Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and colleagues have developed a novel high-performance electrolyte (HPE) consisting of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) and carbonates to support extreme fast charging (XFC). A paper on their work appears in the journal Batteries & Supercaps. Realizing XFC in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles is still challenging due to the insufficient lithium-ion transport kinetics, especially in the electrolyte, the researchers note. They tested the new electrolyte in pilot-scale, 2-Ah pouch cel ..read more

Continental recently added recovered carbon black (rCB) to its newly produced Super Elastic solid tires at its tire plant in Korbach, Germany, thus reducing the use of fossil raw materials and CO2 emissions. Solid tires such as Continental’s SC20+ already contain around 60% renewable and recycled materials due to their high natural rubber content. By 2050 at the latest, Continental aims to use 100% sustainable materials in its tire products. The recovered carbon black is supplied by Pyrum Innovations, one of Continental’s partner companies. Pyrum breaks down end-of-life-tires into their indi ..read more

Cemex Germany continues to invest in more sustainable transport for its products. The building materials company has taken delivery of two all-electric iONTRON mixer trucks from Putzmeister, which will become part of the Berlin truck mixer fleet. iONTRON is the brand name for Putzmeister electrified products; the lineup includes the P 9G iONTRON Mixer, the BSF iONTRON Hybrid truck-mounted concrete pump, and the BSA 1005 E iONTRON trailer concrete pump. The two vehicles are the first from the manufacturer Putzmeister within Cemex globally. They will be used in the ready-mix concrete plants in S ..read more

BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. have entered into an agreement to create ChargeScape, LLC, a new equally-owned company that will create a single, cost-effective platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested electric vehicle customers. Benefiting both EV customers and the electric utility industry in the US and Canada, ChargeScape will unlock entirely new value that EVs can provide to the electric grid, while enabling EV customers to earn financial benefits through a variety of managed charging and energy-sharing services. The closing of the ..read more

The transport company Azienda Veneziana della Mobilita has ordered a total of 90 hydrogen Solaris buses, with 75 of them being the 12-meter version and 15 being articulated Urbino 18 buses. The contract also includes an option to increase the order quantity. According to the agreement, these vehicles will be delivered to Venice gradually, starting from November 2025, and the deliveries will be completed in the first weeks of 2026. Thirty battery-powered Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses and 4 hydrogen-powered Urbino 12 are already running in and around Venice. A new feature in the hydrogen buse ..read more

ANGI Energy Systems, a Vontier company announced a strategic collaboration with Nikola Corporation to support Nikola’s plan to create the largest North American open-network of commercial hydrogen refueling stations by providing technically advanced hydrogen fueling dispensers, under Nikola’s HYLA brand. The dispensers are expected to be the industry’s first HD-ready solutions in the field, offering high flow refueling for heavy-duty vehicles. The network build-out is in partnership with Voltera, a leading provider of critical infrastructure necessary to support the full decarbonization of tr ..read more

TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K., which operates an industrial precious metals business as a core company of TANAKA Precious Metals, signed a technical assistance agreement with Chengdu Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd., an affiliated company in China, in the area of fuel cell electrode catalyst manufacturing technologies. TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo aims to use this agreement to meet the growing domestic demand for fuel cell electrode catalysts in China. Electrode catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs) As part of the agreement, production equipment will be installed at th ..read more

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) awarded $18.6 million in funding to eight university and industry projects to develop biomass feedstocks to produce affordable biofuels and bioproducts that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The selected projects support DOE’s investment in the development and production of biofuels and innovation and growth in agricultural industries and will help meet the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge goal of producing 35 billion gallons of low-GHG emission SAF made from domestic biomass and waste resources annuall ..read more

Hyundai Motor North America (HMNA) and Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., (HATCI) opened their $51.4-million Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) at a ribbon cutting ceremony in Superior Township, Mich. The STIL is supported by 160 employees and is planned to be operational by mid-October. The new safety facility is a first of its kind by an OEM in North America that is dedicated to field safety. The facility includes a field crash investigation lab, high voltage battery lab, forensics lab, 400m track and a Vehicle Dynamics Area skid pad. The investment is focused on enhancin ..read more

The United States exported more liquefied natural gas (LNG) than any other country in the first half of 2023 (1H23), according to data from CEDIGAZ analyzed by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). US LNG exports averaged 11.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) during this period, 4% (0.5 Bcf/d) more than in 1H22, according to data from the US Department of Energy’s LNG Reports. Australia exported the world’s second-largest volume of LNG in 1H23, averaging 10.6 Bcf/d, followed by Qatar at 10.4 Bcf/d. Data source: International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (2018–2021) an ..read more