Autonomous, EV updates

Issue #195, Apr 4, 2023

US and Japan take contrarian approaches to handle the truck driver shortage challenge. Japan's approach is to operate exclusive lanes for autonomous, driverless trucks. US has adopted an approach of tax credits and training for truck drivers. Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations offer diverse retail options for consumers while they wait for recharging. In an earlier Infosys Knowledge Institute article, we looked at the application of Eliyahu Goldratt's Theory of Constraints, popular in shop floors for bottleneck management, for charging station operation. On the battery side, China is leading the IPR race, ahead of US and Japan. The absence of battery-grade lithium in Europe is hurting it in the race, with a dependence on China. Automakers take steps like vertical integration to address the ubiquitous battery challenge. Below are some recent happenings on the EV, battery and autonomous driving fronts reported in media.

Dedicated lanes for autonomous trucks

Driverless cargo trucks will begin operation on major roads in Japan in 2024. A section of Japan's busiest expressway connecting Tokyo and Nagoya will be set aside for self-driving trucks in 2024?as part of government plans to cope with a severe shortage of drivers in this rapidly aging nation. The self-driving lane will run along a section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway, covering some 100 kilometers between Numazu and Hamamatsu -- two cities on the south side of Mt Fuji. - Nikkei Asia

Tax credit for truck drivers

The Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act aims to combat what lawmakers said was a shortfall of about 80,000 commercial truck drivers in 2021, caused by hiring and retention challenges. Fewer certified drivers can lead to more expensive shipping and delays in receiving goods. The bill would establish a two-year refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for truck drivers with a valid Class A commercial driver’s license who drive at least 1,900 hours in a year. - CNBC

Retail opportunities for EV charging

It takes at least 25 minutes to charge an EV. Retail opportunities until now have been limited. No matter how alluring the minimart attached to the station, basically drivers are in and they’re out. They might buy coffee or a candy bar or lottery tickets, but that’s about it. Those 25 minutes, however, could become a retail bonanza. And they could usher in a lifestyle revolution of multitasking for consumers. - WSJ

A new model for EV charging - ToC

Charging stations are a service, and as EV sales grow, battery charge time will become the bottleneck. Theory of Constraints is an approach to identify bottleneck resources and optimize their efficiency. The constraint is the “drum” and determines system flow and output - the charging station in the EV value chain. Upstream buffers can be value-added experiences before charging to optimize capacity by creating time at the constraint.

The battery IPR race

Once-mighty Japan and US are lagging in sodium-ion and other affordable battery technology. China is increasing its presence in the race to develop replacements for the lithium-ion battery. A country-by-country tally of patents related to post-lithium-ion batteries over the past 10 years shows China in the lead, accounting for more than half of all patents. The evaluation of patents for sodium-ion batteries, perhaps the biggest horse in the race, shows China dominating Japan and the US, with Chinese companies expected to begin mass production of these batteries this year. - Nikkei Asia

Europe's lithium shortage

Europe’s transition to electric cars is under threat because of persisting shortages of lithium, the key battery component that will power the vehicles of the future. Currently Europe produces no battery-grade lithium chemicals, with 44 per cent of the world's supply coming from China. The supply problem has been highlighted by the world’s largest lithium producer Albemarle, which has sidelined plans to extract lithium in Europe after failing to find a commercially viable site.

Addressing the battery shortage challenge

To understand electrification as a phenomenon it’s crucial to acknowledge the make-or-break nature of battery technology. The pace of the coming transformation will hinge on how efficient, effective, and available batteries are and will become. Unsurprisingly, automakers are on the lookout for solutions to this threat, and are already investing in mining operations, refineries and their own dedicated battery manufacturing centres. - Forbes