Telsa, Monarch Tractor, Lordstown Motors, Hyundai, SK, 360 Power Group, Nikola Corp., Aptera Motors and Stellantis.
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Telsa Semi Delivered
Tesla delivered the first semi truck on Thursday during a an event hosted by Elon Musk at the Nevada Megafactory.
Electric Automation Monarch Tractor MK-V for Constellation Farming
Monarch Tractor, maker of the MK-V, the fully electric, driver-optional, smart tractor, to announced the first tractors are coming off the Founder Series production line at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Livermore, California. The rollout comes less than two years since Monarch unveiled its groundbreaking tractor that combines electrification, automation, and data analysis to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint, improve field safety, streamline farming operations, and increase their bottom lines. Constellation Brands, the leading global premium, fine wine and craft spirits producer and largest beer importer in the US, has partnered with Monarch as its first customer, through its purchase of the first six Founder Series MK-V tractors. The delivery of MK-V tractors to Constellation Brands will be followed by additional customer shipments to family farms and other large multinational corporations.
Utilizing a Monarch MK-V in place of a comparable diesel tractor is the equivalent emission reduction of removing 14 passenger vehicles from the road. Considering nearly 25 percent of global emissions result from agriculture, the zero-emission Monarch Tractor will help make meaningful emissions reductions as the use of Monarch Tractors scale in an industry that has been historically difficult to decarbonize. The use of the MK-V tractor simultaneously helps solve numerous challenges farmers face today including labor shortages, safety concerns, increased customer scrutiny for sustainable practices, government regulations, and more. Key features of the MK-V include:
Renewable Technology: The MK-V is 100 percent electric and has zero tailpipe emissions. It also serves as a 3-in-1 electrification tool, operating as a tractor or utility vehicle during operation, as well as a powerful electric generator in the field.
Lordstown Endurance Homologated
Lordstown Motors is announced that our EnduranceTM full-size battery electric pickup truck has achieved full homologation. Certification has been received from both the EPA and CARB. These were the key conditions to start customer sales. The first units, of our initial batch of 500, are leaving the Foxconn EV Ohio plant for customer delivery. As disclosed earlier, production volume will ramp slowly and accelerate as we resolve supply chain constraints.
Hyundai Partners with SK For EV Batteries in NA
Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK On Co., Ltd., a leading electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, to secure a supply of EV batteries in North America.
The signing of the MOU took place at SK Group Headquarters in Korea, participated by Heung-soo Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Future Growth Planning Division & EV Division of Hyundai Motor Group and Young-chan Choi, Chief Administrative Officer of SK On.
Under the MOU, both parties will cooperate to provide SK On batteries to the Group’s plants in the U.S. after 2025 for the EV production. Further details on the cooperation will be revealed at a later stage.
360 Power Group New Efficient Electric Motor
360 Power Group announced that it has successfully tested an innovative new electric motor design that delivers 98.4% electrical efficiency at a load of 1,800 rpm. That’s more than three times the efficiency of a typical electric motor. This breakthrough was achieved by 360 Power Group’s research and development team, led by chief design engineer Michael Salerno, who has been working on the project for more than two years and has now achieved results that have never been seen before in the electric motor/generator industry.
360 Power Group’s design incorporates a radial-axial-radial magnetic field to produce 3 fields instead of two. Instead of using a field coil, the design uses modular coils that reduce copper consumption by 33%, reduce size and weight by 33%, and prevent catastrophic failure. In the unlikely event of a coil failure, the motor runs at a slightly reduced efficiency until the module can be replaced. The amazing efficiency means that a 360 Power Group motor has at least a 33% increase in range compared to conventional EV motors, using the same battery system.
The unique architecture also allows for a continuously variable-speed electronic transmission, eliminating the need for mechanical transmission. The low rpm reduces vibration, noise, heat, and associated maintenance costs that high rpm EV motors experience.
The motor is scalable from 1 kW to 500 kW in rated output and can be configured in a traditional drive train or in hub wheels.///
WiTricity, the global leader in wireless charging for electric vehicles, and FinePowerX, a South Korean-based supplier and total solution leader in smart factory technology, today announced they have entered into a technology licensing agreement. The agreement enables FinePowerX to develop and commercialize products using WiTricity’s patented magnetic resonance technology for personal mobility applications such as electric vehicles.
Nikola Corp Passes Phase 1 of DOE Loan Program
Nikola Corporation , a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, today announced that the Department of Energy Loan Program Office (LPO) has invited its Phoenix Hydrogen Hub LLC project loan application into Part II of its application process. The project loan application was submitted on May 26, 2022, and has now progressed through the Part I review.
The application for a loan guarantee under the Innovative Clean Energy projects solicitation could amount to up to $1.3 billion for a renewable electrolytic hydrogen production facility that could produce up to 150 metric-tons of hydrogen per day. The application process is wholly dependent on the results of the Department of Energy (DOE) review and evaluation of a Part II Application, and DOE’s determination whether to proceed.
The Phoenix Hydrogen Hub LLC owns 920-acres of undeveloped land in Maricopa County, Ariz. where the facility is planned to be sited to support the deployment of Nikola’s heavy duty, zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen refueling stations in California and the U.S. Southwest. The hub is expected to be built in phases to scale with the demand created from Nikola’s zero-emission trucks, starting with 30 metric-tons, and expanding up to 150 metric-tons of hydrogen per day, with expansion potential as the demand for clean hydrogen in the region expands. Construction of the first phase is anticipated to be completed in 2024, once final investment decisions and customary regulatory approvals are finalized.///
Aptera Motors to Offer Tesla-Style Connector for Charging
Solar electric vehicle (sEV) maker Aptera Motors has announced it will integrate the newly opened North American Charging Standard or NACS (formerly the Tesla connector) into its ultra-efficient vehicles. The NACS charging inlet and EV charging equipment will be built by Lectron, an industry leader dedicated to the widespread adoption of sustainable transportation.
On November 11, 2022, Tesla announced that it would allow other EV manufacturers to use its connector, officially renaming it the North American Charging Standard (NACS). The move was celebrated by Aptera Motors, which sees the NACS as less bulky and more powerful than its J1772 / CCS counterpart. Over 40,000 people signed the company’s petition to make Tesla superchargers and plugs the U.S. standard.
Stellantis Partners with Qinomic for EV Retrofitting
Stellantis N.V. and Qinomic, a high-tech company specialized in innovative and sustainable solutions for mobility, are partnering to create a proof of concept to convert internal combustion engine light commercial vehicles to electric drivetrain, while ensuring OEM quality and specifications, such as safety, durability, and type approval, are maintained.
“I am delighted that Stellantis is working with Qinomic on this development in retrofit technology,” said Alison Jones, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Circular Economy Business Unit. “This innovation gives our professional customers the choice to convert their current vans to electric, extend their vehicle’s life and meet legislative and mobility requirements.”
Extending vehicle life and usage is at the heart of the Stellantis Circular Economy Business Unit, who is leading the initiative in collaboration with the Commercial Vehicle Business Unit and the Stellantis Ventures Studio.
The electric retrofit solution aims to protect freedom of mobility with an affordable option that meets customer needs to extend the life of their vehicles and continue business activities while accessing low emissions zones (LEZ) in cities.
Stellantis Dealers Ready for EVs
Stellantis and its dealership network across the United States are driving toward their electrified future. Working with its 2,600-plus dealers, the company is focused on the dealership transition to electric-vehicle sales and service, offering consulting and on-site evaluation of electric-vehicle (EV) integration needs within every area of the dealership business.
“As we accelerate the drive toward electrification, Stellantis is in full-execution mode with an electrification strategy designed specifically to address the needs of our dealership network,” said Phil Langley, head of network development, FCA – North America. “We are working lockstep with our national dealer council to develop and support their long-term plans during this industry-changing transition. From business operations and inventory management to service centers and employee culture, our goal is to work directly with our dealers to best prepare for, be successful in and address any challenges they may face as the automotive industry continues to move toward electrification.”
“Stellantis is demonstrating their commitment to their dealer network and supporting brand EV readiness by partnering with Future Energy to build a program to help their dealers prepare for the disruption of electrification and to develop a thoughtful approach to help their dealer network modify their business processes,” said Sam DiNello, CEO of Future Energy. “Never has there been a time when the automotive, utility, energy and other technology industries needed to align to be successful in this emerging market.”
To date, nearly 70% of dealers are in the process of assessing their individual readiness.
The comprehensive evaluations include:
- Identifying energy requirements, electrical infrastructure changes and necessary utility service upgrades
- Educating dealership staff on the short- and long-term operational impacts to their business purpose, people, place and processes resulting from EV integration and reviewing the technology solutions for EV charging and energy management
- Calculating charging needs to support different areas of their business and locate ideal installation areas for EV charging stations inside and outside the building to address business flow challenges
- Discovering all applicable financial incentive programs to assist with EV integration costs
Future Energy is also offering Stellantis dealerships EV integration services, including:
- Guidance through the financial assistance application process to obtain project funding support to offset EV integration costs
- Coordination of all construction, logistics, networking and commissioning to install and activate EV charging stations across the necessary areas of their business
- Technology solutions and infrastructure to measure and manage the energy use across their entire business, in real time, including monitoring and automation to make better decisions and reduce energy costs
- Staff training regarding business operational changes, sales strategies and EV hardware maintenance and usage
- Ongoing customer support, including maintenance and warranty programs for integrated infrastructure and hardware
Stellantis unveiled Dare Forward 2030, its bold strategic plan for the coming decade that will drive Stellantis employees to be ‘second to none’ in value creation for all stakeholders. Stellantis has committed to becoming the industry champion in the fight against climate change, reaching carbon net zero emissions by 2038.
As part of that leadership, the company is setting the course for 100% of sales in Europe and 50% of sales in the United States to be battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) by the end of this decade. The company plans to have more than 75 BEVs globally and reach global annual BEV sales of 5 million vehicles by 2030. In the U.S., the company plans to offer more than 25 BEVs by 2030.