Seesawing tech in EV industry

Issue #261, Sept 9, 2024

In a see-sawing world of technology in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, some companies make progress, some postpone key decisions, while there are some setbacks. Battery, fuel cell, and charging technologies continue to see progress. BMW and Toyota partner to develop hydrogen-fueled electric cars in a push to turn a nascent market into a mass market. Toyota, Nissan and other companies will invest $7 billion to expand Japanese production capacity for storage batteries by around 50%. At the same time, Madrid will ban shared electric scooters starting next month, joining Paris in kicking the vehicles from its streets and crowding the sidewalks. Volvo Cars abandoned its near-term goal of selling only EVs by 2030, citing a need to be “pragmatic and flexible” amid changing market conditions and cooling demand. South Korea will start certifying the safety of EV batteries under a set of regulations unveiled recently, seeking?to address growing worries about battery fires. Below are some recent updates on the evolving technology landscape in the EV industry.

Advances in battery and EV charging technology

Even as the growth in EV sales has slowed, the auto industry is charging forward developing new battery and charging technologies. Tesla won the charging game. Its charging connector is slimmer and easier to handle than the competing CCS standard. But what really convinced rival automakers to switch was Tesla’s superior charging network. Battery recycling will develop and new technologies will increase battery energy density and safety. Solid-state batteries promise big jumps in energy density and charging, but they’re still not ready for mass commercialization. - Auto News

BMW Toyota hydrogen-fueled cars

BMW and Toyota will partner to develop hydrogen-fueled electric cars in a push to turn a nascent market into a mass market. The German carmaker said it will release hydrogen-powered versions of one of its existing model lines in 2028 as part of its strategy—which Toyota shares—to broaden its reach with various fuel types. BMW and Toyota’s hydrogen cars will use powertrains, which contain the engine and transmission, developed in tandem by the companies, according to a joint statement. - WSJ

Battery investments in Japan

Toyota, Nissan and other companies will invest a total of 1 trillion yen ($7 billion) to expand Japanese production capacity for storage batteries by around 50% with government support. The investments, which will go mainly toward automotive batteries, would lift capacity to 120 gigawatt-hours from 80 GWh. - Nikkei Asia

Sharp's move to EV value chain

Japanese electronics group Sharp is considering a move into EVss "in the next few years" in partnership with Taiwanese parent Hon Hai Precision Industry, Chief Technical Officer Mototaka Taneya said recently. "We are going to be somewhere in the value chain" for EVs, Taneya said at a preview of the Sharp Tech-Day event. - Nikkei Asia

Volvo scraps only EVs by 2030

Volvo Cars abandoned its near-term goal of selling only EVs, citing a need to be “pragmatic and flexible” amid changing market conditions and cooling demand. The carmaker said that it now aims for 90% to 100% of its cars sold to be fully electric or plug-in hybrid models by 2030, while up to 10% will allow for a limited number of mild hybrid models. The target replaces a 2021 pledge for its lineup to be fully electric by the end of the decade. - CNBC

Battery certification in South Korea

South Korea will start certifying the safety of EV batteries under a set of regulations unveiled recently, seeking?to address growing worries about battery fires and keep the country's fast-growing EV industry on track. The move comes after anEV exploded in a parking garage at an apartment complex, causing hundreds of residents to evacuate. Extensive discussions between the government and the automobile industry were held after the incident. - Nikkei Asia

Banned e-scooters

Madrid will ban shared electric scooters starting next month, joining Paris in kicking the vehicles from its streets and crowding the sidewalks. The companies that rent the scooters have failed to comply with requirements including providing service to the entire city, a lack of insurance coverage and the absence of technology that prevents them from circulating or parking in prohibited areas, the local government said in a statement. - Bloomberg