Batteries
The battery metal no one wants to talk about
It accounts for around 75% of all rechargeable energy storage around the world. It is in just about every car and truck, regardless of whether the vehicle has an internal-combustion engine, uses hybrid technology or is pure electric. Its proven...
Battery pioneers awarded Nobel Prize
Three scientists have won the 2019 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for putting power in peoples’ pockets by developing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries which made the global information technology, mobile and fossil-fuel free revolutions possible.
Electric vehicles: How close are we to closing the global emissions gap?
Electric vehicles are a massive talking point on the agenda for tackling climate change but what are the challenges facing large-scale deployment and how far can they take us to close the global emissions gap? Lucy Craig explains the situation.
Outer-space prospecting aims to boost EU’s battery plans
Space policy and efforts to boost electric vehicle uptake share a somewhat unusual link, beyond connected cars and global positioning systems: procuring raw materials could soon be made easier via satellites.
Why Europe’s battery value chain needs regulatory certainty – now
Green mobility and - linked to it - batteries are a top priority for the EU. A wide range of activities are up and running. But what is industry missing? There is a need for consistent and predictable regulation to provide planning security for long term investments.
Sefcovic forsees ‘an Airbus for batteries, for 5G, AI, green tech’
In one of his first interviews since getting the nod to serve another five years in the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič talked about his new job, industrial policy and the "global mega-trends" the EU should lead heading into the next decade.
Clean mobility’s challenging road ahead
As European cities hold Mobility Week events across the continent, this special report looks at some of the challenges facing the sustainability drive.
Four of Europe’s unexpected electric movers and shakers
Electric-battery power is often branded as unsuitable for certain types of transport and vehicles, due to concerns like weight and power ratios. But several new developments ranging from shipping to motorsport are cause for a rethink.
Time to give the transport sector the predictability it needs to thrive in a zero emission economy
Despite its clear potential for clean transportation, electro-mobility still does not seem to be the motor driving Europe’s economic, climate, and industrial policy, writes Folker Franz.
Tesla mulls building mega-factory in Germany
American electric carmaker Tesla is reportedly on the hunt for locations in Germany to build one of its gigafactories, according to local media. Adding a European base of operations could help Elon Musk's firm avoid the worst effects of an ongoing trade war between the US and China.
World’s largest electric ferry enters service in Denmark
An all-electric ferry, purported to be the world’s largest, completed its first voyage between two Danish islands last week, as the shipping sector gears up for strict new emission laws due to take effect in 2020.
Europe takes on China’s global dominance of rare earth metals
A new industry association was launched in Brussels last week with the aim of bringing together all the players in the supply chain of rare earth metals, which are vital to renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Dutch launch prototype solar car with 720km range
The prototype of a solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) able to travel 720km on a single charge was officially unveiled in Katwijk, the Netherlands today (25 June).
China scraps list of recommended car battery suppliers: ministry
China has scrapped its list of recommended battery suppliers, the industry ministry said on Monday (24 June), a decision foreign companies said could open up the world’s biggest market for electric vehicle batteries.
Swedish battery maker secures $1bn funding for Europe’s first ‘gigafactory’
Swedish start-up Northvolt Wednesday (12 June) announced it had secured funding, in large part from Volkswagen, for Europe’s biggest car battery factory, set to rival electric carmaker Tesla’s US “Gigafactory”. The battery producer said it had completed a $1 billion...
The EU is creating a sustainability label for raw materials
An EU research group is creating a certification method for raw materials, to be completed by 2021. The project is part of a push to sustainably mine the metals needed for Europe’s clean energy transition. But critics say certification is not the answer.
Scotland and Wales place hopes in battery power
Scotland and Wales plan to embrace battery power in order to solve their respective clean energy and employment challenges. Scotland will link a 50MW “super battery" to a wind farm, while Wales wants to invest in battery production.
UK scientists warn raw material output must surge to match EV growth
British climate targets will require the current annual global production of cobalt to double by 2050, in order to satisfy electric vehicle growth demands. A large increase in other raw materials will also be needed, according to UK scientists.
Germany extends electric vehicle support scheme until 2020
Germany will extend for another year a bonus scheme to encourage people to buy electric cars, Die Welt reported on Thursday (30 May), another sign of Berlin’s eagerness to support a sector in which it lags US and Asian rivals.
E-racers electrify Berlin’s old airport
Formula One’s electric cousin came to Berlin’s defunct Tempelhof Airport on Saturday (25 May), in the latest round of a rapidly advancing sport. Formula E’s fortunes have progressed hand-in-hand with those of electric vehicles in general.
Germany to unleash e-scooters on streets
The upper house of the German parliament voted on Friday (17 May) to allow e-scooters onto the country’s streets, as the new urban vehicle continue to take Europe by storm.
Europe’s first mega battery factory gets EIB blessing
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is on the verge of granting €350 million to a Swedish company for what will be Europe’s first mega-sized battery factory, the EU lender announced on Thursday (16 May).
What Daimler’s move on carbon-neutral cars says about the industry
Daimler, one of the world’s leading producers of premium cars and commercial vehicles, has announced new commitments to make its entire passenger car fleet carbon neutral by the close of 2039. This is the most ambitious timeline among any of the leading automakers and signals a rapid acceleration in the shift towards zero-carbon transport, writes Nigel Topping.
