), the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) and first powered by 100% renewable electricity, announced that it has completed its previously announced business combination with Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation (“CLII”).
The transaction was unanimously approved by CLII’s Board of Directors and was approved at a special meeting of CLII stockholders on June 29, 2021. More than 99% of the votes cast at the Special Meeting were in favor of the approval of the business combination. CLII stockholders also voted overwhelmingly to approve all other proposals presented at the Special Meeting.
Porsche Reduces CO2 From Suppliers
Porsche is making further efforts to reduce CO2-emissions in its supply chain: the sports car manufacturer is calling for its around 1,300 series suppliers to use exclusively renewable energy in the manufacture of Porsche components as of July.
It applies to any contracts awarded for providing production material for new vehicle projects. Suppliers who are unwilling to switch to certified green energy will no longer be considered for contracts with Porsche in the long term. “Our battery cell suppliers have already had to use green energy since 2020. And now we are taking the next important step: we stipulate that our series suppliers also use only renewable energy to produce our components, to help reduce CO2-emissions even further. We recognise that we have a responsibility to ensure that supply chains are transparent and sustainable,” says Uwe-Karsten Städter, Member of the Executive Board for Procurement at Porsche AG.
Porsche has set itself an ambitious goal: the company wants to be CO2 -neutral across the entire value chain by 2030. At the moment, the sports car manufacturer’s supply chain is responsible for around 20 percent of Porsche’s total greenhouse gas emissions. This percentage is set to rise to around 40 by 2030 due to the increasing electrification of vehicles. But Porsche is tackling this issue head on: “By using only renewable energy sources, our suppliers are following our example in our efforts to reach CO2-neutrality. We plan to have even more intensive talks with our partners in order to drive forward improvements in our sustainability. It is only by working together that we will be able to combat ongoing climate change,” explains Städter.
As well as in its supply chain, Porsche is reducing CO2-emissions in its own plants: the production of the Taycan – the first all-electric sports cars made in the Zuffenhausen plant in Stuttgart – has been carbon neutral since it was launched in 2019. Since 2020, this has been true for all vehicles made at the company’s headquarters, and thus for the 911 and 718 as well. At the start of 2021, the Development Centre in Weissach and the plant in Leipzig, where the Macan and Panamera models are produced, followed suit. This means that all of the large Porsche sites are already CO2-neutral in terms of operations.
The company will also be investing more than a billion euros in decarbonisation measures over the next ten years. Porsche reached a milestone with the world premiere of the Taycan Cross Turismo at the beginning of March. The all-rounder among electric sports cars is the world’s first ever vehicle to be carbon neutral throughout its entire service life. More model series are set to follow. And by 2030, the aim is for more than 80 percent of all new vehicles sold to be purely electric or plug-in hybrid models. As early as 2025, at least 50 percent of new vehicles sold are to feature an electric drive.
BMW Gets Juiced
Juice Technology AG, manufacturer of charging stations and software, and leading producer of portable charging stations for electric vehicles, has won a contract to supply JUICE BOOSTER 2 to BMW Group production lines and the majority of BMW dealerships throughout Germany. The portable charging station offers the car manufacturer complete flexibility. Whether during production or as part of a service, this allows electric vehicles to be charged in situ whenever necessary – and in absolute safety.
Another spin-off from the mobility revolution is that major car manufacturers don’t only need to rethink the range of vehicles they offer. Production and servicing also need to be upgraded and retrofitted to accommodate electric vehicles; creating a suitable charging infrastructure is part of the challenge. JUICE BOOSTER 2 provides an extremely sustainable and cost-effective solution to this problem. This is why the BMW Group are now using a custom edition of JUICE BOOSTER 2 on their German production lines and in dealers’ workshops alongside the Pro version.
Production lines and workflows don’t need to be redesigned to accommodate the portable charging station thanks to the flexibility offered by its comprehensive adapter system and extension capabilities. EVs can be charged in situ at any time during production or servicing, no matter where the vehicle happens to be.
“Next to user-friendliness and ease of operation, quality and safety are our top priorities when designing and manufacturing our complete range of charging stations and solutions,” explains Christopher Gewohn, Head of Business Development at Juice Technology. “We are deeply honoured by the trust that many companies have placed in us and this only makes us more determined to make sure that Juice Booster 2 is a truly quality product”.
JUICE BOOSTER 2 is produced in workshops that comply with strict automotive manufacturing standards. The product is TÜV SÜD-certified, guaranteeing maximum safety and quality for this sensitive production sector. Certification is key to successful partnerships with automotive manufacturers and lays the foundations for the essential quality requirements for series production and spare parts manufacture in the automotive industry.
The key benefits of JUICE BOOSTER 2 in a nutshell:
- Recharge your car from any power socket: With JUICE BOOSTER 2 and its range of adapters, you can connect your electric car to any standard household or industrial socket anywhere in the world.
- Automatic power detection: The charger always adjusts automatically to the optimum charging power, ruling out any risk of overloading the power socket capacity.
- JUICE BOOSTER 2 is completely waterproof (IP 67) and can withstand being run over by a wheel load of up to three tonnes.
- The JUICE CONNECTOR adapter plug is CE-compliant and designed so that additional functions can be added at a later date. Giving drivers the confidence that buying JUICE BOOSTER 2 and its adapters is a long-term investment.
- Tested by TÜV SÜD: JUICE BOOSTER 2 is the world’s first portable charging station in the 22 kW class to have been tested by TÜV SÜD for compliance with IEC 62752 Ed. 1 2016 including AMD1 2018.
- The Pro version of the JUICE BOOSTER 2 is additionally equipped with exchangeable vehicle-end adapters.
Volvo Penta Emobs
Volvo Penta has commenced production of bespoke electric drivelines for leading fire service vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer’s pioneering fire truck, named “Revolutionary Technology” (RT).
“We announced our emob partnership with Rosenbauer in 2019, and we have gone from concept to start of production in record time,” says Giorgio Paris, President of Volvo Penta Industrial. “This is a milestone in our electrification journey. We see a growing demand for electric solutions in the market today and – through collaboration and pilot projects, such as this one – we aim to meet this demand and the expectations of the future.”
By adapting proven technology from Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses, Volvo Penta and its customer Rosenbauer have introduced the world’s first electric fire truck, with a completely new vehicle architecture. This project is a true example of Volvo Penta’s customer-focused evolutionary approach.
The RT pushed Volvo Penta’s electric drivelines to new heights. Unlike other Volvo Group EVs that might have two or sometimes three electric machines, the RT required four to do its job. All four electric machines have to be able to run simultaneously – two for propulsion, one for the range extender to provide extra battery power, and one for electric power takeoff, if fire-fighters want to rotate the foam pump for example. To achieve this, the Volvo Penta engineers created a system that is completely cutting edge in terms of Volvo Group technology.
Due to the required compact dimensions of a city fire truck, Volvo Penta created a new Active Cooling Unit (ACU). This component was developed in part collaboration with Rosenbauer. The new ACU draws on a 600V system – instead of the conventional 24V – this extra power allows Volvo Penta to not only cool the batteries but also offer cooling capacity to the Rosenbauer vehicle. This is one way Volvo Penta has optimized the design and adapted the complete electric driveline system for a specific vehicle, considering the exact application, usage, climate, and environment it will operate in.
Three Rosenbauer test firetrucks – powered by Volvo Penta electric drivelines – have already successfully been delivered to Berlin, Amsterdam, and Dubai. So far, the crews have been amazed at the RT’s battery capacity and the many other advantages of not having a large diesel engine – such as increase crew cabin space and more side panel storage.