In EV, battery and charging news are Nikola, 24M, Modine, Ideanomics, Microvast, ChargePoint, Lexus, onsemi,VW and Hylion.
In this Article
IVECO Orders Nikola Tre’s & Partners with FFI
Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, and IVECO, the brand of Iveco Group (MI: IVG) that designs, manufactures, and markets heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks, today announced a Letter of Intent for an order of 100 Class 8, heavy-duty Nikola Tre hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) from GP JOULE, a system provider for integrated energy solutions based in Reussenkoege, Germany. The Nikola Tre FCEVs in the European 6×2 variant will be manufactured by the joint venture between Nikola and Iveco Group at the site created in Ulm, Germany.
Nikola Corporation and Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) have executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on and evaluate the co-development of large-scale U.S. green hydrogen production facilities.
Supply of green hydrogen for any potential projects will be underpinned by Nikola as a potential offtaker, which has a large demand for green hydrogen in order to decarbonize the transportation sector and other industries.///
24M Awarded Gran fro ARPA-E
24M announced that it has been selected to receive $3.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The funding is part of the ARPA-E Electric Vehicles for American Low-Carbon Living (EVs4ALL) program, which seeks to develop more affordable, convenient, efficient and resilient electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
24M will partner with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to use its versatile SemiSolid manufacturing platform to develop low-cost, fast-charging sodium metal batteries with good low-temperature performance for EVs. The 24M cell design will incorporate three key features:
- An ultra-thick SemiSolid cathode made up of advanced cobalt-free, nickel-free sodium cathode active material.
- An advanced wide-temperature, fast-charging electrolyte developed using machine learning and automated high-throughput screening technology.
- A sodium super ionic conductor.
“As the U.S. Department of Energy looks to expand domestic adoption of electric vehicles, sodium metal batteries can play an important role in ensuring low costs for all consumers,” said Dr. JunZheng Chen, director of advanced R&D at 24M. “This funding will help us develop, manufacture and deliver these batteries at scale.”
The ultra-thick SemiSolid electrode architecture has been commercially demonstrated with exceptionally high energy density using lithium-ion chemistry. Leveraging the 24M chemistry-agnostic SemiSolid manufacturing platform and modular approach to battery cell design, the team will apply this to sodium chemistry, paving the way for fast-charging, high energy density and low-cost batteries ideal for the EVs4ALL program.///
Modine EVantage BTMS
With a global push towards electrifying vehicles across all commercial segments, Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD) (“Modine”), a leading designer and manufacturer of thermal management solutions, today announced the launch of a new edition of its EVantage™ Battery Thermal Management System designed to meet the specific demands of on- and off-road electric vehicles. The new Battery Thermal Management System with a Liquid-Cooled Condenser, or L-CON BTMS, combines proprietary heat exchanger technology with smart controls and electronics designed to withstand dirty, harsh environments found in mining, construction, agriculture, specialty and transportation applications.
The Modine L-CON BTMS addresses the unique thermal management needs of commercial EV batteries across a broad range of vehicles by being adaptable to fit into diverse chassis layouts. The system features plug-and-play integration, provides unprecedented flexibility for vehicle designers, and can optimize the temperature range for an entire bank of batteries with a single unit. With the freedom to integrate battery thermal management on space-constrained off-highway and commercial chassis, manufacturers can ensure optimal battery performance in harsh, dirty environments.
The L-CON BTMS regulates EV battery temperature using both heating and cooling circuits, and through the use of a liquid-cooled condenser, the BTMS can be situated anywhere on the vehicle. Coupled with a master thermal control unit running proprietary firmware, Modine battery thermal management systems are purpose-built to meet the requirements of heavy-duty vehicle platforms to keep EV batteries within optimal temperature ranges under all operating conditions – from hot summer afternoons to icy winter mornings.
Leveraging more than a hundred years of thermal management experience, Modine EVantage systems, including the L-CON BTMS, are designed, manufactured, and tested for operation in harsh environments and ruggedized to operate reliably in high-vibration applications. With a state-of-the-art design and testing center, as well as decades of vehicle component testing experience, Modine ensures that customers can have confidence in the performance and longevity of the commercial EVs they produce, regardless of duty cycles or operating environment.
Ideanomics Buys VIA
Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX), a global company focused on accelerating the commercial adoption of electric vehicles (EV), announced that it has completed its acquisition of VIA Motors (VIA), a U.S. based all-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer.
“Our acquisition of VIA Motors brings significant revenue generation potential to Ideanomics and its shareholders,” says Ideanomics Executive Chairman, Shane McMahon. “We cannot be more thrilled to welcome VIA to Ideanomics.”
Ideanomics and VIA will begin collaboration to pair VIA’s electric work trucks with Ideanomics Energy’s turnkey charging solutions. As part of this, Ideanomics Energy will become the preferred charging solutions provider for VIA, enabling customers to unleash the full potential of their new VIA work trucks with AC and DC chargers, advanced wireless charging, and containerized charging. Additionally, Ideanomics and VIA will explore potential opportunities to utilize VIA’s VDRIVE™ skateboard with non-competing OEMs.
VIA’s value is rooted in its VDRIVE™ electric skateboard and VTRUX® modular vehicle portfolio, which has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of commercial fleet operators and drivers. VIA will offer a full range of fit-for-purpose configurations with its chassis cab including last-mile delivery vans, box and stake trucks, school buses and shuttles and more. BloombergNEF projects that more than 1 million battery-electric light and medium commercial vehicles will be on the road in the U.S. by 2030.
VIA will join Ideanomics Mobility, one of the company’s three strategic verticals. VIA CEO Bob Purcell and VIA’s management team, with decades of automotive industry experience and expertise, will continue to lead the company.
Ideanomics and VIA are positioned to move at pace to deliver. Since June of 2021, Ideanomics has provided financing for VIA’s technology research and development, facility expansion, and hiring of additional staff to enable full OEM capabilities. As a result, VIA has secured initial orders and established a co-development partnership with EAVX, a business unit of JB Poindexter & Co., to develop a fully electric class 2b delivery van.
“VIA Motors is one of several EV companies Ideanomics has acquired in recent years. As part of our journey to become the leading partner for electrifying commercial fleets, Ideanomics targeted undervalued EV and charging companies with strong management teams, differentiated products and technology, and the potential for significant revenue generation,” says McMahon.
As part of Ideanomics, Energica, Solectrac, US Hybrid and WAVE have been transformed from promising startups to leading companies in their respective market segments; Ideanomics’ objective is to create the same success at VIA.
Microvast Partners with REE
Microvast Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVST), a technology innovator that designs, develops, and manufactures lithium-ion battery solutions, and REE Automotive, Ltd. (NASDAQ: REE), an automotive technology company and provider of electric vehicle platforms and EVs, announced the signing of a supply and purchase agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, Microvast, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Microvast GmbH, will offer MV-C Gen 4 HpCO high-energy lithium-ion battery packs which will contribute as energy storage system for “Powered by REE” EV platforms. Customers will benefit from this partnership by combining REE’s zero-emission commercial vehicles with Microvast’s cutting-edge battery technology that offers high energy density, high power performance, long cycle life, and fast charging capabilities (full charge in 30 min.).
With its vertical integration capabilities, Microvast is expected to provide proprietary battery technology and exceptional cell chemistry to fulfill REE’s power, density, charging time, and cycle life requirements. Microvast batteries’ outstanding safety characteristics sync perfectly with REE’s goal of offering best-in-class safety for its EV platforms.
“Microvast’s MV-C Gen 4 battery pack is a great fit for REE,“ explained Sascha Kelterborn, Chief Revenue Officer of Microvast Holdings, Inc. “It’s specifically designed to address the requirements of commercial vehicle fleets.” The newly developed MV-C Gen 4 battery pack contains Microvast’s high-energy HpCO 53.5Ah pouch cells, delivering approximately 27% more energy and power when compared to Microvast‘s previous battery generation. It also features improved thermal management and safety controls, fulfilling the upcoming safety standards regarding thermal runaway. The Gen 4 battery packs are expected to be certified to meet cross-regional battery standards such as ECE R100.3, GB 38031, and UL2580.
“As we remain laser-focused on bringing to market commercial vehicles powered by REE’s P7 platform, we are pleased to offer a turn-key solution with the flexible, high-tech, and industry-leading performance capabilities of Microvast’s battery systems,” said Daniel Barel, Co-Founder and CEO of REE. “Through this collaboration, customers such as fleet owners and delivery and logistics companies will benefit from REE’s commercial EVs, which are expected to be tailored to their needs with long-lasting, fast-charging batteries.”
REE’s revolutionary, award-winning REEcorner™ technology incorporates vehicle drive components including steering, braking, suspension, powertrain, and control into a compact module between the chassis and the wheel, allowing the industry’s flattest EV platform with seamless integration to any AD system.
The REE P7 platform will be powered by Microvast’s MV-C Gen 4. The REE P7 is suitable for applications such as commercial trucks, school buses, walk-in vans, and delivery box trucks. REE’s scalable and modular architecture allows any platform size from class 1-6. Microvast offers consistent modularity with its battery systems and can fulfill the requirements of all of REE’s EV platform sizes.
“We are excited to partner with REE, a trailblazing automotive company,” stated Kelterborn. “REE shares the same attitude and goals as Microvast—to revolutionize the future of transportation. Another binding element between our companies is the high safety goals we each set for our products.”
ChargePoint for Lexus RZ 450e
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT), a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network, announced a new agreement with Lexus to enable drivers of Lexus’ all electric RZ 450e crossover with access to ChargePoint’s industry-leading home and public charging solutions.
To help drivers have a reliable and convenient charging experience, participating Lexus dealers will offer customers the option to purchase a ChargePoint® Home Flex Level 2 charger at the dealership or online. The Home Flex is an ENERGY STAR® certified and Wi-Fi enabled home charger that enables drivers to charge up to nine times faster than a standard wall outlet.
“As transportation continues to electrify, we have been steadfast in our commitment to make it easy for drivers to charge their EVs, whenever and wherever they are,” said Michael Hughes, chief revenue officer of ChargePoint. “Through this arrangement, Lexus drivers will benefit from the simplicity of having access to all of their charging information, across public and home charging, when using Home Flex and the ChargePoint network. Drivers can utilize the ChargePoint network for a seamless public charging experience, as well as Home Flex, our leading residential charging solution that offers speed, power, and flexibility, in a sleek and compact design. And because Home Flex is powered by our software, it puts control into the hands of drivers, giving them the ability to optimize their charging times to fit their lifestyle, while avoiding peak energy times to save money.”
The ChargePoint® Home Flex Level 2 charger can be installed indoors or out, and it comes with a 23-foot charging cable to support a variety of parking configurations. Using the ChargePoint mobile app, drivers can schedule charging times when energy is cheapest, adjust their charging speed, and get reminders to plug in. Home Flex can also connect with Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri for easy voice assistance to check charging status, start or stop charging, review charging activity, and more.
Drivers can also find public places to charge through their smartphone, with access to ChargePoint’s expansive network of Level 2 and DC fast chargers, and roaming partner stations; together, which encompass more than 80% of charging spots in North America. Through ChargePoint mobile app drivers will be offered the convenience of being able to quickly find, use, and pay for vehicle charging, as well as track and access all of their home and public charging in one place.
“With the Lexus RZ 450e arriving at dealerships soon, we want to help our guests have a seamless charging experience both at home and on the road,” said Dejuan Ross, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “Our arrangement with ChargePoint and Qmerit was created to provide RZ guests with tools and services to help them understand, identify and solve their charging needs so they can feel confident in their Lexus Electrified journey.”
onsemi for VW Traction Invertors
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON), a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies, today announced that it signed a strategic agreement with German Volkswagen AG (VW) to provide modules and semiconductors that enable a complete electric vehicle (EV) traction inverter solution for VW’s next-generation platform family. The semiconductors are part of an overall system optimization and provide a solution that will support the front and rear traction inverters in the VW models.
As part of the agreement, onsemi will deliver in a first step its EliteSiC 1200 V traction inverter power modules. The EliteSiC power modules are pin to pin compatible to easily scale the solution to different power levels and types of motors. Teams from the two companies have been collaborating for more than a year on the optimization of the power modules for the next-generation platform, with pre-production samples under development and evaluation.
“The superior performance and quality of onsemi’s traction inverter modules together with our joint efforts to create the best system solution enable us to deliver the outstanding driving experience and quality customers expect from a VW group vehicle,” said Karsten Schnake, head of the operative and strategic semiconductor taskforce COMPASS at Volkswagen AG. “onsemi’s broad portfolio of intelligent power and sensing solutions further allows us to offer cutting-edge technologies and features in our EVs, from the traction inverter and beyond. Besides this milestone, onsemi with its balanced production facility layout in the U.S., Asia and Europe, including the plant in the Czech Republic, is the perfect match to support our strategic markets with all high-voltage solutions and more.”
With 19 wafer fabrication and packaging manufacturing sites, onsemi provides VW with more than 500 different devices – including IGBTs, MOSFETS, image sensors and power management integrated circuits (PMICs). In addition to its versatile portfolio, onsemi has a vertical silicon carbide (SiC) production chain, which includes volume boule growth, wafering, substrate, epitaxy, device fabrication, best-in-class integrated modules and discrete package solutions, that perfectly supports a secured supply chain.
“Our broad manufacturing footprint – including a resilient end-to-end SiC supply chain – empowers onsemi to deliver the supply assurance OEMs demand,” said Simon Keeton, executive vice president and general manager, Power Solutions Group, onsemi. “Our investments in ramping production globally, especially in silicon carbide, further allow us to support VW’s rapidly scaling EV production.”
The inverter solution for EVs consists of onsemi’s EliteSiC 1200 V 3x Half-Bridge Modules, and this system solution supports both axle inverters covering a wide range of power.
Ponenix Motors & Fermata Energy
Phoenix Motor Inc. (Nasdaq: PEV) (“Company” or “Phoenix”), a leader in manufacturing of all-electric, medium-duty vehicles, announced the signing of an Equipment Testing Agreement with Fermata Energy LLC, a leading provider of V2X (vehicle-to-everything) bidirectional charging platforms. The Fermata Energy platform allows EVs to be utilized as mobile energy storage assets to send energy stored in EV batteries to the local grid or to a building when it is needed most, all while supporting grid resilience. V2X includes vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-building (V2B) projects.
Under the agreement, Fermata Energy will pair its V2X bidirectional chargers and AI-driven software platform with Phoenix’s zero emission drive system. With the bidirectional charging platform, Phoenix’s customers with zero emission drive systems can earn revenue while their vehicles are parked either from their local utility (V2G) or avoid costly peak demand charges by sending energy to their building (V2B).
DSV Places Order for Hyllion Hypertruck
Hyliion Holdings Corp. (NYSE: HYLN) (“Hyliion”), a leader in electrified powertrain solutions for Class 8 semi-trucks, announced that DSV has placed an initial order for 10 Hypertruck ERX™ units to be deployed in its North American road freight business.
With a focus on reducing its carbon footprint and offering lower-emission solutions to meet customer demand, DSV will implement the electrified powertrain technology across its Pan-American routes.
“A global leader not only in logistics but also sustainability initiatives, DSV’s investment in Hyliion technology shows that excellent customer service and ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” said Thomas Healy, Founder and CEO of Hyliion.
“I’m thrilled that DSV will be incorporating Hypertruck ERX units into its North American operations, and I look forward to seeing the impact they will have in advancing the organization’s low-carbon initiatives,” Healy added.
“We view this initiative as the beginning of our long-term ambitions to reduce our emissions across our road freight business. The 10 units we have ordered through the early adopter’s program is a fantastic start but not the goal in and of themselves. They are a step in the right direction in terms of testing and seeking the optimal solutions for the planet, our customers, and our company. And in combination with our plan to begin adding alternative fuel vehicles to our short-haul fleet, this initiative marks the first step in helping us realize our 2030 goals,” said Robert Greene, President of DSV Road US.
Hyliion will begin delivery of the Hypertruck ERX units to DSV during the first quarter of 2024. Expecting a successful trial period, DSV has placed an option for 10 additional trucks to be delivered in 2024.