Weichai Delivers 150-Ton Mining Trucks

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

The 150-ton large-scale mining truck delivered by Weichai has accumulated more than 50,000 hours of trial operation, with a total mileage of more than 360,000 kilometers, a 70% increase in efficiency, and a 10% reduction in unit energy consumption.

This product is equipped with a powertrain system consisting of Weichai Group’s 17-liter engine + 3300 Nm high torque 8-speed gearbox + 60-ton drive axle. The operation equals the output of two trucks, which significantly reduces the number of vehicles need for a specific job, greatly reduces operating costs, and brings considerable economic benefits to customers

Source:  Weichai Power  Read The Article

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China Faces Limits on Power and Production

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

The global energy structure has accelerated the adjustment to green energy, and the investment in traditional energy is insufficient. Under the influence of COVID-19, energy supply and demand are disrupted, exacerbating the contradiction between supply and demand, resulting in global power shortage.

China recovered from the epidemic earlier than many other countries and is now almost the only major manufacturer, so industrial power consumption has increased significantly. Power rationing is mainly to alleviate the power shortage and achieve the goal of energy conservation and emission reduction. China is dominated by thermal power generation, and there is a serious shortage of clean energy. There are still big problems in the energy structure.

Source:  Weixunso     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: In 2021, China’s electricity demand will grow by more than 10%, which greatly exceeds the previously estimated demand growth of 6% to 7%. At present, the substantial growth of power demand has put great pressure on power supplies. Coal accounts for about 70% of China’s electricity consumption, but the output of coal is far lower than the demand for electricity.

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VinFast Partners with Chinese Company To Make EV Batteries

SOUTHEAST ASIA: VIETNAM REPORT

Automaker VinFast is partnering with China’s Gotion High-Tech to research and produce batteries for electric vehicles as part of its vision to become a global brand.

According to a statement released by Vingroup, VinFast’s parent company, the two companies are planning to build Vietnam’s first lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant. LFP is an iron-based battery that does not rely on rare raw materials such as cobalt or nickel. That makes LFP batteries much cheaper, although they have lower energy density than nickel-based chemistries.

According to Vingroup, Gotion is the leading manufacturer of LFP batteries in China, with eight research and development centers worldwide and 10 manufacturing facilities in China. Thai Thi Thanh Hai, vice chairman of Vingroup, said the partnership is key to VinFast’s ability to achieve supply chain autonomy.

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Volvo To Produce Trucks in China in 2022

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

Volvo Trucks expects to start production of the new heavy-duty Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX trucks in Taiyuan for local customers in China late next year.  Volvo Trucks has agreed to acquire a subsidiary of China’s Jiangling Motors Co to produce trucks for the local market starting late next year. JMC Heavy Duty Vehicle Co, which includes a manufacturing site in Taiyuan, capital of North China’s Shanxi province, will be purchased for $120.4 million (780 million yuan), said the Swedish truck maker.

Source:  China Daily     Read The Article

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Parched Taiwan Prays for Rain as Sun Moon Lake Hit by Drought

Erik Martin
Erik Martin

TAIWAN — Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake is so low that parts of it have dried and turned to grass. Jetties that normally float are sprawled awkwardly on dry land, and tour boats are crowded at the tail ends of pontoons still in the water.

Usually one of the island’s most famous tourist destinations, the lake has recently become a star of a different kind. Following the worst drought in 56 years, it is now famous for all the wrong reasons. These days, Instagram influencers photograph themselves posing in a dust-colored, dinghy half-buried in a cracked and cratered lakebed…

But away from the quirky headlines, the situation is dire. Other reservoirs across central and southern Taiwan are effectively empty, down to 5% or less.

Taiwan has had drought before, but observers are hoping the severity of this one – which has lasted 18 months and threatens Taiwan’s economic lifeblood of semiconductor production – is enough to prompt real action on climate change.

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PSR-HDMA Present Webinar April 21, 2021

Current and Future Supply Chain Concerns For Medium and Heavy Vehicles Will Be Discussed

Erik Martin
Erik Martin
Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

Power Systems Research April 21, 2021, produced a one-hour webinar with the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) discussing current and future supply chain concerns, especially as they affect Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles. 

The presenters included:

  • Chris Fisher – Senior Commercial Vehicle Analyst, Power Systems Research
  • Erik Martin – Director, Asia Region, Power Systems Research
  • Richard Anderson – Director, Market Research & Analysis, HDMA

Beijing Accelerates “Fuel for Battery” Policy

Qin Fen
Qin Fen

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport in February issued an action plan describing how to switch out IC-powered light commercial vehicles in urban areas.

The city government will subsidize fleet companies switching out 20 gasoline or diesel powered vehicles to battery-powered cargo vehicles one time before Aug. 31, 2021.  The government will issue city passes to fleet companies on more favorable terms than ICE powered cargo vehicles.

There will be a government transportation center to monitor every battery-powered vehicle on operating range, GPS, etc., in case someone embezzles government subsidy.

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Gogoro Network Powered Through Innovative Solutions

To date, there have been over 151 million battery swaps, an average of 2.8 per second.

Erik Martin
Erik Martin

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Imagine being asked to design and build a totally new, green energy infrastructure for an entire country — from scratch.

This was the goal given to Gogoro Network (GN) General Manager Alan Pan (潘璟倫) by Gogoro founder and CEO Horace Luke (陸學森). Sitting down for an interview with Taiwan News, Pan described some of the issues electric scooters faced before Gogoro, including limited charging solutions due to lack of space in Taiwan and high battery and maintenance costs.

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Truck News: Ask The Expert

Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

What changes do you see in the PSR Truck Production Index in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter of 2020?

Overall, we are seeing stronger momentum for commercial truck orders and sales which bode well for production in Q1 2021.

Supply chain issues will impact short term production as companies are still having difficulty with staffing numbers and various virus protocols that disrupt production. These problems are expected to continue throughout at least the first half of the year.

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Weichai Takes 60% Stake in Agricultural Equipment Maker

Qin Fen
Qin Fen

Weichai Holding Group Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese powertrain manufacturer, has acquired a controlling stake in Lovol, one of the country’s major agricultural equipment makers.

Source: Xinhua News Agency    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: People look up to leading companies in industry because often times they are not just leading the trend, they are also setting an example of weathering the storm during crisis.

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