Center for Automotive Research’s Post

The White House is throwing considerable new funding to automakers and OEMs to ensure the #evrevolution in the West maintains momentum. Almost a dozen U.S. auto factories will receive a combined $1.7 billion to retool to make electric vehicles. The question is, when will these companies start signing offtake agreements with North American producers and processors of graphite? It’s the piece of the puzzle that still not there, and if these do not happen soon, there will be no project financing and graphite mines will not get built to supply dreams of an American giga factory belt. Let’s Make it Happen! #graphite #ira #energytransition https://lnkd.in/e9kDXmsx

Did you get a chance to hear Nikola Corporation's Pedro Garcia discuss how hydrogen is poised to transform the heavy-duty vehicle industry in episode five of Future Says S5? If not, catch a quick recap of Garcia's main ideas in this article, including how batteries and hydrogen will work together to enable sustainable automotive, how the standards for hydrogen-powered vehicles are rising, and more: https://bit.ly/3VWV823 #OnlyForward

These details, published in separate reports last week, reflect the different ways the Volkswagen PowerCo and Northvolt Amérique du Nord projects are positioned in North America’s shifting EV marketplace. #ElectricVehicles #EVBatterySupplyChain #Batteries https://lnkd.in/dum-cnit

Most of the world's EV batteries are manufactured in China. However, the price drops seen in China have not spilled over to the rest of the world. ✅ SK On, building factories in the U.S. to supply Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen, is reportedly facing financial turmoil. ✅ Northvolt lost its $2 billion contract with BMW Group and has indicated that it is conducting a strategic review of its business model and growth plans. ✅ LG Energy Solution indicated a couple of weeks back that it is temporarily pausing construction plans for its energy storage systems (ESS) battery plant in Queen Creek, Arizona. The construction of the cylindrical electric vehicle battery plant will continue as planned. #electricvehicle #batterystorage #freetrade https://lnkd.in/gZMURgSM

EVs are a much discussed solution. The size and weight of batteries, recharging times, infrastructure limitations, impacts on regional electrical grids, less independent logistics as they are not liquid fuels, prices, subsidies, intense mining of components, the lack of market for used cars. On the other hand, it has a social, emotional appeal, which speaks to the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere by not burning fossil fuels. Would this drop in sales be something temporary? Or does the market begin to react to the counterparts of undesirable factors?

Volkswagen patents new 2000 km range Hydrogen fuel cell. Here's more on it 👇 Volkswagen is revolutionizing the automotive industry with its new hydrogen fuel cell technology. While many brands are still transitioning to EVs, Volkswagen has explored the potential of hydrogen fuel cells. The company's patent for a hydrogen fuel cell stack could yield a range of 2000 km (1243m). Developed with kraftwerk TUBES GmbH, the technology uses a ceramic membrane. Advantages: 🚙 Cost-effectiveness 🚙 Durability 🚙 Resistance to freeze and dry 🚙 Increased productivity Volkswagen's focus on hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is part of its long-term approach to climate protection. Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and BMW Group believe hydrogen has a significant prospect of becoming a vital energy platform to support the transport industry's transformation. Here’s the link to entire article 🔽 https://lnkd.in/dxGiEhmD

Alvaro Masias Ford Motor Company https://lnkd.in/e5ME4Nwb Solid-state lithium-ion batteries hold great promise as a next-generation technology for automotive, but remain an unproven technology. A discussion of the status and unique challenges and needs presented by this solid-state lithium-ion battery technology will be presented and contrasted with liquid lithium-ion batteries. Save $150 with Discount Code SPK150. #floridabattery

Thanks to Will Girling of Automotive World for the recent feature. Although regulatory and economic factors have instigated the need for sustainable batteries, consumers preference for higher ESG performance will keep the momentum going. In the interview, Circulor’s CEO Douglas Johnson-Poensgen unpacks the need for automakers to prove responsible sourcing to maintain sales in the US and EU, requiring accurate and verifiable traceability data along with close supplier engagement. To bring this to life, the article highlights notable results of Circulor with  customers SQM and Volvo Cars to make available digital proof of SQM’s IRMA Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) 75 lithium to downstream customers. https://lnkd.in/g2YfGReV #Sustainable #Battery #SupplyChains #Traceability #ResponsibleSourcing #ESG

What challenges has electric truckmaker Nikola faced in recent years, and how are they working to turn things around? Nikola Corporation, a notable player in the electric and hydrogen-powered truck market, has faced several significant challenges in recent years. Here’s a summary of the key difficulties they’ve encountered and the strategies they’re employing to address them: Challenges Faced by Nikola Impact: These allegations led to investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory bodies, causing a significant drop in Nikola’s stock price and damaging its reputation. Technological and Development Delays Challenge: Nikola has encountered delays in the development and deployment of its electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Initial promises of rapid advancements in technology and production faced setbacks. Impact: Delays in delivering promised vehicles and technology have affected investor confidence and the company's ability to meet market expectations. Production and Supply Chain Issues Challenge: Nikola has struggled with issues related to production scaling and supply chain management. Manufacturing complex electric and hydrogen trucks requires a robust supply chain and production facilities. Challenge: The company has faced financial instability, including challenges in raising sufficient capital to fund its ambitious projects and operations. Impact: Financial issues have limited Nikola’s ability to invest in R&D, scale production, and execute on strategic plans. Regulatory and Compliance Challenges Challenge: Navigating the complex regulatory environment for new vehicle technologies, particularly hydrogen fuel cells, has presented compliance challenges. Strategies to Turn Things Around Strengthening Governance and Transparency Action: Nikola has taken steps to address governance issues by enhancing transparency and implementing stricter internal controls. The company has also worked on rebuilding trust with stakeholders and the public. Focus on Core Products and Technology Action: Nikola has focused on refining and advancing its core products, including the Nikola Tre electric truck and the Nikola Badger. The company has also emphasized its hydrogen fuel cell technology. Partnerships and Strategic Alliances Action: Nikola has formed strategic partnerships and alliances with other companies, including a significant partnership with Volvo for joint development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and a deal with General Motors for vehicle technology and manufacturing support. Scaling Production Capabilities Action: The company is investing in scaling its production capabilities and establishing manufacturing facilities. This includes partnerships and joint ventures to enhance production capacity. Enhancing Financial Stability Action: Nikola has worked on securing additional funding and restructuring its financial strategies to ensure adequate capital for ongoing operations and growth.