Batteries
Coronavirus slows US push to produce electric vehicle minerals
The coronavirus pandemic is hobbling US efforts to produce lithium, rare earths and other materials used in electric vehicles and high-tech equipment, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump’s plan to curb Chinese control of the strategic minerals sector.
Total to build France’s largest battery
Energy major Total has lifted the lid on a project that aims to construct the largest battery storage facility in France. It could help boost the growth of intermittent renewable power in the French energy mix.
Why is the EV rollout at risk of stalling?
Ensuring a swift transition to electric vehicles is one of the clearest ways for governments to make significant progress on emissions reductions, writes Helen Clarkson. However, governments risk holding it back, she adds.
Biggest battery in Europe set to land on British shores
Oil and gas giant Shell has plans for a 100 megawatt grid storage battery in the west of England. It is slated to be the biggest battery in Europe once it is completed later this year and will be crucial to the UK's quest to remain the continent's top wind power player.
Macron cuts ribbon on first battery mega-project
French President Emmanuel Macron attended on Thursday (30 January) the ground-breaking ceremony for a new battery factory in southwest France: the first real result of an EU-led policy aimed at boosting the industry and helping it withstand global competitors.
Carmakers renew calls for recharge revolution, as grim sales figures loom
Some of the EU’s most powerful auto players called once again on Wednesday (22 January) for a mass rollout of recharging points and refuelling stations for fuels like hydrogen, as the industry offered up more clues as to how it intends to lessen its climate impact.
Supporting a Competitive and Sustainable Battery Value Chain in the EU
On 5 December, 80 battery experts, policymakers and stakeholders met in Brussels at an event jointly organised by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Nickel Institute, EUROBAT and RECHARGE.
Massive rise in EV charging points needed to reach EU climate goals, analysis finds
Europe needs fifteen times more electric vehicle public charging points by 2030 to support the EU’s goal of becoming “climate neutral” by mid-century, according to new research published today (8 January).
A ‘startup mindset’ is behind battery strategy, says EU official
The European Commission has been driven into the uptake of a fresh startup mindset in its efforts to develop a value chain for batteries in the last two years, said the Head of Unit for Automotive and Mobility Industries at the DG GROW Joanna Szychowska.
EU could ban dirty battery imports, says Commission VP
Batteries that do not meet rigorous green standards could be banned from the European market, Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič warned on Monday (9 December), as the EU executive approved €3.2 billion of state aid for some home-grown projects.
EU battery hopes ready to take off
Serious challenges in the energy and transport sectors could be solved, or at least mitigated, by a step-change in storage capabilities, supported by EU funding.
Construction clean-up looms as Green Deal approaches
Cleaning up the construction industry will be one of the major challenges for EU policy over the next decade, given the scale of emissions produced by the sector. Policymakers and industry leaders insist they are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Northvolt ‘will source directly from the miners’ to ensure clean supply chain
A short supply chain “will make it possible for us to trace our materials” and ensure they come from responsible sources, said a senior executive at Northvolt, the Swedish startup aiming to supply Europe with green electric batteries.
Hazards ahead: Electric cars face battery recycling hurdles in Europe
European recyclers have called for changes to EU regulations on hazardous metals and waste shipment that “sometimes stand in the way” of a fully European electric car manufacturing value chain.
Berlin and Brussels should realise that e-fuels for trucks are a bad, expensive bet
The world's largest truckmaker does not think that e-fuels are a viable way to decarbonise heavy transport. Stef Cornelis explains here why he could not agree more.
China in focus as West debates critical minerals challenge
Western powers will attend talks in Brussels next week on curbing China's dominance of rare earths and other critical resources and EU officials will present their vision to create entire green supply chains.
‘No way around electrification,’ BMW says
Consumers are increasingly turning to electric vehicles – and they’re liking it, said BMW’s chief lobbyist in Europe, calling on policymakers to accelerate charging infrastructure deployment to support the roll-out of electric mobility on a mass scale.
Merkel aims to supercharge Germany’s electric car revolution
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday (3 November) that Germany should install 1 million electric car charging points by 2030, ahead of crunch talks with the Bundesrepublik’s car industry later on Monday.
EU to assess five critical minerals in low carbon quest
The European Commission is assessing five new minerals for possible inclusion in a revised list of critical raw materials to be published next year, as it seeks to bolster supply chains for a low emissions economy, a senior Commission official said.
Indonesian capital turns to Europe for transport solutions
Jakarta’s traffic jams shave billions off Indonesia's economic output every year. A new focus on improving public transport and picking up tips from Europe hopes to free up the congested streets of the megacity.
Honda speeds up plans to electrify car models in Europe
Japanese carmaker Honda has brought forward a goal to only sell electric and hybrid cars in Europe by three years to 2022, a leading company executive said on Wednesday (23 October).
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.
