EV, Battery & Charging News: Hyundai Solid-State, ChargePoint,

In electric vehicle, battery and charging news are Hyundai, ChargePoint, Ford, Qmerit, QuantumScape, Telsa, Hertz, Faraday Future, GM, SES, Lightning eMotors, LADWP, PG&E,

ChargePoint Partners with Sunnova

Sunnova Energy International Inc. (“Sunnova”) (NYSE: NOVA), one of the leading U.S. residential solar and storage service providers, has partnered with ChargePoint, Inc., a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network operating in North America and Europe, to offer Sunnova customers EV charging solutions.

Hyundai, Kia and Factorial Solid State Batteries

 Qmerit, a leader in electrification and green energy transformation, has teamed up with Ford Motor Company for home EV charger station installations for its currently available all-electric vehicles. Qmerit will provide Ford’s Mustang Mach-E customers with its Charge@Home services for installing and supporting EV charger stations at individual homes and multi-family residences.

Ford Strives for an All-Electric Future SPARK Lab

QM Power and the SPARK Lab at University of Kentucky shared the combined results of a large-scale, multi-objective design optimization study, and lab testing of a prototype motor designed to meet the ambitious 2025 power density goals set by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The research demonstrated the high torque and speed capability of QM Power’s innovative permanent magnet motor technology. This, combined with advanced manufacturing and cooling technologies, achieved a record-high 50kW/liter volumetric power density for traction applications such as electric vehicles (EV). The announcement was made at the 2021 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Expo (ECCE) by the joint team of researchers including Dr. Madhav Manjrekar, SMIEEE, of QM Power, who also holds a tenured faculty position at University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and Dr. Dan M. Ionel, FIEEE, who serves as the inaugural L. Stanley Pigman Chair in Power at University of Kentucky, where he also directs the SPARK Lab.

The computational study was conducted at the SPARK Lab. An open frame lab prototype was designed and manufactured by QM Power. Tests and extensive simulations were conducted at University of North Carolina, Charlotte and at University of Kentucky to reveal the best outcome given trade-offs among efficiency, power density and power factor while achieving the DOE 2025 target.

In 2019 the US DOE established the 2025 goal as part of an ongoing effort to reduce dependency on resources such as fossil fuels and rare earth magnets. It represents an ambitious 89% reduction in motor volume compared to 2020 targets. This project is among the programs which the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office deems to “have the potential to support radical new vehicle architectures by dramatic volume/space reductions and increased durability and reliability.”

Major challenges associated with existing designs include the overheating and demagnetization of the rotor during system operation. QM Power’s patented design employs no magnets in the rotor, thus minimizing these risks and enabling highly effective direct cooling of magnets in the stator. “The unique topology of this motor enables lighter, smaller electric motors which are more efficient and easier to manufacture”, said Madhav Manjrekar. “These motors are expected to offer superior performance in terms of torque production and achieve more miles per charging cycle, thus enabling electric transportation at much lower costs.”

“We are very happy to be part of the research team with QM Power on motor technology that can be transformational to the industry,” said Dan M. Ionel. “The ultra-high power density motors can be beneficial to many applications, including electric vehicles and airplanes”.

Report on QuantumScape Solid-State Batteries

QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE: QS), a leader in the development of next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries for use in electric vehicles, today announced the release of an independent third-party laboratory testing report on the performance of its solid-state lithium-metal battery cells.

QuantumScape’s single-layer cells were tested by Mobile Power Solutions, an independent battery lab, and met automotive-relevant conditions: over 800 cycles at 25 °C, 1C (one hour) charge/discharge rates, 100% depth of discharge and under 3.4 atmospheres of pressure. We believe that the results from the tests, covering a group of three single-layer cells, are consistent with those initially reported by QuantumScape in its December 2020 Battery Showcase presentation.

Hertz to Supply Uber Drivers with Tesla Rentals

Hertz and Uber are accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S. through a new exclusive partnership to make up to 50,000 Teslas available by 2023 for drivers to rent when using the Uber network.

This partnership is the largest expansion of electric vehicles on a mobility platform in North America and one of the largest globally, marking another step toward Uber’s zero-emissions goal. Starting Nov. 1, drivers can rent Teslas from Hertz through this program in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Washington, D.C. – with a nationwide expansion planned in the coming weeks.

Lion Electric MOU for 1K School Buses

The Lion Electric Company  leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, announced that it has received a conditional purchase order for 1,000 all-electric LionC school buses from Student Transportation of Canada (“STC”), a subsidiary of Student Transportation of America (“STA”), a north-American leader in student transportation, safety and fleet management services, whose controlling shareholder is Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ).

Volvo’s Nova Bus NY Debut

The new LFSe+ integrates the proven electric drive motor and next generation power electronics from BAE Systems, which uses advanced materials such as silicon carbide to improve heat management. The lower weight and increased power density of the BAE Systems technology also contribute to bus performance and durability. Powered by an integrated modular system, the electric drive motor significantly decreases maintenance costs and emits no greenhouse gas emissions.

Altis Motors’ Body Man by Schwab

Atlis Motor Vehicles (ATLIS), a startup mobility technology company, announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Schwab Industries (Schwab) to engage Schwab’s capabilities for Body-in-White manufacturing for the XT pickup truck.

Built on the company’s three business units – Energy, XP Platform, and XT Pickup Truck, ATLIS is developing its own electric vehicle battery cells and packs to power 300, 400, and 500-mile range batteries for the ATLIS XP platform and XT pickup truck.

The XT pickup truck, targeted at the work truck market, is being developed to meet the size, refueling, towing and payload capabilities of conventional diesel-powered pickup trucks. The XT will be built on a modular XP platform that enables ATLIS to produce vehicles in other configurations, such as emergency vehicles or delivery vans.

Schwab is a Michigan-based, premier OEM and Tier 1 supplier to all major automotive and aerospace companies, with 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

ATLIS intends to produce the motors, gearboxes, frame, and suspension for the platform and the truck, as well as body control modules, vehicle dynamic systems, and braking systems all in-house. This strategic partnership with Schwab continues to ensure the high-quality standards that ATLIS desires to optimize its manufacturing process.

Once the bed and cab are complete, final assembly will take place at ATLIS to ensure all products meet Hanchett’s quality, reliability, and durability expectations to truly transform the work truck market.///

2nd Phase for High Voltage for Lordstown

The second phase of construction on new electric transmission infrastructure in Trumbull County, Ohio, is underway by FirstEnergy Corp. to support the energy demands of the area’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) industry. The work is also expected to help reduce the frequency and duration of power outages experienced by Ohio Edison customers in the area.

As part of the $12 million project, FirstEnergy utility workers are building a new, high-voltage power line in Lordstown to accommodate the projected future energy needs of Ultium Cells LLC – an EV battery-cell manufacturing plant jointly backed by General Motors and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution.

The new 138-kilovolt (kV) line extends approximately 3.5 miles to connect electric substations in the area and will strengthen the regional transmission system to benefit more than 15,000 Ohio Edison customers in Lordstown and nearby communities. When completed, the new line will offer a backup power feed that will help keep the lights on for customers if wires or equipment on their regular line are damaged or need to be taken out of service.

To help minimize the project’s impact on local communities and the environment, two miles of the new power line will utilize existing steel towers along a FirstEnergy transmission corridor. The remaining work will require new construction of steel and wood structures. The project is expected to be completed in early 2022.

The work underway builds upon the company’s completion of a nearly $20 million project, which included the construction of a new transmission substation and a short, high-voltage power line to provide electric service to Ultium Cells LLC. The company’s nearly 3 million-square-foot facility is expected to bring approximately 1,100 jobs to the area.

Additional work completed in the area includes the installation of new automated technology and equipment to enhance service reliability for hundreds of residents and businesses.

Munro and Associates to Advise FF

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (“FF”) (NASDAQ: FFIE), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company,  announced its upcoming work with Munro & Associates, Inc., a world class engineering and manufacturing consulting firm, who will help to evaluate and co-create Faraday Future’s flagship vehicle, the FF 91 Futurist.

Over the next year, Faraday Future will host Munro & Associates at the Faraday Future headquarters and offer hands-on experiences with the intelligent techluxury FF 91 and create independent comparative analysis against the current ultra-luxury market. Having performed quality assessments for over 100 vehicles in the past decade, the Munro team will provide valuable feedback and outside perspective on Faraday’s flagship offering.

Working with Munro & Associates is an important next step in bringing the FF 91 Futurist to market and understanding where it will compare within the EV and automotive industry.

CATL & Hyundai Mobis Pact for CTP

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) and Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. (MOBIS) have signed a technology licensing and partnership agreement, according to which CATL will introduce and disclose its CTP (cell to pack) technology to MOBIS as well as support MOBIS in the supply of related CTP products not only in South Korea, but also worldwide.

GM to Install 40K EV Chargers

Today, General Motors announced a new community charging program to install up to 40,000 Level 2 EV chargers across the U.S. and Canada. GM and its dealers will work together to expand access to charging in local communities including in underserved, rural and urban areas where EV charging access is often limited. This initiative, which begins in 2022, is part of GM’s recently announced commitment to invest nearly $750 million to expand home, workplace and public charging infrastructure through its Ultium Charge 360 ecosystem.

Through the Dealer Community Charging Program, GM will work with its dealers to deploy Level 2 charging stations (EVSE) at key locations in the dealer’s respective communities, including workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, sports and entertainment venues and college and universities, among others. These charging stations will be available to all EV customers, not just those who purchase a GM EV. Today, nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a GM dealership.

GM is also announcing that its new line of three Ultium-branded Level 2 smart charging stations will be offered to customers through dealerships and online to provide more home or commercial charging options and help make EV charging more widespread.

“These two initiatives are part of our plan to put everyone in an EV, making access to charging even more seamless than before,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “We want to give customers the right tools and access to charging where and when they need it, while working with our dealer network to accelerate the expansion of accessible charging throughout the U.S. and Canada, including in underserved, rural and urban areas.”

Dealer Community Charging Program

Today, charging “deserts” still exist in many urban and rural areas, lacking in critical EV charging infrastructure necessary for the more widespread adoption of EVs. As part of its Dealer Community Charging Program, GM will help address that by giving each of its EV dealers up to 10 Level 2 destination charging stations and working with them to deploy these at key locations throughout their local communities. In addition, GM will help dealers apply for incentives and other funding and access to programs that can expect to expedite the deployment of local EV charging.

GM and its dealers, together with local community partners and stakeholders, will help facilitate the installation of up to 40,000 Level 2 chargers at popular destinations and workplaces in the areas that dealers serve.

Through Ultium Charge 360, GM works with policymakers, community leaders and industry groups to deploy charging stations or infrastructure faster and improve access for those that might not be able to install charging equipment at their homes, including apartment dwellers.

GM’s integration with major EV charging networks simplifies the charging experience by allowing drivers to find stations along a route and initiate and pay for charging while on the go, all through their GM vehicle mobile apps. In addition, customers can access nearly 85,000 charging spots throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Ultium Chargers

The Ultium brand name on GM’s all-new EV platform, propulsion components and charging ecosystem will soon expand to a brand of Ultium Chargers for residential and commercial use developed with leading vehicle charging specialist CTEK.

GM’s family of Ultium Chargers will include:

• An 11.5 kilowatt/48-amp smart charger
• An 11.5 kW/48-amp premium smart charger
• A 19.2 kW/80-amp premium smart charger

All three Ultium chargers are Energy Star Certified, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Each charger features dynamic load balancing and can be upgraded over time through over-the-air updates with automatic download capabilities. The two premium models include a customizable touchscreen and an embedded camera.

Customers can set their charging schedule, view statistics on their charging habits and historical charging sessions and receive readouts of charger status through the GM brand mobile apps.

The first Ultium Chargers will ship early next year with customers able to roll the price into their GM Financial lease or financial contracts.

Qmerit for Ford Home Installs

Qmerit, a leader in electrification and green energy transformation, has teamed up with Ford Motor Company for home EV charger station installations for its currently available all-electric vehicles. Qmerit will provide Ford’s Mustang Mach-E customers with its Charge@Home services for installing and supporting EV charger stations at individual homes and multi-family residences.

SES Largest Li-Metal Batteries

SES, manufacturer of innovative hybrid Li-Metal batteries developed for electric vehicle applications, at the inaugural Battery World U.S. where they will announce the world’s largest Li-Metal battery along with plans for the world’s largest Li-Metal battery production facility. SES announced that : Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

Lightning eMotors’ New CalACT Orders

Lightning eMotors (NYSE: ZEV), a leading provider of all-electric powertrains and medium-duty and specialty commercial electric fleet vehicles, announced an increase in orders, and reorders from the CalACT Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative managed by Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA). The increase in orders are from public agencies who are members of the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalACT).

The CalACT contract is a purchasing instrument that simplifies and expedites procurement for CalACT members. To be considered for inclusion on the contract, Lightning went through a rigorous qualification process including an MBTA site visit and audit by its consultants, as well as CalACT transit agency visits to the facility to review the manufacturing process.

“We have seen a surge in demand and interest for our electric commercial vehicles in California from municipalities that are part of CalACT and we anticipate that those numbers will grow dramatically in the coming years,” said Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotors. “In the past six months, we have received orders for both our ADA-compliant 350HD transit van and E-450 shuttle bus from five California cities, with additional vehicles in the pipeline.”

The nearly 200 municipalities that are part of CalACT and eligible to purchase off of the contract, on average, purchase 800 vehicles per year. As one of a select few approved electric commercial vehicle manufacturers, and the first to deliver such vehicles under the contract, Lightning is in a prime position to be the vendor of choice as California cities, counties and transit agencies strive to meet the state’s carbon neutrality mandate. Under the Innovative Clean Transit regulation adopted in 2018, 100% of new medium- and heavy-duty truck and bus purchases must be all-electric by 2029, with a goal for full transition by 2040.

Lightning eMotors’ Class 3 350HD transit van and Class 4 E-450 shuttle bus are available through California-based CalACT-authorized partners A – Z Bus Sales and Creative Bus Sales, and Las Vegas-based RO Bus Sales. The all-electric E-450 shuttle bus has a capacity of up to 24 passengers and range of over 120 miles while Lightning’s electric 350HD transit van seats 15 with a dynamometer confirmed range of more than 120 miles.

According to the American Lung Association’s 2021 “State of the Air” report, eight California cities appear on all three lists of most polluted cities in the United States for unhealthy ozone days, unhealthy spikes in particle pollution, and for annual particle pollution levels. Electrifying commercial passenger and last/middle mile cargo transportation vehicles will play a key role in improving overall air quality by reducing carbon emissions, particularly in densely populated urban areas. In fact, recent estimates from the Alternative Fuels Data Center have shown that depending on the source of electricity, annual emissions per vehicle for all-electric vehicles can lead to a 67% decrease in CO2 emissions nationally.

Lightning eMotors has delivered eight of 11 vehicles initially ordered and expects to deliver the remaining three before the end of the year. An additional five orders from more new agencies are also on track to close in the coming month.

“More than four in 10 Americans live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution which continues to amplify Covid-19 cases,” Reeser said. “Zero Emission vehicles like those built by Lightning eMotors are already having a positive impact on California communities from Oakland to Santa Barbara and these orders are just the tip of the iceberg.”

$285K Electric Hummer

BARRETT-JACKSON HUMMER EV Edition 1, the world’s first fully electric super truck. Presented by Barrett-Jackson, is being sold my Neiman Marcus for $285,000.

Featuring a custom interior curated by automotive expert and Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson, the vehicle’s two-tone handcrafted leather seats and anodized metal accents offer the perfect backdrop for customized Neiman Marcus badging. A bespoke steering wheel, sleek white exterior, and transparent sky panels deliver sophistication, while the Extreme Off-Road Package and unique CrabWalk mode are all about performance, not to mention the brand-new Watts to Freedom feature that enables the vehicle to accelerate to 60 mph in three seconds. Off-road driving never looked and felt so good.

Included is priority parking at local Neiman Marcus store.

PG&E’s Next EV Charging Proposal

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced it has proposed the next major milestone in building the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for Northern and Central California. If approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the proposal would continue to drive customer EV adoption as PG&E works to support California’s bold climate and clean air goals.

PG&E’s proposal builds on the success of its recently completed EV Charge Network program by installing new infrastructure for 16,000 additional charging ports including Level 2 EV chargers, supporting multifamily housing residents in particular with onsite, workplace and public destination charging options.

Additionally, PG&E proposes installing both Level 2 EV chargers and fast chargers at publicly accessible locations including shopping centers, local government buildings, and park-and-ride lots. Public charging is critical to increasing EV adoption, as it builds driver confidence in their ability to charge away from home and provides access to drivers who do not have residential charging.

“Expanding the use of electric vehicles is essential for California to achieve its bold climate and clean-air goals. With this proposed program, we believe we can continue doing our part to expand EV charging infrastructure for our customers, which is a critical component of increasing EV adoption. We value our role as an active partner in helping make EVs an option for millions of Californians. Reducing vehicle emissions is good for our state and good for the environment,” said PG&E’s Aaron August, Vice President, Business Development and Customer Engagement.

Details of the Proposal

Should the CPUC approve the program, PG&E would install or rebate the necessary electrical infrastructure to connect parking spaces to the electric grid and, in certain cases, also install the associated EV chargers. PG&E would pay for all or a portion of this work, depending on the customer type.

PG&E’s proposal focuses on supporting equitable EV adoption for all Californians including those who may not have had the option before. These efforts include, but are not limited to:

• Covering 100% of costs for certain multifamily housing customer sites;
• Collecting and incorporating community input on the location of chargers installed through the program;
• Pursuing EV car-share partnerships;
• Providing grants for community-based organizations with ideas for how to drive EV adoption; and
• Allocating at least 50% of infrastructure spending in communities prioritized by Assembly Bill 841 (Ting-2020), which established criteria for future transportation electrification programs in underserved communities.

Why Clean Transportation Matters

More than 360,000 EVs are currently registered in PG&E’s service area, representing nearly 20% of all EVs in the country. Increasing EV adoption is a critical component to making California’s clean air future a reality as transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions in California, contributing nearly 40%. Passenger vehicles alone account for nearly 29% of the state’s total emissions. The state aims to have 100% of California sales of new passenger cars and trucks be zero-emission by 2035.

The electricity fueling EVs in California comes from one of the cleanest energy mixes in the country—about 85% of the electricity PG&E delivers to customers is from greenhouse gas-free resources.

PG&E’s Support for EVs

As part of its first EV charging infrastructure program, EV Charge Network, PG&E installed 4,827 Level 2 EV charging ports at customer sites across Northern and Central California, which accounts for roughly 18% of the total number of Level 2 charging ports in the state. Through the program, PG&E partnered with customers at 192 locations and with 11 EV charging companies throughout its service area including in Bakersfield, Chico, Fresno, Red Bluff, and San Jose. Through September 2021, PG&E has enabled charging for 5.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to over 1,400 traditional cars being taken off the road for a year.

While the EV Charge Network program is complete, PG&E continues to bring EV charging options to customers across its service area.

• EV Fleet Program: Aims to install or rebate make-ready electrical infrastructure at 700 sites by 2024 to support the adoption of 6,500 medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles.
• EV Fast Charge Program for Public Fast Chargers: Complements state and privately funded initiatives and aims to install more than 50 plazas for Direct Current (DC) fast charging in highway corridor and urban sites. Earlier this year, PG&E installed four fast chargers at its first site at a 7-Eleven convenience store in West Sacramento, California. PG&E has since seen high demand for the program, receiving three times the applications for available funding.
• EV Charge Schools and EV Charge Parks: Will provide charging infrastructure at school facilities and educational institutions, as well as California State Parks and Beaches in support of California’s electrification goals.
• Special Rates, Rebates and Tools: PG&E has electric rate plans tailored for customers who drive EVs and offers tools such as PG&E’s EV Savings Calculator and Fleet Calculato.

QM Power SPARK Lab News Power Dense Motor

QM Power and the SPARK Lab at University of Kentucky shared the combined results of a large-scale, multi-objective design optimization study, and lab testing of a prototype motor designed to meet the ambitious 2025 power density goals set by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The research demonstrated the high torque and speed capability of QM Power’s innovative permanent magnet motor technology. This, combined with advanced manufacturing and cooling technologies, achieved a record-high 50kW/liter volumetric power density for traction applications such as electric vehicles (EV). The announcement was made at the 2021 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Expo (ECCE) by the joint team of researchers including Dr. Madhav Manjrekar, SMIEEE, of QM Power, who also holds a tenured faculty position at University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and Dr. Dan M. Ionel, FIEEE, who serves as the inaugural L. Stanley Pigman Chair in Power at University of Kentucky, where he also directs the SPARK Lab.

The computational study was conducted at the SPARK Lab. An open frame lab prototype was designed and manufactured by QM Power. Tests and extensive simulations were conducted at University of North Carolina, Charlotte and at University of Kentucky to reveal the best outcome given trade-offs among efficiency, power density and power factor while achieving the DOE 2025 target.

In 2019 the US DOE established the 2025 goal as part of an ongoing effort to reduce dependency on resources such as fossil fuels and rare earth magnets. It represents an ambitious 89% reduction in motor volume compared to 2020 targets. This project is among the programs which the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office deems to “have the potential to support radical new vehicle architectures by dramatic volume/space reductions and increased durability and reliability.”

Major challenges associated with existing designs include the overheating and demagnetization of the rotor during system operation. QM Power’s patented design employs no magnets in the rotor, thus minimizing these risks and enabling highly effective direct cooling of magnets in the stator. “The unique topology of this motor enables lighter, smaller electric motors which are more efficient and easier to manufacture”, said Madhav Manjrekar. “These motors are expected to offer superior performance in terms of torque production and achieve more miles per charging cycle, thus enabling electric transportation at much lower costs.”

“We are very happy to be part of the research team with QM Power on motor technology that can be transformational to the industry,” said Dan M. Ionel. “The ultra-high power density motors can be beneficial to many applications, including electric vehicles and airplanes”.

EVgo LADWP

EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ: EVGO), a first mover in fleet electrification and owner and operator of the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) and first powered by 100% renewable electricity, will accelerate construction of new EV charging sites — in addition to the 18 sites already live within LADWP’s territory — further solidifying its place as the largest network of public fast charging stations in Los Angeles.

Vgo’s expanded site pipeline builds on recent major efforts by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to streamline and accelerate installation and commissioning of EV charging stations in order to support the transition to EVs and meet the state’s ambitious policy goals. This effort, adopted through a motion by the Department’s Commissioners at the October 12^th Board Meeting and introduced by Board President Cynthia McClain-Hill, comes on the heels of the department’s introduction of a pilot commercial EV charging rate designed to incentivize charging infrastructure development just weeks prior.