XCharge opens new test centre in Hamburg

The test laboratory offers comprehensive opportunities to test the entire XCharge Europe product portfolio, as detailed in a press release. One focus of the test laboratory is to ensure compatibility with the latest electric vehicle models, “taking into account not only cars but also electric trucks and electric buses.” This should enable customers of new vehicles to charge as quickly as possible without complications at XCharge stations. In the past, there have occasionally been communication problems between vehicles and charging stations with new models or new software versions – not limited to XCharge, this has happened with various hardware providers and charging point operators. The new test centre in Hamburg will also be used to invite (potential) XCharge customers and demonstrate the C6, C7 and Net Zero Series charging stations on site. “We want to offer our customers a real ‘hands-on’ experience,” says Albina Iljasov, Head of Europe at XCharge Europe. “They can see, feel and experience for themselves how our charging stations work and how easy they are to operate.” In addition, the lab enables integration with various back-end systems, offers customisation options for software and supports future product development through market research. Even though XCharge originally comes from China, the Hamburg-based subsidiary XCharge Europe GmbH sees itself as a European company and wants to emphasise its own ambition to drive the development of electromobility in Germany and further strengthen its relationships with European customers and partners with this expansion, according to the press release. In addition to Hamburg, XCharge has been operating a test laboratory in Madrid since 2023. “With the opening of our test facility in Hamburg, we are honouring our promise to bring more added value to Europe,” says Iljasov. “It is particularly important to us to better understand our European customers and be able to respond to their needs. This measure will enable us to work even more closely with them and develop customised solutions for the European market.” The XCharge model range includes the C6 product series, with the adapted C6EU variant being particularly relevant in Europe – charging capacities of up to 200 kW are possible. The ‘Net Zero Series’ is a battery-supported HPC column that enables charging capacities of up to 210 kW with a relatively weak grid connection – the buffer battery uses LFP cells from BYD. The latest product is the C7, which was announced in 2023 and is expected to achieve a charging capacity of up to 420 kW. pressnetwork.de

General Motors founds joint venture for lithium production

The transaction replaces a January 2023 agreement between the two companies. At that time, GM promised a total investment of 650 million dollars. 320 million dollars has already been paid as the first tranche. The new contract replaces the agreement for a second tranche of $330 million and secures the aforementioned fresh $625 million for Lithium Americas. The Thacker Pass project is the largest known lithium source in the US and the third largest in the world. Initial work on the site near the Nevada-Oregon border began in March 2023, shortly after the first GM investment. One year later, the US Department of Energy also pledged a loan of 2.3 billion US dollars. The aim is to initially produce 40,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year. Under the new investment agreement, GM will acquire a 38 per cent stake in Thacker Pass to support the construction of Phase 1. General Motors will also have exclusive access to this. It will enter into a 20-year offtake agreement for up to 38 per cent of Thacker Pass Phase 2 production volumes and retain its right of first offer for the remaining Phase 2 volumes. The manufacturer wants to secure material for one million electric car batteries per year. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2026. “Our relationship with GM has been significantly strengthened with this joint venture as we continue to pursue a mutual goal to develop a robust domestic lithium supply chain by advancing the development of Thacker Pass,” said Jonathan Evans, President and CEO of Lithium Americas. “Today’s joint venture announcement is a win-win for GM and Lithium Americas. GM’s JV Investment demonstrates their continued support and helps us to unlock the previously announced $2.3 billion DOE Loan. We will be working closely with GM to advance towards the final investment decision, which we are targeting by the end of the year.” “We’re pleased with the significant progress Lithium Americas is making to help GM achieve our goal to develop a resilient EV material supply chain,” said Jeff Morrison, SVP, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “Sourcing critical EV raw materials, like lithium, from suppliers in the US, is expected to help us manage battery cell costs, deliver value to our customers and investors, and create jobs.” According to an update from Lithium Americas, detailed engineering for the mine continues to progress and is 40 per cent complete. Site preparation for the main earthworks has also been completed, and the process plant area is currently being excavated in preparation for concrete placement, which is expected to begin in mid-2025. All major equipment has also been ordered. lithiumamericas.com

Mercedes to update EV lineup in the USA

Next to the technical improvements for the EQE and EQS models, which will mainly see an increased range due to a bigger battery, the electric G-Class has been presented. The new electric G-Class will start with the G 580, which is to start at the price of $161,500 and runs on a 116 kWh battery pack, which delivers a WLTP range of 293 miles. The vehicle features a quad-motor setup with a drive unit integrated into each wheel, allowing for an output of 431 kW and 785 lb-ft of torque (1,064 Nm). Acceleration to 62 miles (100 kph) takes 4.7 seconds and the top speed is set at 112 mph (180 kph). The new G 580 with EQ Technology is scheduled to be delivered to dealerships before the end of 2024. In terms of improvements for the older models, the EQE 350+ and EQE 500 will receive a slightly larger 96-kilowatt-hour battery, up from the current 90.6 kWh. The EQE 350 4Matic still continues to maintain the same battery pack, however, the range-topping EQE 350+ will now see its range grow from 307 miles to theoretically surpassing 330 miles per charge. Next to the battery improvement, Mercedes Benz is also planning to sweeten the deal for buyers of the EQE and EQS sedans with a $1,000 credit on their Mercedes me Charge accounts or a free home wall box charging station. The updated EQE and EQS vehicles are expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships by the first half of 2025. Furthermore, Mercedes writes: “Customers of new 2025 model year battery electric vehicles also receive two years of complimentary charging at the Mercedes-Benz High Power Charging network.” In its native market of Germany, Mercedes also recently lowered prices for its EQ models by up to 8 per cent, by abolishing the PDF price lists, which Mercedes justified with “greater transparency for customers.” insideevs.com, mbusa.com

Integral Powers presents improved LMFP cell chemistry

Integral Powers is a British company based in Milton Keynes, which was founded in 2020. Now the company has announced the successful development of its new cathode active material Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate for use in batteries, to be used for long-range electric vehicles. The breakthrough could also be applied to reduce battery pack size and weight. The breakthrough was made by increasing the manganese content to 80 per cent, compared to the 50-70 per cent found in similar batteries on the market. This allowed Integral Powers to achieve a “higher specific capacity of 150mAh/g and operate at a voltage of 4.1V, in contrast to LFP’s 3.45V.” Third-party verification has been completed for the battery material in coin cells by the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, and the process for testing the batteries in an EV-representative pouch cell is already underway. Behnam Hormozi, Founder and CEO of Integrals Power explained: “With the third-party evaluation from the Energy team at GEIC, we’re proud to have developed a world-class cell material in the UK that can rival the performance of NCM but is more sustainable and more affordable, and will accelerate the transition to e-mobility.” On LinkedIn, the CEO wrote: “I am pleased to announce that Integrals Power has achieved a significant breakthrough in Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP, 80% Manganese) cathode active materials for battery cells. By leveraging proprietary materials technology and a patented manufacturing process, the company has successfully addressed the typical drop in specific capacity associated with an increase in manganese percentage.” EV Magazine further points out that the new material may prove a viable competitor for the cathode materials from China: “By sourcing all raw materials from European and North American suppliers, Integrals Power ensures a purer, higher-performing product with greater energy density, providing a competitive alternative to the Chinese-manufactured cathode materials that dominate the global market.” evmagazine.com, linkedin.com, interestingengineering.com, batteryindustry.net

New York City: Toyota drivers get to charge for free at Revel stations

Specifically, the deal is valid until 14 October 2027. Toyota invested in Revel in 2019 via its early-stage venture capital firm Toyota Ventures. The CPO has since set up the (according to Revel) “largest network of public fast charging stations in New York City, with four high-volume stations open 24/7 offering both NACS and CCS plug types.” Toyota currently offers the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ in the US. With 1,324 units, the former was the best-selling “electrified” vehicle for Toyota Motors North America in September. In total, TMNA has sold 13,577 units of the bZ4X since the beginning of the year – albeit not all in New York City. “Charging should be a seamless experience and is crucial for customer satisfaction,” said Christopher Yang, group vice president, Toyota EV Charging Solutions. “Working with Revel will help elevate the charging experience for our customers in the New York City area while underscoring Toyota’s commitment to supporting sustainable mobility solutions and enhancing the ownership experience.” Revel currently offers 64 fast-chargers in the Big Apple. A few weeks ago, it opened a charging hub with ten Kempower Satelite chargers in Lower Manhattan. A few weeks prior to that, the company announced that it will build one of its so-called ‘Superhubs’ in Downtown Los Angeles. toyota.com(Revel), toyota.com (Toyota sales figures)

ICCT: Combustion engine scrappage programme could save Germany’s CO2 targets in the transport sector

The fact that Germany has a problem with its CO2 sector targets in the transport sector is nothing new. In 2023, the transport sector emitted 13 million tonnes of CO2 above the target. And without drastic measures, this gap could increase to 34 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) by 2030, writes the ICCT. Against this backdrop, the ICCT has examined one possible measure, a (politically and socially controversial) scrappage programme for old, inefficient diesel and petrol vehicles. However, the result is clear: it could save up to eleven million tonnes of CO2e, i.e. around a third of the resulting gap could be closed with just one measure. The ICCT criteria provide for diesel vehicles that are at least 15 years old and petrol vehicles that are at least 25 years old to be phased out in return for a sum of money from the state. “Participating vehicle owners would be compensated for 80% of the residual value of their vehicles,” says the ICCT. That would be between 2,000 and 6,000 euros for diesel cars and between 2,000 and 3,000 euros for petrol cars, staggered according to age. With such a programme and the decommissioning of eight million cars – seven million diesel and one million petrol cars – up to eleven million tonnes of CO2e could be saved. Image: ICCT Image: ICCT The ICCT also expects a reduction in air pollutants and, therefore, “major health benefits” such as fewer premature deaths from cardiovascular and lung diseases. The “overall societal benefits,” as the ICCT describes them, would primarily be realised when decommissioning old diesel vehicles, as these generally have higher pollutant emissions. “Germany has 49 million gasoline and diesel vehicles on the road that are putting its climate goals at risk. While different strategies come with varying costs and benefits,” says Kyle Morrison, ICCT Researcher and lead author of the study. “Our study examines these options and presents a cost-effective scrappage program that maximises societal health benefits.” Cost-effectiveness is the key reason why the ICCT favours the scrappage programme. For the study, Morrison’s scientists also considered e-fuels as a much-discussed alternative to reduce CO2e emissions. To save one tonne of CO2 equivalents, the e-fuel production costs estimated by the ICCT will be 910 euros per tonne in 2030 if the fuel is produced in Germany – with imported e-fuels, the figure is still 619 euros per tonne. And the total emissions reduction potential is only 190,000 tonnes, not the eleven million tonnes of the scrappage premium. In the ICCT calculation, the costs are at a significantly lower level: for each tonne of CO2e avoided, diesel vehicles cost 313 euros, while the figure for petrol vehicles is 255 euros per tonne. That does not take into account the health benefits described above. “If the health benefits were also considered, the abatement costs per vehicle scrapped would be negative, as the program has positive net benefits,” says the ICCT. “E-fuel production costs are price prohibitive and importing them from other regions outside of Germany would, even in 2030, likely be up to three times more expensive than a voluntary scrappage scheme, even before considering the health benefits of a scrappage scheme. Relying on e-fuels also moves us away from our goal of reducing air pollution and safeguarding public health,” explains Dr Peter Mock, Managing Director at ICCT Europe. Whether Germany will introduce such a scrappage scheme is, of course, an open question. The ICCT sees possible hurdles in “state funding and uncertainty regarding owners’ voluntary participation.” In many places, people are simply dependent on their cars as there are no transport alternatives – and even with the maximum premium of 6,000 euros, one could not buy a suitable electric car. The ICCT thus also recommends introducing a speed limit and increased support for local transport. theicct.org (press release), theicct.com (analysis)

MAN hands over first eTruck handed to a customer

It makes for a beautiful picture in Leipzig: While noisy sports cars with combustion engines race along the circuit at the Porsche plant, a truck quietly rolls along an avenue. It is so quiet because it is a very special truck – the very first eTruck that MAN is delivering to a customer. At the same time, the highly symbolic location was chosen because the electric truck will travel daily on a route to the Porsche plant in Leipzig. Specifically, this eTruck with the model designation eTGX will be used by the haulage company Elflein to transport batteries from the Leipzig battery plant of the supplier Dräxlmaier to the Porsche plant for the electric Macan. The route is less than five kilometres long and therefore rather atypical for the application profile of the eTGX, which was actually designed for long distances. The eTGX handed over to Dräxlmaier and Elflein contains six battery packs totalling 534 kWh (480 kWh usable). It is designed to transport an average weight of 15.5 tonnes on the Dräxlmaier-Porsche route and has a 330 kW motor on board. The model presented in Leipzig is a “pre-series vehicle that is very close to series production,” as Jens Hartmann, eTruck project manager at MAN, told electrive. The vehicle has already been produced on the series production line at MAN in Munich “and is in no way inferior to the series product that we will see in a year’s time in terms of technical maturity.” However, MAN will not be talking about regular series production until next year, when the eTruck rolls off the production line in large volumes. MAN plans to deliver the first 200 eTrucks to customers before the end of this year – including two more for Dräxlmaier. With the eTGX, however, the modular system behind it is designed for great industrialisation, Hartmann explained: “From 12-tonne trucks upwards to 50-tonne trucks, all typical MAN truck products known today can be derived from the vehicle. eTGL, eTGS, eTGX, also with very broad configurability. Customers can choose any battery, from two to seven battery packs, depending on the application, range requirements and payload needs.” Ultimately, the eTruck is a modular system consisting of various battery systems, motors and charging systems. The charging technology can be either CCS or MCS. And the charging connection can be fitted on the left, right or on both sides at the same time, and further back in the case of the chassis version. mantruckandbus.com

Electrify America opens tech campus in Virginia

The Volkswagen subsidiary writes that it will use the expanded facility for advanced validation and stress-testing to ensure equipment and its components operate reliably in diverse real-world conditions. The tech campus contains two laboratories, with the Center of Excellence, which was opened in 2018, and now also features the newly opened Technology Development Lab. The Center of Excellence was built for hardware testing, interoperability testing and the development of software and firmware. The new lab now also offers enhanced validation testing, as well as “stress testing, maximum power delivery, and environmental testing.” Additionally, product component benchtop testing is also to enable the company to “build learnings for the future.” “Electrify America Technology Campus demonstrates our commitment to EV drivers today and in the future as we continue to both evolve and define a maturing industry,” said Robert Barrosa, president and CEO of Electrify America. “The comprehensive testing and analysis at our Center of Excellence and Technology Development Labs advance our ability to provide high-quality Hyper-Fast charging experiences to meet the needs of our customers and lead the way in developing solutions that benefit the industry.” Electrify America remains on an expansion course, having just announced a collaboration with Nissan’s new ‘Energy Charge Network’, as well as winning a tender to build charging infrastructure in California. A collaboration with 4 Gen Logistics was also announced recently to build truck charging infrastructure in California. By the end of 2023, the company had managed to expand its charging network across 47 US states. electrifyamerica.com

Voltera to set up two new charging hubs in California

The first site is located in Wilmington, not far from the Port of Long Beach and the Port of LA. It will offer a total of five megawatts of charging power, divvied up between a maximum of 30 stalls. “This ideal location will support the region’s significant drayage operations,” says the CPO. The construction is funded by the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Carl Moyer Programme with 2.3 million dollars, and the Federal Highway Administration’s Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Programme with 1.8 million dollars. The second site is located in Northern Califonia, namely in West Sacramento. It has a power supply of one megawatt and has room for up to 100 “electrified charging stalls.” The location is close to Interstate 5, which runs through California north to south, and Interstate 80, the second longest interstate in the US, connecting San Francisco on the West Coast with Teaneck in New Jersey on the East Coast. In either case, Voltera does not mention when the sites will open or the charging capacity of the individual chargers. “Securing these two sites in California is a significant step forward in our mission to support the electrification of commercial fleets,” said Sylvia Hendron, Chief Development Officer at Voltera. “Each location has been carefully chosen and developed to meet the unique needs of ZEV fleets, from proximity to key transit routes to securing necessary funding.” The California CPO was recently awarded 100 million dollars in debt facility from ING and Investec, on top of “ongoing equity support from EQT.” The latter is also named as an investor in the two California sites under development. Voltera says it “develops, owns, and operates strategically located, fit-for-purpose charging facilities to enable EV deployment and operation at scale.” To that end, it sets up EV charging infrastructure for electric cars and commercial vehicles. In this case, both sites will cater to the latter. In March, it opened a truck charging hub in Lynwood, California, near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The site was developed with Einride and can charge up to 200 vehicles per day. Voltera is also part of the US lobby organisation Powering America’s Commercial Transportation (PACT). The latter was formed by Daimler Truck North America, Volvo Group, and Navistar at the beginning of 2024 to promote the development of charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles. “The location of charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty trucks is crucial for a sustainable energy transition in the trucking sector. Commercial fleets require access to power near major freight routes, along with ample space for vehicles to enter, exit and manoeuvre,” said Dawn Fenton, Board Chairperson, Powering America’s Commercial Transportation. “The work of PACT’s charging developer members is essential in ensuring that M/HD trucks and fleets have the necessary power infrastructure to comply with regulations. This effort is vital for accelerating transportation electrification and can serve as a strong indicator of the demand for utility services.” businesswire.com

Hongqi to bring two new electric cars to Europe

The vehicles on show are the EH7 saloon with dimensions of 4.98 metres in length, 1.92 metres in width and 1.49 metres in height and a wheelbase of 3 metres. And on the other hand, the EHS7 SUV with a length of 4.93 metres, a width of 1.95 metres and a height of 1.68 metres. The wheelbase is the same at 3 metres. Orders for both models have officially started in Europe. The EH7 is offered at a price starting at 49,999 euros, while the EHS7 starts at 53,999 euros. Hongqi wants to attack the European premium and luxury manufacturers, also or precisely because the prices are significantly lower. But whether this can really succeed is questionable. Robin Engelhardt was able to test the EH7 for us briefly at the Paris Motor Show and notes that the car is Chinese through and through: ‘Very comfortable chassis, lots of space in the back seat and zero feel in the steering. It’s certainly a comfortable motorhome, but unfortunately, our little test round didn’t show us what exactly you want to do better than Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Sure, the price is significantly lower – but in this segment that is probably one of the least important factors.’ The EH7 and EHS7 are built on the newly developed Tiangong electric platform, which was also unveiled at the trade fair. According to the company, this platform is characterised by a highly integrated electric drive system and a versatile voltage architecture, which is designed to extend the range and significantly reduce charging times. The EH7 saloon, for example, offers a range of up to 655 kilometres, while the EHS7 is designed to achieve 600 kilometres. Both vehicles should take 20 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent at a fast charger. Liu Changqing, Vice President of China FAW Group Co., announced together with Nicholas Caillault, CEO of Car East France: ‘Hongqi is not just a new travel option, but a trustworthy and reliable friend you can rely on. We are ready!’ Hongqi aims to build an extensive sales and service network across Europe, with service points in 29 countries. The first steps have already been taken on the continent: the E-HS9, the brand’s flagship SUV, was launched in Norway and the Netherlands in 2022. Sweden, Denmark and Germany were later added to the list of countries for the model. Hongqi is working with the Swedish Hedin Group for European sales. Hedin had also organised European sales for the Chinese brand BYD, but BYD has since parted company with Hedin. Over the next five years, Hongqi plans to launch an additional 20 new models on the market in order to meet the growing demand for sustainable, high-quality electric vehicles in Europe. It will therefore be interesting to see whether Hongqi becomes a success story in Europe – Chinese car brands have had a hard time here so far. In the meantime, Hongqi has applied for approval of the E009 electric sedan in China. Like the EH7 and EHS7, the E009 was also developed on the Tiangong electric platform. The E009 is equipped with an electric motor with a maximum output of 210 kW (282 hp) and a lithium iron phosphate battery pack from CATL. However, there is still no information on range, charging time and other powertrain parameters. Source: Info via email, carnewschina.com (E009)