Oct 20, 2022 - 03:51 pm
NEFTON expands work on ultra fast charging for trucks
In Germany, the NEFTON project launched in 2021 to develop charging scenarios for heavy battery trucks based on the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is now being expanded. The consortium around the Technical University of Munich is now focusing on charging capacities of up to 3 megawatts.
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Nov 25, 2021 - 03:58 pm
Germany’s new government aims for more sustainable transport
The newly-elected German federal coalition government has presented its coalition agreement. This is titled “Mehr Fortschritt Wagen” and can be translated to something like “dare to innovate” or “dare to make progress.” This, of course, has a number of ramifications for the transport industry.
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Jul 15, 2021 - 07:41 pm
V2G project BDL starts field trial with 50 BMW i3
In Germany, the announced field trial with 50 BMW i3s converted for V2G has now begun for the research project ‘Bidirectional charging management – BDL’ that was launched in 2019. As of a few days ago, 20 of the BMW i3s are now in customer hands, and the remaining 30 will soon be handed over […]
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Jun 29, 2021 - 03:04 pm
ACM Adaptive presents modular BEV ‘City One’
With the ACM City One, ACM Adaptive City Mobility GmbH is showing a preview of the series version of the modular electric vehicle and the associated ecosystem, which was created with funding from the German government.
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Jun 3, 2021 - 11:30 am
IPCEI to fund 12 European hydrogen mobility projects
The German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWI) and the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (BMVI) have selected 62 major projects to receive government funding as part of a joint European hydrogen project (Hydrogen IPCEI). The BMVI is funding twelve projects in the mobility sector.
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May 5, 2021 - 01:47 pm
Fraunhofer IFAM is developing hydrogen trains
Fraunhofer IFAM is working with partners on a new approach to increasing the range and comfort of fuel cell-powered trains. The central idea here is to effectively utilise the fuel cell waste heat for temperature control of the vehicle interior.
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Apr 19, 2021 - 03:29 pm
BMW aims for solid-state battery by 2030
BMW has announced its intention to realise a solid-state battery suitable for automotive use in series production by the end of this decade. A first demonstrator vehicle with this technology is to be shown “well before 2025”. Funding is available from German federal and state governments.
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Mar 11, 2021 - 01:08 pm
Project eHaul examines robot battery-swapping for trucks
In a three-year project called eHaul, a German consortium of business and science is dedicated to developing an automated battery-swapping station for heavy electric trucks. Among others, the TU Berlin, the Fraunhofer IVI and Bosch are involved in the project.
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Jan 21, 2021 - 02:41 pm
Tesla gets green light to prep battery plant at Giga Berlin
Tesla can start preparations for its battery factory at the Giga Berlin site in Grünheide ahead of schedule. Tesla has been granted a provisional start for the work upon request, according to a BMWi spokesperson, although this is in itself not a building permit.
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Dec 14, 2020 - 05:12 pm
Hydrogen fuel cell aircraft takes off in Stuttgart
The latest generation of the world’s first four-seater hydrogen fuel cell aircraft, the Hy4, has now been unveiled at Stuttgart Airport. The latest generation of the Hy4’s propulsion system recently received test flight permission, which means that the model can now take off at Stuttgart Airport.
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Oct 11, 2020 - 01:59 pm
Scania and Fraunhofer electrify semi-trailers
Volkswagen subsidiary Scania made a solar cell clad trailer to power a plug-in hybrid truck and is preparing testing in Sweden. In Germany, Fraunhofer LBF was looking at semi-trucks as well and developed a lightweight high-voltage battery system for heavy-duty EVs.
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Jul 30, 2020 - 06:35 pm
BMW is awarded millions in battery research funding
BMW has received a grant of 60 million euros from the German federal government and the state of Bavaria for battery research. BMW apparently plans to use the money to establish its own pilot battery cell production in Parsdorf near Munich.
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Jul 8, 2020 - 01:16 pm
German Innovation Premium comes into force
In Germany, the Innovation Premium that spells out the doubling of the federal share of the Environmental Bonus for electric vehicles has come into force. The amended funding guidelines for the Environmental Bonus were published in the Federal Gazette, thus making it official.
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Jun 30, 2020 - 02:23 pm
Germany invests in battery research with Varta
Varta has now received funding positive decisions from the Germany federal government and the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg concerning 300 million euros for projects involving battery cells. The subsidy was approved by the EU Commission in December 2019 and the decisions have now been sent to Varta.
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Feb 18, 2020 - 05:43 pm
Increased EV subsidies go into effect in Germany
The increased environmental bonus has now come into force with its publication in the German Federal Gazette for official announcements. Meanwhile, the ministry responsible for the allocation of the bonus – the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) – has updated its website.
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Feb 11, 2020 - 05:27 pm
EV subsidy increase in Germany green lit by EU
Brussels has given the green light for an increase in the EV subsidy scheme, the Environmental Bonus in Germany. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the European Commission today announced that it has no objections to greater financial support for electric vehicles in Germany.
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Feb 8, 2020 - 10:41 am
Opel & PSA plants to make 48GWh battery cells yearly
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has given a statement on the planned battery cell production capacity at the Opel site in the southwest of Germany: they aim for 24 GWh. The relevant cell technology is currently still being developed in France by Saft, where a sister plant is to produce the […]
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Dec 9, 2019 - 03:05 pm
EU Commission approves €3.2 billion for battery research
The European Commission has now approved funding totalling 3.2 billion euros for pan-European research and innovation projects by seven Member States in all segments of the battery value chain. Among others, Opel and BMW will benefit from the funds.
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Dec 1, 2019 - 03:40 pm
EU Commission considering second battery consortium
According to German Economics Minister Peter Altmaier, the second European battery cell consortium has now been “put on track” by sending the information to the European Commission. However, his ministry still does not mention the names of those involved.
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Nov 8, 2019 - 03:43 pm
BMW researches bidirectional charging with partners
In the recently started research project “Bidirectional charge management”, the project partners want to develop the technologies for a charge management ready for series production. The results are to be evaluated in a field trial with 50 BMW i3 at the beginning of 2021.
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Sep 14, 2019 - 04:33 pm
Germany to drive transport transition with €75 billion
To reach its climate goals, Germany needs a massive transport turnaround to change how traffic looks like latest by 2030. Now the Federal Ministry of Transport is planning to invest up to 75 billion euros not only in railways but also electromobility.
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Jun 19, 2019 - 11:20 pm
Berlin public transport BVG orders 90 Solaris e-buses
The state of Berlin and public transit operator BVG are pushing ahead with the ramp-up phase for the procurement of electric buses and are purchasing a further 90 EVs. Polish manufacturer Solaris secured the contract and will deliver from spring 2020.
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May 31, 2019 - 03:48 pm
Germany extends EV premiums til end of 2020
The German Federal Ministry of Economics has officially extended the purchase premiums for electric cars and plug-in hybrids until the end of 2020. The environmental bonus will therefore continue in its current form, meaning with identical subsidy rates, until 31 December 2020.
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May 27, 2019 - 03:55 pm
EU battery cell production: First funding in June
The German BMBF, that is the Ministry for Education, plans to decide on the location of a research factory for cell production on June 7. Moreover, the German government is also planning to pay the first half of the money for the planned cell production factories this June as well.
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May 1, 2019 - 03:28 pm
PSA, Opel and Saft battery consortium ready to go
The Franco-German initiative announced last December for setting up a battery cell production facility is becoming concrete. The economic ministries of both countries have now proposed the alliance as the first consortium for funding from the EU Commission.
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Mar 18, 2019 - 04:25 pm
German battery cell manufacturing plans pick up steam
Applications closed last Friday for the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology’s call for proposals for the development of battery cell production. The Ministry has now issued its first official statement: More than 30 companies from across the value chain have participated in proposal submissions.
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Mar 14, 2019 - 03:18 pm
Six Consortia want to build battery cells in Germany
Six consortia have so far submitted applications for funding to set up battery cell production in Germany. These include prominent names such as BASF, VW, PSA, BMW and Northvolt. Meanwhile e.Go-Mobile CEO Günther Schuh is leaving the consortium that wants to bring a cell factory to Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region.
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