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Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

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Volkswagen is to construct buildings and infrastructure for the battery cell factory it has agreed to build with Northvolt. The automotive giant has made initial investment of some €450 million.

The joint venture between Volkswagen Group and the Swedish battery producer Northvolt is gaining further momentum.

It has been decided that Volkswagen itself will erect the buildings and infrastructure for the joint venture’s “Northvolt Zwei” factory that is to produce lithium-ion battery cells, in order to leverage synergies at the Salzgitter site – based on the existing Center of Excellence for Battery Cells. [Read more…] about Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

BMW reaffirms ongoing commitment to hydrogen fuel cell technology

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Automotive giant BMW has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to hydrogen fuel cell technology as an alternative to petrol cars and electric vehicles. The company also unveiled images of the powertrain for the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT.

Developing alternative powertrain technologies is a top priority for the BMW Group. The premium carmaker offers first virtual insights into the powertrain system for the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT and reaffirms its commitment to following a carefully considered and systematic route to emission-free mobility.

This approach also includes the careful consideration of differing market and customer requirements as part of the company’s Power of Choice strategy. Customer centricity and the flexibility needed for this are essential in facilitating the breakthrough for sustainable mobility on the global stage.

Klaus Fröhlich, member of the board of management of BMW, research and development: “We are convinced that various alternative powertrain systems will exist alongside one another in future, as there is no single solution that addresses the full spectrum of customers’ mobility requirements worldwide. [Read more…] about BMW reaffirms ongoing commitment to hydrogen fuel cell technology

GM and LG Chem prepare ground at new electric vehicle battery cell facility in Lordstown

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General Motors and LG Chem have started to prepare the ground at their new electric vehicle battery cell facility in Lordstown. 

The two companies have established a joint venture called “Ultium Cells” for the battery cell manufacturing business.

Construction has started with ground prep activities for the future site of the Ultium battery cell manufacturing facility in Lordstown. [Read more…] about GM and LG Chem prepare ground at new electric vehicle battery cell facility in Lordstown

Volvo and Daimler to begin ‘large-scale production’ of hydrogen fuel cells

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Volvo and Daimler are to begin “large-scale production” of hydrogen fuel cells.

The companies say this enable them to “lead the development of sustainable transportation”.

Sharing the Green Deal vision of sustainable transport and a carbon neutral Europe by 2050, two leading companies in the commercial vehicle industry – Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group – have signed a preliminary non-binding agreement to establish a new joint venture. [Read more…] about Volvo and Daimler to begin ‘large-scale production’ of hydrogen fuel cells

Hyundai expands partnership with US government to support hydrogen fuel cell research

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Hyundai Motor Company has expanded its partnership with the US Department of Energy in relation to its support of the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program.

Hyundai’s commitment aims to increase technical collaboration to better understand challenges and to collect and publish independently validated data from demonstrating fuel cell technologies and hydrogen infrastructure under real world operating conditions.

This partnership, along with other collaborations with global industry partners, will help address technical barriers and enable progress in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies across applications and sectors. [Read more…] about Hyundai expands partnership with US government to support hydrogen fuel cell research

Toyota develops fuel cell system for maritime applications

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The former racing catamaran turned ship of the future, Energy Observer, has made waves as it has been navigating its six-year odyssey around the world as the first energy-autonomous hydrogen vessel.

Today, Toyota, official partner of Energy Observer and an avid supporter of their project from the start, announces that it has developed a fuel cell system for maritime applications, with its first delivery destined for Energy Observer.

Embarking in June 2017 from Saint Malo Port in France, Energy Observer is an electrically propelled vessel of the future that is operated using a mix of renewable energies and an on-board system that produces carbon-free hydrogen from seawater. [Read more…] about Toyota develops fuel cell system for maritime applications

BMW orders €10 billion of battery cells for its 25 models of electric car

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BMW has placed orders for around €10 billion worth of battery cells for its planned line-up of 25 electric car models by 2023

The BMW Group is forging ahead with electromobility and deepening its existing business relationships with battery cell manufacturers Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and Samsung SDI.

The original CATL order volume of €4 billion agreed in mid-2018 will now be increased to €7.3 billion (contract duration from 2020 to 2031), with €4.5 billion for the BMW Group and €2.8 billion for the Chinese production site of the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in Shenyang.

The BMW Group is the first customer of the CATL battery cell plant currently under construction in Erfurt, Germany. [Read more…] about BMW orders €10 billion of battery cells for its 25 models of electric car

BMW bids to shape the future of battery cell technology

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The BMW Group is building on its leading position in the world of electric mobility and has pooled its many years of experience with battery cells and extensive knowledge in the field in a new Competence Centre.

The purpose of the facility in Munich is to advance battery cell technology and carefully dissect the production processes.

Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW, says: “The new Battery Cell Competence Centre puts us in an enviable position. [Read more…] about BMW bids to shape the future of battery cell technology

International Space Station creating new biological life forms

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The International Space Station is creating new biological life forms using “cutting-edge 3D biomanufacturing”.

3D printing – also known as additive manufacturing – is a well-known method of making things here on Earth, and on the ISS, but this method uses materials such as plastics and metals.

However, 3D biomanufacturing uses biological materials such as new tissue or blood vessels. (See video below.) [Read more…] about International Space Station creating new biological life forms

Continental inaugurates new fuel cell laboratory with German university

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Continental AG is expanding its fuel cell technology sector, opening the newly established Fuel Cell Laboratory for Fuel Cell Technology with the Chemnitz University of Technology Professorship of Advanced Powertrains (ALF).

With the installation of a large hydrogen tank (H2 Tank) in February 2019 at a laboratory belonging to ALF, a central requirement for the expansion to more extensive measuring capabilities was put into place.

ALF, headed by Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, has an excellent reputation in the field of research and development of fuel cells.

[Read more…] about Continental inaugurates new fuel cell laboratory with German university