Chevy Debuts Electric Sliverado at CES 2022
Chevrolet will debut the all-electric Silverado at CES® 2022, the world’s most influential technology event. The reveal will take place during the opening keynote delivered by General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.
The brand also confirmed the Silverado electric pickup will feature an available[1] segment-leading fixed-glass roof for retail models, offering expansive visibility, increased headroom, and an enhanced experience of spaciousness for both front and rear passengers. This is the first application of an available fixed-glass roof on a GM pickup in the full-size truck segment.
Designed as an EV from the ground up, the Silverado EV harnesses the best of the Ultium Platform and Silverado’s proven capability. The fleet and retail versions of the electric Silverado will offer customers a variety of options and are expected to be in high demand[2]. In addition to the fixed-glass roof, Chevrolet has confirmed the availability of Four-Wheel Steer3, a chassis feature that enables the vehicle to steer all four wheels. The electric Silverado will offer customers a GM-estimated range of more than 400 miles on a full charge4.
Farasis Energy Finds Performance in Lithium-Silicon
Farasis Energy, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of lithium-ion pouch batteries, announced a significant performance milestone for EV batteries featuring lithium-silicon technology developed by Group14 Technologies, a global manufacturer of advanced silicon-carbon anodes.
A leading developer of automotive EV batteries globally, Farasis already delivers the highest-performing lithium-ion batteries on the market and has notable partnerships with automotive OEMs Daimler and Geely.
In cells built and tested by Farasis utilizing Group14’s flagship silicon-carbon anode material SCC55™, the company has achieved an increase in energy density that would enable them to reach 330 Wh/kg in typical automotive cells with more than 1000 charge-discharge cycles. The battery EV cell will have a volumetric energy density of 750 Wh/l.
“Traditional BEV lithium-ion batteries using graphite for anode materials typically can approach 260 Wh/kg energy density, so this performance boost over traditional lithium-ion batteries represents a real breakthrough for EV applications,” said Dr. Keith Kepler, CTO of Farasis Energy.
Compared to typical automotive EV batteries on the market today with energy density in the range of 260 Wh/kg, a Farasis Energy automotive battery powered with SCC55™ could increase EV range significantly without compromising cycle life standards set by high-quality graphites and synthetic graphites.
“These significant third-party results with Farasis demonstrate that SCC55™ has the potential to meaningfully impact the performance of batteries for automotive applications,” said Dr. Rick Costantino, CTO of Group14 Technologies. “This is a significant milestone in our goal to enable EVs to achieve true cost-parity with internal combustion engines, and Group14 is ready to deliver our lithium-silicon battery technology manufactured in our commercial-scale Battery Active Materials (BAM) factory in Washington state.”
Nikola & TC Energy Partner for NA Energy Infrastructure
Nikola Corporation global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure solutions, and TC Energy Corporation a leading North American energy infrastructure company, have agreed to collaborate on co-developing, constructing, operating and owning large-scale hydrogen production facilities (hubs) in the United States and Canada. Nikola’s Energy business unit and TC Energy are actively collaborating to identify and develop projects to establish the infrastructure required to deliver low-cost and low-carbon hydrogen at scale in line with each company’s core objectives. Furthermore, Nikola and TC Energy desire to accelerate the adoption of heavy-duty zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen across industrial sectors by establishing hubs in key geographic locations.
A key objective of the collaboration is to establish hubs producing 150 tonnes or more of hydrogen per day near highly traveled truck corridors to serve Nikola’s planned need for hydrogen to fuel its Class 8 FCEVs within the next five years. TC Energy has significant pipeline, storage and power assets that potentially can be leveraged to lower the cost and increase the speed of delivery of these hydrogen production hubs. This may include exploring the integration of midstream assets to enable hydrogen distribution and storage via pipeline and/or to deliver CO2 to permanent sequestration sites to decarbonize the hydrogen production process.
Both Nikola and TC Energy are committed to reducing the carbon intensity (CI) of hydrogen produced and delivered to end-use markets utilizing renewable energy, as well as low-cost natural gas, renewable natural gas and biomass feedstocks paired with carbon capture and storage. Nikola and TC Energy are aligned in a technology agnostic approach to find the best pathway to hydrogen production for each unique geography that is intended to result in the lowest CI and a clear pathway to achieve net-zero CI over time.
Nikola and TC Energy will evaluate opportunities to optimize excess hub supplies to third parties under a joint marketing and services arrangement.
Hyundai Mobis to Build Fuel Cell Pants in KR
Hyundai Mobis (KRX: 012330) will build two new fuel cell plants in Korea to accelerate the hydrogen economy and to secure broader global market dominance.
Hyundai Mobis announced to invest a total of USD 1.1 billion (KRW 1.3 trillion) into the two plants. The new plants will start mass production in the second half of 2023. When fully operational, the facilities are expected to produce 100,000 hydrogen fuel cells every year.
Hyundai Mobis, with the largest fuel cell production capacity in the world, is expected to gain even greater momentum in the global race for hydrogen mobility with the addition of new production locations.
Once they are completed, Hyundai Mobis will operate a total of three fuel cells plants. In 2018, the company became the world’s first to set up a complete production system from fuel cell stack to rest of electronic components in Chungju. The Chungju plant is capable of producing approximately 23,000 hydrogen cell systems a year.
On Oct 7th, 2021, Hyundai Mobis held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new plant that will produce hydrogen fuel cell stacks at the Industrial Complex in Cheongna International City, Incheon. President Moon Jae-in and Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki attended the ceremony.
GreenPower Powers EV Stars in Temecula
GreenPower Motor Company Inc. a leading manufacturer and distributor of zero-emission, electric-powered, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, together with the City of Temecula, announces the delivery of an ADA-accessible EV Star for use by the City of Temecula’s Mary Phillips Senior Center.
Michael Perez, Director of Contracts and Grants at GreenPower, commented, “The City of Temecula has been eying our purpose-built EV Star for over a year now. We are thrilled to not only deliver this unit to the City, but also highlight our ability to continue successfully leveraging available programs like the VW Mitigation Trust.” Perez continued, “Additionally, I would like to thank the Temecula City Council including Council Member and TCSD President Zak Schwank, whose forward-thinking direction led to securing a grant that replaces the City’s older gasoline bus with a zero emissions bus. We also thank the City Manager’s Office including staff member Stacey Brown whose commitment to this project in a challenging pandemic environment was critical to its completion.”
Temecula Council Member Zak Schwank stated, “A safe, reliable, emissions-free ride for our community is what we are after, and the EV Star provides just that. By leveraging VW mitigation funding in the amount of $160,000, we’ll see an immediate positive impact on operational costs and emissions reduction, so it’s a win for the entire community. We are glad to have a GreenPower EV Star join the City’s fleet.”
GreenPower has leveraged its flagship EV Star Platform with six distinct models serving the cargo, delivery and micro transit markets. The EV Star is the only bus in its class that comes with a standard J1772 level 2 and CCS DC fast combo charge system, allowing for optimal flexibility in route planning for any duty cycle.
Daimler Trucks’ Freightliners Drive 1Million Miles
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) announced today that its Freightliner battery electric Innovation and Customer Experience (CX) Fleets have reached one million miles of real-world usage, with fleets operating across the West Coast and Canada. With the opening of order boards for the eCascadia and eM2 earlier this year, DTNA is already seeing high demand for its electric trucks.
“We have reached a tipping point in our electrification journey,” says Rakesh Aneja, Vice President and Chief of eMobility, DTNA. “After a million miles of learning in close collaboration with our valued customers, we are ready to move from prototype to scale — from tens of customer experience trucks to hundreds of production units. We remain committed to continuously improve our vehicle technology, reduce cost of ownership, and support infrastructure development — the required trifecta for a successful electrification transformation.”
Comprised of over 40 battery electric Freightliner eCascadias and eM2s, the Freightliner Electric Innovation and CX Fleets have transformed the testing process by putting trucks into the hands of almost 50 customers to accumulate experience while performing real work, in real fleets, and real commercial vehicle applications.
The nation’s leading fleets, including Penske Truck Rental & Lease, NFI, Hub Group, Knight-Swift, Schneider, XPO, Ryder, J.B. Hunt, and UPS, along with specialized fleets such as Loblaw Companies Limited, Sysco, Southern California Edison, Fastenal, Temco Logistics, Bison Transport, Core-Mark, Costco Wholesalers, Iron Mountain Inc., KeHe Distributors, Mondelez International Inc., US Foods and Velocity Truck Rental & Leasing, have all contributed to the development of Freightliner’s electric Class 8 and Class 6/7 trucks.
Participation in the Innovation and CX Fleets and being an active part of DTNA’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Council has provided those companies a chance to test integration of battery electric trucks into their own fleets and to share their learnings and experiences openly amongst all customers. The fleets are supported by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) which focuses on improving air quality in the South Coast Basin of Southern California and partially funded the project.
Freightliner’s Electric Innovation Fleet began in 2018 with electric trucks running drayage and regional haul routes in Southern California with Penske and NFI. The CX Fleet followed in 2020 with additional vehicles, which have been rotating between various customers in both the U.S. and Canada for the past year. Both fleets have now hit one million accumulated testing miles.
From collecting driver feedback, comparing the relative impact of driver behavior, temperature, weather, and weight between multiple fleets and duty cycle, to assessing wear, testing charging equipment behavior, and readying the service network, DTNA has gained tremendous operational learnings that will apply to the production vehicles to be delivered to customers in late 2022.
Andreas Juretzka, Head of Electric Mobility Product Development at DTNA: “Our rigorous testing has revealed powertrain and auxiliary components, including HVAC, thermal management and low voltage electrical, are high performing and more than up to the job. One lesson stands out in particular: the importance of regenerative braking to maximize range. Across the pilots, the average recuperation ratio was 20-25 percent, with some drivers achieving even up to 30 percent.”
Testing electric trucks in real conditions with real fleets has validated and reaffirmed many of the expected benefits of electric trucking from reduced driver fatigue to minimal noise and vibration.
DTNA’s commitment to electrification goes beyond the truck – with the addition of the in-house Detroit eConsulting team, DTNA’s customers will see a streamlined end-to-end process as they electrify their fleets and navigate charging infrastructure. The Detroit eConsulting team navigates some of the key challenges fleets will experience, including route assessment, coaching driver behavior, optimizing in-cab experience, and planning and installing charging equipment.
In May of this year Detroit also launched Detroit eFill chargers, a full line of commercial vehicle charging stations designed for seamless integration with the Detroit ePowertrain found in the Freightliner eCascadia and eM2 trucks. Detroit eFill stations were developed in partnership with Power Electronics, the leading North American supplier of converters for utility scale solar, and feature the ability to charge a wide range of electric vehicles from other brands.
Romeo Power’s New HQ in Cypress CA
Romeo Power, Inc. (“Romeo Power”) (NYSE: RMO), an energy technology leader delivering advanced electrification solutions for complex commercial vehicle applications, has leased a new Class A, state-of-the-art headquarters and manufacturing facility located in Cypress, California. The facility will support Romeo Power’s expansion of battery development and testing capabilities adjacent to its production line, allowing for faster innovation and time to market.
The modern 215,000 square foot facility includes 191,000 square feet of industrial space that will be designed to double critical laboratory and testing capacity. The expanded manufacturing capabilities will enhance throughput, quality and cost effectiveness. Significantly increased office space will also allow for continued organizational investment in scientific, engineering and other support resources driving growth. The transition to the new facility is currently expected to begin in the near future and is expected to be completed over the next 6-9 months.
“The development of this new facility is an important milestone for Romeo Power and provides a critical foundation as we continue to further enhance our industry leading technology and scale to meet the growing needs of our customers for our products,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Susan Brennan.
Brennan continued, “Since the company’s founding, Romeo Power has been committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of the electrification market and demand continues to grow. Safety, enhanced performance and optimal value for BEV owners and fleet managers is an expectation of our customers and continuing to deliver new and innovative solutions is what differentiates Romeo Power. Order growth demands a new strategy for space optimization, and we are grateful to have found a great location to meet our expected growth trajectory.”
Romeo Power develops batteries and battery management systems for Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) manufacturers requiring the greatest energy density and longest ranges resulting in the lowest total cost of ownership for vehicle owners and fleet managers. Romeo Power’s efficient and highly adaptable battery solutions are designed to enable BEV owners to eliminate negative emissions in a safe and cost-effective manner so they can meet the evolving environmental regulations in the United States and abroad. Since its founding, Romeo Power has been winning customers among key heavy-duty commercial BEV manufacturers and fleet managers based on industry leading safety technology and energy density, end-use scalability and unique built-in energy management intelligence optimizing charging time, mileage and battery life. This premium combination of product features translates to superior vehicle and fleet uptime, enhanced profit per mile and maximized return on battery investment for vehicle owners and fleet managers. The electric vehicle industry has reached a critical inflection point and the demand for affordable high-density battery solutions is at an all-time high.
ElectReon 5-Year Contact with Dan Bus
ElectReon (TASE: ELWS.TA), the leading provider of wireless and in-road wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging technology, announced it has signed a 5-year agreement with Dan Bus Company, an Israeli bus company, to expand its wireless charging network to support public electric bus routes in Tel Aviv and the wider metropolitan area. The implementation, costing $9.4M USD, will supply 200 electric buses with active charging at operational city terminals (stations) for buses between bus trips and while passengers board and disembark.
This charging strategy will allow for the reduction of electrical grid connection capacities at the bus facilities and reduce vehicle battery capacity, size and weight for Dan Bus Company’s electric buses—curtailing fleet vehicle down-time and enabling extended operational hours. ElectReon will provide a full charging service at multiple operating terminals in the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area and in Israel’s Southern District, for which Dan will pay a monthly fee for the complete charging service stack for approximately 200 electric buses. Dan elected to choose ElectReon’s Charging as a Service (CaaS) model, in which ElectReon finances the charging infrastructure at the terminals and provides operation services and maintenance throughout the length of the 5-year project. Additionally, the partners will explore the possibility of installing ElectReon’s wireless charging system for the rest of Dan’s electric fleet and in Dan’s highway project ‘Netivei Ayalon’.
In the first phase of the project, ElectReon will install its wireless charging system in 100 buses and at the major public transport terminal, Reading, in North Tel Aviv. As part of the second phase of the project that will take place within two years, the charging infrastructure will be expanded to other major terminals in Tel Aviv and in the south region of Israel, so that the company will provide wireless charging for about 200 buses in total.
WiTricity Wireless Charging On GV60
WiTricity, the pioneer in wireless charging, announced that its patented technology is seeing its first availability as factory-installed equipment in a fully electric vehicle (BEV). Hyundai unveiled the Genesis GV60 in a series of videos and announcements featuring wireless charging. The Hyundai Motor Group previously demonstrated wireless charging technology at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and has been a leader in moving the technology forward. The Genesis GV60 is the brand’s third SUV and first BEV. It will initially be available in South Korea.
Wolfspeed to Provide Silicon Carbon Devs for GM
General Motors and Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF) announced a strategic supplier agreement to develop and provide silicon carbide power device solutions for GM’s future electric vehicle programs. Wolfspeed’s silicon carbide devices will enable GM to install more efficient EV propulsion systems that will extend the range of its rapidly expanding EV portfolio.
The silicon carbide will specifically be used in the integrated power electronics contained within GM’s Ultium Drive units in its next-generation EVs.
As a part of the agreement, GM will participate in the Wolfspeed Assurance of Supply Program™ (WS AoSP), which is intended to secure domestic, sustainable and scalable materials for EV production.
Exro Intros Milestones of Coil Driver Tech
Exro Technologies Inc. (TSX: EXRO) (OTCQB: EXROF) (the “Company” or “Exro”), a leading clean technology company that has developed a new class of power electronics for electric motors and batteries, announced today the execution of several partner milestones and progress towards the commercialization of its Coil Driver technology. During Exro’s first quarterly webcast hosted by CEO Sue Ozdemir, shareholders received partner, technology and company updates, as well as an opportunity to engage directly with Exro. A recording of the webcast and the presentation file will be available on the Company website here:
Exro has been collaborating with Zero Motorcycles to integrate Exro’s Coil Drive technology into a Zero motorcycle to improve powertrain performance. Exro has now successfully provided Zero with the performance test results that demonstrates the Coil Driver’s optimization of low-end torque and high-end speed when combined with the Zero motor powertrain. The Exro and Zero teams will now move forward to validate the bench testing with in-vehicle evaluation of performance and system efficiency. The project remains on track for Exro to be considered for future Zero Motorcycles products.
Following a thorough customer validation process, test bench results demonstrated performance improvements in Potencia’s electric motor with Exro’s 100 Volt Coil Driver. The Exro and Potencia teams also completed the installation of the 100 Volt Coil Driver into their vehicle application, a first for the 100 Volt Coil Driver, and will now move forward to six to nine months of on-road operational reliability testing.
Linamar:
This project continues to be on track for an April 2022 delivery as expected. Exro is working with Linamar as its Tier 1 automotive supplier, which will not only enable a new e-axle product with the integration of Exro’s Coil Driver technology but will also establish Exro’s positioning in the automotive supply chain.
SEA Electric:
Supply chain and test capacity delays have impacted deliveries on two key projects: 1) an uplifted Mack LR garbage truck with Exro’s 800V drive system and 2) an upfitted F59 delivery truck with Exro’s 400V drive system. Despite these delays, Exro has been able to demonstrate increased torque in the final testing on its high-speed mode with the TSA motor. The projects now anticipate Q2 2022 deliveries.
Beyond partner updates, the webcast covered recent company updates such as the successful completion of AVL’s third-party testing of the Coil Driver. The results from the world’s largest independent company for testing in the automotive industry confirm the technology works as expected in an electric motor application. This validation should enhance the fast-growing pipeline of demand for Exro that already includes pilot orders.
Exro also discussed the equipment it secured to get ahead of the long lead times the electric vehicle industry is currently facing. The company ordered essential equipment for its facilities, including two dynamometers (“dynos”) and clean room equipment for its Canadian manufacturing facility currently under construction. The Canadian manufacturing facility and American innovation facility are both on track to be completed next year. There will be multiple vehicle demonstrations available at the American innovation facility in January 2022 for media and investors to see the technology firsthand.
Kempower Partners with GVR
Kempower, a leading e-mobility charging technology provider, has announced a partnership with Gilbarco Veeder-Root (GVR), the global leader in technology solutions for the retail fueling and convenience market. GVR will offer Kempower’s EV chargers as part of its EVerse offering, which also includes network management software, installation and maintenance services.
Kempower’s DC fast charging solutions are built to scale as the number of EVs on the road continues to rise. The company’s high-quality charging solutions are suitable for all types of EVs, including passenger cars, buses, off-highway vehicles, commercial service fleets and marine vessels.
With a strong heritage of providing industry-leading integrated software, hardware and services for the retail fueling and convenience market, GVR offers broad market reach, proven reliability and expert industry insights on how customers are evolving their workflows to address the growing complexity shaping the e-mobility infrastructure landscape. The company specializes in creating end-to-end EV charging infrastructure solutions to improve the consumer experience and increase productivity for operators.
Hydrogen Heavy Duty Vehicle Industry Group Partners for Standards
The Hydrogen Heavy Duty Vehicle Industry Group – comprised of hydrogen industry leaders Air Liquide, Hyundai, Nel Hydrogen, Nikola Corporation, Shell and Toyota, has signed agreements with Tatsuno Corporation and Transfer Oil S.p.A. to industrialize globally-standard 70 MPa hydrogen heavy-duty vehicle high-flow (H70HF) fueling hardware components.
The Industry Group was formed in February 2019 with the goal of addressing hydrogen fueling hardware challenges of achieving the fueling speeds that are needed for heavy-duty applications today. Other goals include testing and evaluating the hardware’s performance and standardizing the connector design to ensure adoptability throughout the world. This builds upon the collaboration of the hydrogen industry that achieved a global standard fueling interface for light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles.
Tatsuno, an international hydrogen fuel equipment provider founded in 1911, is designing and developing vehicle receptacle and dispenser nozzle and breakaway components, whereas Transfer Oil, considered one of the most valued manufacturers of reinforced thermoplastic hoses in the industry, is leading the design and development of a hydrogen dispenser fueling hose. The fueling hardware is anticipated to support average hydrogen fueling rates of 10kg/min which is in line with the US Department of Energy’s Technical Targets for Hydrogen-Fueled Long-Haul Tractor-Trailer Trucks. Testing is planned at an independent test facility and scheduled to commence in Q4 2021, with preliminary performance and safety results available in Q1 2022.
Faurecia Hydrogen Center in France & More
Faurecia has created a global center of expertise for hydrogen in France. In this center of expertise, Faurecia develops the next generations of homologated, smart, lightweight and cost-competitive hydrogen storage systems that increase performance without mitigating safety.
- Faurecia and Michelin created a 50-50 joint venture named Symbio. Symbio has developed a comprehensive range of fuel cell stacks for broad applications across the automotive industry. Called StackPacksTM, these fuel cell stacks can be adapted to light & medium-duty commercial vehicles, trucks, buses and passenger cars.
- In April 2021 Faurecia successfully completed its acquisition of CLD, one of the leading manufacturers of hydrogen tanks in China. Through this acquisition, Faurecia was awarded a contract by SAIC Motor to provide hydrogen tanks for a large fleet of commercial vehicles. CLD has also been recently certified by the Chinese central government as the first domestic producer of Type IV hydrogen tanks.
- Faurecia and Symbio will supply Stellantis with fuel cell stacks and hydrogen storage systems for light commercial vehicles. Faurecia will also equip around 1,600 Hyundai heavy duty trucks to be delivered to Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility in Switzerland.
- In 2021, Faurecia became a major member in key hydrogen associations in North America including Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) and California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP). As hydrogen mobility rapidly gains momentum, Faurecia is at the heart of a growing ecosystem of partners supporting its industrialization and adoption at scale.
Consequently, Faurecia is well-positioned to support growing demand for zero-emissions hydrogen mobility solutions globally. The company plans to expand its hydrogen footprint into North America as it establishes a new hydrogen R&D and manufacturing site.
GM MOU with GE for Rare Earth Metals and More
General Motors and GE Renewable Energy today announced they have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate opportunities to improve supplies of heavy and light rare earth materials and magnets, copper and electrical steel used for manufacturing of electric vehicles and renewable energy equipment.
The initial focus of the collaboration will be on creating a North America- and Europe-based supply chain of vertically integrated magnet manufacturing that both companies will use in the future. Metal alloys and finished magnets produced from rare earth materials are critical components used in manufacturing electric motors for automotive and renewable power generation.
The companies will also work together to help establish new supply chains for additional materials, such as copper and eSteel, that are used in automotive traction motors and renewable power generation.
“A secure, sustainable and resilient local supply chain for electric vehicle materials is critical to the execution of GM’s vision of an all-electric future,” said Shilpan Amin, GM vice president for Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “Motors are one of the most important components of our Ultium Platform, and the heavy and light rare earth materials are an essential ingredient in our motor magnets. The combined scale of GM and GE will enable us to unlock the potential for securing low-carbon footprint, ESG-friendly, secure and cost competitive materials.”
GE Renewable Energy Chief Technology Officer Danielle Merfeld said, “At GE Renewable Energy, we constantly innovate, both through our products like the Haliade-X, the most powerful offshore wind turbine built today, as well as by developing strategic collaborations that can help us accelerate the energy transition. Working with GM gives us another tool to obtain a reliable, sustainable, and competitive source of key materials going forward that will help us lower the cost of renewable energy and drive more electrification by making EVs a more viable option for consumers. We are also excited to partner with GM to explore opportunities to develop critical supply chains in the U.S. and further reduce CO2 emissions.”
As a part of the agreement, GM and GE Renewable Energy will also evaluate potential cooperation to support the development of new technologies and processes for both automotive and renewable power generation applications.
In addition, GM and GE Renewable Energy will look to collaboratively engage from a public policy perspective, together with other co-sourcing partners, to seek policies that are supportive of the establishment of secure, North American and European based supply chains for rare earth, copper and electrical steel materials needed to support electric vehicle and renewable power generation growth.