In electric vehicle, battery and charging news are Lithium Materials, Hertz, Polestar, Nissan, ChargePoint, Nevada, Graphite One, Faraday Future, Chase, Proterra, Xos and Stellantis.
Lithium Materials from Avalon in Ontario
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) (“Avalon” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding letter of intent with RenJoules International Ltd., an Essar Company (“Essar”), to become a strategic partner and co-developer in support of Avalon’s plans to establish a regional lithium battery materials supply chain to serve the needs of future electric vehicle and battery manufacturers in Ontario and elsewhere.
This agreement involves providing initial financial and development support for building a lithium refinery in Thunder Bay, Ontario that will be designed to accept lithium minerals concentrates, not only from Avalon’s Separation Rapids Lithium Project north of Kenora, ON, but also from other aspiring new producers from the many lithium pegmatite resources that occur in northwestern Ontario. It will operate as a separate private business, called Avalon Lithium Inc., a newly established Avalon subsidiary in which Essar will become a co-owner.
Hertz Will Buy 65K Polestar EVs
Hertz (NASDAQ: HTZ) and Polestar, the Swedish premium electric performance car maker, announced a new global partnership that includes purchasing up to 65,000 electric vehicles (EVs) over five years. Availability is expected to begin in Spring 2022 in Europe and
For Hertz, the partnership is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to lead in electrification, shared mobility and a digital-first customer experience. The partnership with Polestar builds on Hertz’s announcement last October to offer its customers the largest EV rental fleet in North America and one of the largest in the world. In addition to making the fleet available to its business and leisure customers, Hertz is extending EVs to rideshare drivers as a way to further accelerate electrification.
Nissan Readying for Solid-State Batteries in 2028
Nissan unveiled its prototype production facility for laminated all-solid-state battery cells, which the company aims to bring to market in 2028. This prototype facility, within the Nissan Research Center in Kanagawa Prefecture, is aimed to further promote the development of all-solid-state-batteries.
Under its long-term vision, Nissan Ambition 2030, Nissan aims to launch an EV with all-solid-state batteries developed in-house by fiscal 2028. It plans to establish a pilot production line at its Yokohama Plant in fiscal 2024, with materials, design and manufacturing processes for prototype production on the line to be studied at the prototype production facility. Nissan believes all-solid-state batteries can be reduced to $75 per kWh in fiscal 2028 and to $65 per kWh thereafter, placing EVs at the same cost level as gasoline-powered vehicles.
All-solid-state batteries are expected to be a game-changing technology for accelerating the popularity of electric vehicles. They have an energy density approximately twice that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, significantly shorter charging time due to superior charge/discharge performance, and lower cost thanks to the opportunity of using less expensive materials. With these benefits, Nissan expects to use all-solid-state batteries in a wide range of vehicle segments, including pickup trucks, making its EVs more competitive.
Kunio Nakaguro, executive vice president in charge of R&D, said: “Nissan has been a leader in electrification technology through a wide range of R&D activities, from molecular-level battery material research to the development of safe, high-performance EVs. Our initiatives even include city development using EVs as storage batteries.
$300 Million Investment in ChargePoint
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT), a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network, announced that Antara Capital LP has agreed to make a $300 million investment in ChargePoint through the purchase of convertible senior notes to support ChargePoint’s growth initiatives.
Under the terms of the investment, Antara Capital LP will purchase a total aggregate principal amount of $300 million in 3.50% / 5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”). The transaction is expected to close on April 12, 2022.
Nevada MOUs for Zero Emissions
Nevada signed with other states for 30% of all new trucks and buses sold will be zero emission by 2030, and 100% will be zero emission by 2050. Nevada joins 16 other states and the District of Columbia as signatories on the Multi-State Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle (MHD ZEV) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which represents 40% of the US population.
– WAVE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX), and developer of high-power, wireless inductive charging solutions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, announced its facility expansion to accommodate the growing demand for its high-power wireless vehicle charging systems. Located across the street from the company’s current Salt Lake City headquarters, the new 12,000 square-foot facility will support WAVE’s expanding engineering, testing and production teams and provide more space for product line expansion. Employees will begin moving into the facility this week.
Graphite One Shares with Sunrise New Energy
Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) (“Graphite One” or the “Company”) has signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with Sunrise (Guizhou) New Energy Material Co., Ltd. (“Sunrise”), a Chinese lithium-ion battery anode producer. The intent is to develop an agreement to share expertise and technology for the design, construction, and operation of Graphite One’s proposed U.S.-based graphite material manufacturing facility. The plan for the materials facility – the second link in Graphite One’s U.S. supply chain solution for advanced graphite products – will be detailed in the Company’s prefeasibility study expected to be released in the first half of 2022.
Faraday Future Partners with Meta System
Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (“FF”) (NASDAQ: FFIE), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, announced its partnership with Meta System to become the supplier of on-board power management module products for its ultimate techluxury FF 91 EV and upcoming FF 81 vehicles.
“Meta System’s deep understanding in power conversion of electrified powertrain systems, combined with its technologically advanced products with higher efficiency and safety standards, will allow the FF 91 to offer industry-leading AC charging capabilities, giving our drivers more time to spend behind the wheel,” said Geng Niu, Global Senior Director, Powertrain, for Faraday Future.
Equipped with Meta System’s onboard battery charger, the system will feature 15.2 kW AC charging capability. The onboard power management products have already arrived at FF’s Hanford, Calif. plant on schedule, leading to the launch of the FF 91 in Q3 2022. With a focus on onboard charging, FF 91 will be outfitted with a fast, reliable system to ensure the vehicle is always ready for use. Meta System’s partnership will further enhance FF’s technical strength, product quality, and more.
Chase Pilots Fast EV Stations at 50 Branches
Chase announced that it will pilot public fast electric vehicle charging stations across 50 of its U.S. branches beginning this summer. This adds to the firm’s efforts to promote environmental sustainability in its retail locations as it also aims to expand on-site solar power to approximately 400 additional branches by the end of 2022.
To bring the charging stations to branches, the bank partnered with EVgo, a pioneer and innovator in transportation electrification. The company builds, owns and operates the nation’s largest network of public DC fast chargers, powered by 100% renewable energy.
Charging stations at branches bring added convenience to customers, allowing them to set up a meeting with a banker and conduct their banking needs while charging their cars.
“We’re always listening and taking feedback from customers when it comes to the branch experience, and we know environmental sustainability is important to them,” said Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking. “We’re excited to work together with EVgo to bring electric vehicle charging to our branches and offer this important service to thousands of customers and their communities.”
Fast chargers will be installed at select Chase branch locations in states like California, Indiana, Illinois, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, offering thousands of drivers access to 100kW and 350kW chargers that can charge vehicles as much as 80% in 15-45 minutes.* The bank expects to have all stations available for use by the summer of 2023.
Once installed and operational at the 50 branch locations, EVgo estimates chargers will deliver up to 9.4million kWh annually to provide nearly 30 million EV miles charged, equivalent to avoiding 12,000 mt of CO2 and planting approximately 196,000 trees each year.
Proterra Awarded TRUE Certification
Proterra Inc, a leading innovator in commercial vehicle electrification technology, announced that the company has been awarded TRUE© (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Certification for multiple manufacturing facilities in recognition of their zero waste efforts. Proterra is now the first electric vehicle manufacturer to earn multiple TRUE Certifications for zero waste facilities, according to Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI).
Proterra’s Silicon Valley Technology Center in Burlingame, California and East Coast electric bus manufacturing plant in Greenville, South Carolina both achieved TRUE’s Gold-level certification this year for diverting more than 90 percent of all qualified recycling, compost, and reusable materials from landfills, waste-to-energy and the environment.
Administered by GBCI, the TRUE rating system helps facilities measure, improve and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices, which contribute to positive environmental, health, and economic outcomes.
Xos Delivers EV Stepvans
Xos, Inc., a leading manufacturer of Class 5 through Class 8 battery-electric vehicles and powertrains, and provider of charging infrastructure and fleet management software, announced the delivery of 15 of its battery-electric stepvans to five different FedEx Ground Operators in Southern California during the month of March. FedEx Ground Operators work as FedEx Corporation independent service providers (ISPs). The ISPs ordered these 15 stepvans in 2021 for 2022 delivery. The orders were previously reported by Xos.
“We are pleased to continue delivering vehicles to FedEx Ground Operators and supporting them in meeting their sustainability goals and reducing total cost of ownership,” said Jose Castañeda, Vice President of Business Development for Xos. “This is the first of our 2022 deliveries to FedEx Ground Operators and we are excited to continue rolling out our products to this leading, nationwide fleet.”
The FedEx Ground ISPs that received the vehicles are Pharo Deliveries, Inc. in Bakersfield, Eric Young Corporation in Ventura, Bonanno Investment Enterprises, Inc. in North Hollywood, Expedited Delivery Services, Inc. in Oceanside, and Espinoza Inc. in Santa Maria.
CEA Digital Modeling of Batteries for Stellantis
The Stellantis and CEA teams presented the first advances of their collaboration in the field of digital modeling of batteries.
These models, which make it possible to analyze charging time strategies and the mechanisms of battery degradation, are intended to increase their lifespan for customers, and to better control the environmental impacts of the various battery technologies in the five years to come.
“We are happy to benefit from the expertise of the CEA”, said Nicolas Champetier, Senior Vice President Advanced Engineering Propulsion Systems, Stellantis. “This work on digital modeling will have a positive impact on the performance and cost of use of batteries for customers”.
As presented in its strategic plan Dare Forward 2030 on March 1, 2022, Stellantis aims to build on cutting-edge ideas to offer its customers innovative, clean, safe, and affordable mobility solutions. In its electrification strategy, technological partnerships with key companies have a key role in enabling Stellantis to become the industry champion in the fight against climate change. In particular, thanks to state-of-the-art battery technologies in terms of energy efficiency and cost-in-use for customers.
“The CEA is proud to provide Stellantis with its technological expertise, considering all stages of the product life cycle, from its design to its end of life”, said Stephane Siebert, Director of Technological Research, CEA.
A major player in innovation, the CEA’s mission is to promote the technologies it develops to support the competitiveness of companies and national technological sovereignty. At the same time, the search for economic and environmental optima of the energy transition requires the design of components integrating the imperatives of sobriety, durability and recyclability.The unprecedented expertise provided by the CEA and the resulting innovations have been irrigating the entire automotive industry for 30 years: manufacturers, equipment manufacturers and subcontractors, network managers and digital companies.