Logistics, Autonomous Driving, and Energy Storage: An Asian Perspective
Dear readers,
China has significantly advanced its international logistics, expanding maritime routes and air cargo services to over 60 countries, linking 220 cities across 25 European countries through the China-Europe freight train service, and signing road transport agreements with 22 countries.
Beijing plans to legislate for autonomous driving, covering government support, coordination, innovation, and accident liability, to break institutional barriers and integrate autonomous driving into daily life.
China's drone industry grew significantly in early 2024, with 608,000 new UAVs registered, a 48 percent increase from the previous year.
India has reached 219 MWh of battery energy storage capacity as of March 2024, with plans to expand alongside renewable projects by 2027.
Japan's transport ministry plans automated freight lanes to connect major cities and reduce driver shortages. These lanes, intended for unmanned carts transporting small parcels, could reduce congestion by 35,000 vehicles daily, with routes expected within the next decade.
South Korea is enacting an integrated law to manage post-consumer batteries from electric vehicles, focusing on remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling. By 2027, an integrated portal will share full-cycle history information, prepare for global trade regulations, and promote the post-use battery industry.
Ford reduced its investment in electric vehicle batteries in Michigan, resulting in a significant cut in government subsidies. This decision, reflecting stagnation in electric vehicle demand, impacts job creation estimates and reduces production capacity.
South Korea is proposing a law to manage the distribution ecosystem for used electric vehicle batteries, focusing on safety, fairness, and transparency. The Act on Promoting the Post-Use Battery Industry aims to establish a battery life cycle history management system and certify recycled raw materials, treating used batteries as resources rather than waste.
The urban air mobility (UAM) sector is driving demand for next-generation batteries, particularly lithium metal and lithium sulfur batteries. UAM is expected to account for 10 percent of total battery demand by 2025, increasing to 40 percent by 2027, with companies like SES AI and LG investing in UAM battery technology.
Research from Texas Tech University revealed that lithium-ion batteries produce harmful PFAS substances throughout their lifecycle, posing significant environmental risks.
Hanoi's Department of Transport is transforming the city into a Smart City by 2030 with its "Smart Transportation Project," which includes a Smart Traffic Control Center for traffic monitoring, control, and incident management.
Jürgen Germeys
China Daily | English | News
China's transport minister announced that the country has made advancements in international logistics, with expanded international maritime routes and air cargo services reaching over 60 countries. The China-Europe freight train service has linked over 220 cities across 25 European countries, and agreements have been signed with 22 countries for international road transport. The country has established a comprehensive international logistics service system, with international maritime shipping handling over 95 percent of China's import and export cargo volume. Last year, a total of 3.11 billion international and cross-border mail and express deliveries were completed, supporting the growth of cross-border e-commerce.
北京拟为自动驾驶立法，迎接一场新的产业变革 | 新京报专栏
Beijing News | Local Language | News
Beijing plans to legislate for autonomous driving, focusing on various aspects beyond online ride-hailing. The draft regulations cover government support, coordination, innovation, and liability for accidents. This legislation aims to break institutional barriers and accelerate the integration of autonomous driving into daily life. The global competition in autonomous driving is evolving, with China positioning itself as a leader in technology and infrastructure development. The draft seeks public input to create regulations that align with societal needs and pave the way for a future reality.
Xinhua | English | News
China's drone industry has seen significant growth in the first half of 2024, with nearly 608,000 new UAVs registered, marking a 48 percent increase from the previous year. The cumulative flight time of UAVs also increased to nearly 9.82 million hours. The low-altitude economy in China is rapidly developing, with efforts being made to optimise technical standards, improve infrastructure, and enhance communication and surveillance capabilities for UAVs. The industry's value is projected to surpass one trillion yuan by 2026.
交通运输部：加快实施老旧营运柴油货车淘汰更新
Beijing News | Local Language | News
Minister of Transport Li Xiaopeng announced at a press conference that the Ministry will carry out seven actions this year to promote the large-scale renewal of transportation equipment. These actions include accelerating the elimination and renewal of old operating diesel trucks, as well as other initiatives such as electrification, the replacement of urban buses and scrapping old operating ships.
India
Hindu Business Line | English | News
India has installed over 210 MWh of battery energy storage system capacity as of March 2024. The country is expected to add more storage capacity along with renewable projects by 2027. The government must prioritise energy storage to avoid issues related to grid flexibility and stability. Chhattisgarh has the highest BESS capacity, and the country has significant pumped hydro storage capacity. India has various energy storage projects in development stages to meet the demand for efficient energy utilisation from renewables.
Japan
Japan Times | English | News
The transport ministry is considering implementing automated freight lanes to connect cities like Tokyo and Osaka, which would reduce congestion by up to 35,000 vehicles per day and help with the shortage of drivers in the freight industry. The lanes would transport small parcels using unmanned carts, with a trial run planned to start soon and routes expected to be implemented within the next 10 years. Highway companies have proposed setting up the lanes on the median strip or side of highways, or underground, with details on technical feasibility provided.
日立造船子会社に立ち入り 国交省
Yahoo News Japan | Local Language | News
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has entered into Hitachi Zosen subsidiary.
半数がコロナ前より売り上げ減少 地域公共交通９３社が回答
领英推荐
Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News
Summary: A survey conducted by the Regional Public Transportation Research Institute revealed that half of the 93 local public transportation companies reported a 10-30% decline in sales compared to pre-COVID levels. Additionally, 20% of the companies were insolvent as of March, indicating a challenging financial situation for many operators. The effects of COVID-19 continue to impact businesses, with 46% reporting significant sales losses and 22% dealing with excessive debt. Some companies, however, showed financial resilience with large surpluses. Passenger ship operators faced increased fuel costs, while bus companies highlighted a severe driver shortage crisis.
South Korea
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Money Today | Local Language | News
The government is working on enacting an integrated law to foster the spent battery industry from electric vehicles, with four relevant ministries proposing legislation to promote the post-consumer battery industry. The law aims to manage used batteries more effectively, with specific measures for remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling. However, there are concerns about maintaining existing regulations and the scope of the law. The Battery Alliance has requested more decision-making power for businesses in the industry. Specific support measures, such as subsidies for batteries using recycled materials, are still under discussion.
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ET News | Local Language | News
The government in South Korea is working to establish a system to utilise used batteries from electric vehicles as resources rather than waste. By 2027, an integrated portal will be introduced to share full-cycle history information between the public and private sectors, from battery manufacturing to post-use. This initiative aims to preemptively respond to global trade regulations and promote the post-use battery industry. Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok emphasized the importance of preparing an integrated law for post-use batteries and introducing a renewable raw material certification system. Additionally, regulatory innovation in new industries and measures to resolve on-site difficulties, such as extending the temporary operation permit period for autonomous vehicles, were discussed during the meeting.
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ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News
Ford has decided to reduce the size of its battery plant in Michigan, USA, after receiving electric vehicle batteries from CATL in China. Consequently, the local government in Michigan has drastically cut the subsidies provided to Ford. The originally planned subsidy amount of around $1.03 billion was reduced to $409.1 million. This decision was made following Ford's announcement to decrease the annual production capacity of the factory being built in Michigan, leading to a reduction in electric vehicle capacity and job creation estimates. Ford also experienced a subsidy cut for its Rouge Center electric vehicle plant due to falling short of the original job creation target. The reduction in investment and cost-cutting measures by Ford are attributed to the stagnation in demand growth for electric vehicles.
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ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News
A new law is being proposed to facilitate the safe recycling of batteries used in electric vehicles by establishing regulations to manage the distribution ecosystem. The government plans to establish the Act on Promoting the Post-Use Battery Industry and Supporting Supply Chain Stabilization to address concerns about battery management after use, including safety, fairness, and transparency in the industry. Additionally, a system will be introduced to manage the entire battery life cycle history, share information with the private sector, and certify recycled raw materials to meet upcoming trade regulations. The government aims to pass the Used Battery Act at the National Assembly within the year.
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Money Today | Local Language | News
Government establishes integrated management system for batteries after use to support the post-use battery industry and promote the enactment of a consolidated bill. The bill includes measures such as establishing a battery life cycle history management system, a recycled raw material certification system, and a performance evaluation before electric vehicle battery removal. The government aims to ensure that used batteries are seen as a resource rather than waste and increase consumer choice by allowing the market to determine the value of new and remanufactured batteries.
Korea Times | English | News
Elon Musk praises Koreans for investing in Tesla stock, calling them smart. Koreans hold Tesla as their top pick for overseas stocks, valued at $15.05 billion according to the Korea Securities Depository. Musk's comment was well-received in Seoul.
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ET News | Local Language | News
The article highlights the emerging demand for next-generation batteries in the urban air mobility (UAM) sector, particularly focusing on lithium metal and lithium sulfur batteries. By 2025, UAM is expected to account for 10 percent of total battery demand, increasing to 40 percent by 2027. An example of this shift is SES AI, which aims to produce high-energy-density lithium batteries for UAM applications. Other companies like LG are also investing in UAM battery technology, with plans to launch their own solutions by 2027.
Taiwan
研究：鋰離子電池從製造、使用到丟棄都會產生PFAS，對環境造成嚴重危害
The News Lens | Local Language | News
Research from Texas Tech University highlights the presence of harmful PFAS substances in lithium-ion batteries, from manufacturing to disposal, posing serious environmental concerns. Specifically, bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs) are produced during the battery life cycle, leading to pollution in land, water sources, and landfills. The study emphasizes the need for early action to address the environmental hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries and calls for more thorough risk assessments in sustainable energy development.
Vietnam
C?n c?nh bên trong Trung tam ?i?u hành giao th?ng th?ng minh c?a Hà N?i
VTV News | Local Language | News
The Department of Transport in Hanoi is implementing a "Smart Transportation Project" to transform Hanoi into a Smart City by 2030. The project includes a Smart Traffic Control Center with 12 functions to manage traffic effectively. The Smart Traffic Operation Center houses computer equipment, traffic monitoring screens, and control software. The system in the pilot phase includes functions such as Traffic Monitoring, Traffic control, and Incident management. The Center is expected to improve transportation system management and safety in Hanoi.