News: Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

2023-04-16

Global ICE Industry Cliff Is Here

This article includes an important graph showing vehicle production numbers between 2015 and 2026, (projected for 2023–2026) which are based on historic BEV growth data and trends. Hybrids are lumped in with ICE cars and are shown as a preference over full BEVs which is clear in the data.

The chart shows that the overall auto industry has declined from its peak in 2017–due to the pandemic and chip shortage–before it started to recover in 2021. This chart/model is conservative in predicting industry growth at 1.6% y/y going forward and BEV growth at 50% for 2023 (average BEV growth was 57% for the past 7 years)

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2023-03-26

Hyundai Agrees To Purchase GM India Talegaon Plant

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

The agreement covers the acquisition of land and buildings and certain machinery and manufacturing equipment at the General Motors India, Talegaon plant. The proposed acquisition is subject to the signing of a definitive asset purchase agreement, other certain conditions and receipt of approvals from government authorities and stakeholders.

Source: Economic Times    Read The Article

PSR Analysis. Hyundai is expected to expand its annual production capacity in India to some 900,000 units–760,000 units in its two existing plants and 130,000 units in the GM plant. Combined with production volume of its smaller Kia’s two plants in India, the total production capacity of Hyundai Motor Group could surpass 1 million units per year.

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Fras-le Acquires Juratek in UK

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Fras-le announced plans to acquire the operations of AML Juratek, the parent company of Juratek and BettaParts, which operate in the UK and European aftermarket, with lines of braking products such as discs, brake pads, calipers and actuators. Fras-le said it intends to invest about US$ 22 million (£ 18.2 million) in the acquisition.

Fras-le will continue to work in the European market with the Juratek and BettaParts brands and will receive the reinforcement of the other iconic brands of the company in the global market, such as Fras-le and Fremax, expanding business possibilities. In 2022, AML Juratek recorded revenues of approximately £25 million.

The acquisition is added to Fras-le’s global structure of operations, currently present with industrial units in Brazil, the United States, China, Argentina, Uruguay and India, as well as distribution, technology and development centers and commercial representations to serve customers in more than 120 countries on five continents.

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WEG Building Plant for EV Batteries in Brazil

Brazilian WEG has announced plans for a new 6,000 m2 plant in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, to produce battery packs for EVs. With the investment, the annual capacity will be 1 GWh in battery packs. WEG plans a highly automated plant, with 140 direct employees; WEG’s timeline calls for completion of the plant in 1H 2024.

Source: Automotive Business    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: WEG aims to supply EV production for OEMs located in Brazil. With strong background in drives and industrial electrical components, WEG could be a natural selection for many OEMs in Brazil.    PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director of Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research

2023-03-24

Lithium-Air Battery Could Offer Longer Range

Most owners of electric cars have wished for a battery pack that could power their vehicle for more than a thousand miles on a single charge, and Range Anxiety is a big issue for EV adoption. Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have developed a lithium-air battery that could make that dream a reality.

The main new component in this lithium-air battery is a solid electrolyte instead of the usual liquid variety. Batteries with solid electrolytes are not subject to the safety issues of liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion and other battery types, which can overheat and catch fire.

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Subway Sandwiches To Add EV Charging Stations

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

In the August 2022 issue of PowerTALK, we reported that Tesla had deployed cube lounges at Supercharger stations with automated coffee, food, and even a swimming pool. Well, the Subway sandwich folks want to get in on the act, too.

Subway is teaming up with Miami-based GenZ EV Solutions to provide an “EV charging oasis” of the future so you can eat while your EV charges. Starting in 2023, “Subway EV charging oasis” parks with multiple spots, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, restrooms, green space, and playgrounds will be installed at select locations. As part of the plan, new or freshly remodeled stores will get small-format, fast EV charging stations.

Source: Electrek: Read The Article

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2023-03-17

Alternative Power Report, March 2023

Hydrogen power continues to be a hot topic as an alternative power source, as you’ll see when you read the March 2023 issue of the Alternative Power Report from Power Systems Research. Development of the charging infrastructure is a hot topic, too, as we see with the article on Subway tying its sandwich shops in with charging stations. PSR

PSR Alt Power Report_March_2023Download

2023-02-20

Study Shows Plug-in Hybrids Dirtier than Believed

Plug-in hybrids pollute up to three times more than advertised, even when fully charged, and emit five to seven times as much CO2 when the engine is running, according to a new study commissioned by Belgian NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) and conducted by the University of Technology in Graz, Austria

The study measured emissions from three popular models: the BMW 3 series, Peugeot 308, and Renault Megane. Like many plug-in hybrids, these cars started as gas/diesel-powered models and then a battery was added on to improve emissions testing performance and mileage

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Hyundai To Start Operations at Plant in Vietnam

FAR EAST: SOUTH KOREA REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

A joint venture between South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and Vietnamese conglomerate Thanh Cong Group has started operations of an automobile plant in the northern Vietnamese province of Ninh Binh.

With an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles, the combined annual production capacity with the existing plant will reach 180,000 by 2025. The company will ship domestically as well as to neighboring countries. The new plant, operated by the joint venture Hyundai Thanh Cong, will have an investment of 3.2 trillion dong (about 18 billion yen). The plant will cover an area of approximately 50 hectares and include a test driving course.

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