Learn more about the latest in new battery technology and discover the next generation in battery and energy storage with expert analysis by Power Systems Research analysts.
A new contract to supply battery electric vehicles to the Jansen potash project (potentially the world’s largest potash mine) expects to cut carbon emissions in half compared to its peers. BHP’s Jansen potash project is expected to be the largest of its kind, with initial capacity forecasts of 4.3 to 4.5 Mtpa. Potash is the most commonly used potassium fertilizer, but over 70% is based on conventional underground mining that uses heavy-duty equipment to extract it. Although underground mining releases half the CO2 emissions of open-pit mining, the company is reducing emissions further by introducing several battery electric vehicles.
In the October issue of PSR’s Alternative Power Report, read about Ideanomics’ new quick charger, a new super fast rechargeable battery and a cost analysis of diesel vs. hydrogen power.
An international group of researchers has demonstrated an aqueous zinc battery with excellent performance in terms of capacity, rate capability, specific energy, and output voltage. The battery is a hybrid supercapacitor-battery hybrid device which has demonstrated an unprecedented cycling stability of 99.2% capacity retention after 17,000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge.
This battery technology has been explored as a promising alternative due to its low cost, safety, environmental friendliness, and intrinsic non-flammable nature. However, their widespread adoption has been held back by their low Coulombic efficiency (The Coulomb efficiency is usually used to describe the released battery capacity. It refers to the ratio of the discharge capacity after the full charge and the charging capacity of the same cycle) and the notorious dendritic growth (dendrites are basically whiskers of minerals that grow inside batteries and can cause the devices they’re powering to lose power more quickly, short out, or in some instances, catch fire ) at the zinc-based anodes, along with the fast capacity fading of the cathodes.
The September 2022 issue of the Alternative Power Report from PSR discusses Cummins new energy storage system, battery electric forecasts and EV shipping applications. PSR
With the exception of 2022 (+7.6%), Battery Electric as a power source is expected to grow between 10% and 17% throughout the forecast period, while ICE growth rates start the period at -2.3% and then grow at less than 1% for 2023 to 2025.
Battery Electric is expected to grow from 12.8% of the market in 2022 to 21.2% by 2027, while during the same period ICEs are expected to decline from 85% of the market to 75%. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption LeadAnalyst at Power Systems Research
Cummins $24 million stake in the startup VoltStorage gives them a foot in the door with new iron redox flow technology. There is nothing wrong with lithium-ion energy storage but global demand for energy storage has nowhere to go but up, and so are lithium prices. While lithium is relatively abundant in the ground, but current supply is falling behind demand. At the same time, lithium extraction is messy and has significant environmental impact, causing local opposition to new mines and other facilities which could stall development. Aside from accessing a recyclable supply chain that can avoid conflict issues, flow battery fans note a long list of advantages over lithium-ion technology including lower cost, longer duration, and ease of scalability
PSR Analysis: Cummins has been making investments into EVs (such as the purchase of Brammo in 2017 and Meritor in 2022) for some time and this low cost, long duration, grid scale energy storage battery is part of their plan. This diversifies their portfolio of alternative power systems and helps them in the gid scale storage market. One of the major advantages for flow batteries is that they aren’t lithium-based and are therefore not subject to the same massive and sustained price increases that lithium material is seeing. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption LeadAnalyst at Power Systems Research
Formerly using chassis built by other companies, mainly BYD, Marcopolo has announced plans to build its own EV chassis. It plans to produce and offer a complete set of bus chassis and bus body. It plans to deliver of 30 units in different setups for Brazilian cities in 2023.
PSR Analysis: Marcopolo is betting that its own chassis is more competitive for the market from an engineering and product standpoint. While preparing to compete with its chassis suppliers and partners in the EV segment, it still depends on them for the main volume of transit and intercity buses that is ICE powered. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South Americafor Power Systems Research
German OEM Jungheinrich has accomplished a remarkable goal, delivering its 100,000th lithium-Ion Forklift truck. An ETV 216i Reach truck was the star of this milestone, with 15 other identical models delivered to the Amazon warehouse in Leipzig.
In 2011, Jungheinrich was the world’s first industrial truck manufacturer to launch a series-produced truck with a lithium-ion battery. Since then, lithium-ion technology has become the fastest-growing battery technology for industrial trucks.
PSR Analysis: According to Jungheinrich, compared to a diesel truck of the same performance class, an electric truck with a lithium-ion battery emits less than half the CO2 during its entire lifetime, including its manufacture. By using electricity from renewable energy sources, the CO₂ emissions of the vehicles in operation can be reduced by up to 90%. It is not a surprise to see the increase of battery electric trucks in the European production mix.
Global auto supplier, BorgWarner has announced it is buying EV charging company Rhombus Energy Solutions. The deal will boost its EV charging presence in North America while adding to its European market and will accelerate its charging business by leveraging its existing capabilities. This is the latest in a round of EV related acquisitions the company has made. In August 2021 it took control of AKASOL,(a German EV battery company) and in March 2022, BorgWarner acquired 100% of Santroll Automotive Components (a light vehicle eMotor business).
PSR Analysis: This acquisition will generate good revenue for BorgWarner and continues their move into this market. It’s also a good example of the many acquisitions that OEMs are making into the broad arena of electric power as they see future opportunities. Other recent examples include: Nikola acquiring Romeo Power to bring its battery supply inhouse, Terex investing in Acculon Energy, and Cummins acquiring Meritor (Cummins believes eAxles will be a critical integration point within hybrid and electric drivetrains). PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Leadat Power Systems Research
BMW remains primarily focused on electrified combustion engines and battery electric cars, but it is adamant that hydrogen FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) will play a part of its transportation package. A limited batch of hydrogen-fueled BMW X5s soon will enter production, and the company says it is already planning for the next model with FCEVs making their way into its 2025 next-generation electric vehicle portfolio
PSR Analysis: This moves BMW into the Toyota/Hyundai camp supporting FCEV, with Tesla and VW being firmly in favor of battery-powered Electric Vehicles only. BMW is developing its position so that it can offer a full range of alternative power vehicles and meet customer demand whichever way it goes. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Leadat Power Systems Research
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