The Swedish state-owned mining company LKAB says it has identified significant deposits of rare earth metals that are needed for electric cars and wind turbines, among other things. Mining on a larger scale will potentially first be possible in several years’ time.
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The automotive supplier Schaeffler has signed a five-year contract with the Norwegian company REEtec for the purchase of rare earth oxides. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2024.
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UK Research and Innovation is investing £16.7 million to build “the manufacturing capability Britain needs to lead the electric revolution”. The funding will go to 10 different projects around the UK, each surrounding the self-sufficiency of Britain’s supply chains for power electronics, machines, and drives.
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General Motors is cooperating with the German company Vacuumschmelze (VAC), which specialises in magnetic materials, to build a factory in the USA. Permanent magnets for the electric motors of the Ultium platform are to be built there. GM has entered into a second partnership in this field with the US company MP Materials.
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US President Joe Biden has signed an Executive Order to review US supply chains, with a particular focus on key sectors of the US auto industry. The 100-day review will cover semiconductors, rare earth metals and batteries for electric vehicles.
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According to Andreas Wendt, the board member responsible for purchasing at BMW, the company will no longer purchase cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo with the introduction of the fifth generation of electric vehicles from 2020/21.
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Toyota has developed a new magnet for electric motors, which will cut dependence on rare-earth metals by around 50 percent. It reduces the use of such rare earths as neodymium and replaces others with cheaper alternatives that cost up to 20 times less.
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Stationary Li-S battery: The OXIS Solar Centre for Autonomous Research (OSCAR) in the UK has begun a demonstration project in which lithium-sulfur batteries store energy from solar power. Furthermore, these batteries are used to propel an autonomous electric shuttle. OXIS hopes to have the system ready for commercialisation by 2016.
renewableenergyfocus.com, nicnewmanoxford.com
Rare earth prices normalise: Prices for rare-earth metals plunge since China dropped the export tax. It had been raised due to tensions with neighbouring Japan in 2010 but China has lost a case in the World Trade Organisation and had to scrap its quotas. Price are now at levels seen around 2010.
asia.nikkei.com
Science made feasible: The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa, Florida lets visitors experience new technology first hand as it introduces the Meridian shuttle. It runs electrically and also drives autonomously. Another parts of the experience at MOSI are drones and robots.
virtual-strategy.com
Parking prediction is a new system BMW is working on with INRIX. Based on the ConnectedDrive system, the new feature is demonstrated in an i3 and helps to find a parking lot. The Dynamic Parking Prediction uses on-road vehicle movement data to check for parking space availability.
greencarcongress.com, blogs.wsj.com
Reading tip: It took researchers from Yale University five years to assess the “criticality” of all 62 metals on the Periodic Table of Elements. Rare earth metals could face supply shortages soon and thus require recycling urgently, the experts recommend.
news.yale.edu
Read & watch: Hannah Elliot test drove the BMW i3 in Manhattan and was not too pleased with the experience. Not only is she not a fan of deceleration but also grew weary of the seats. The “quirky” looks of the BMW i3 did not help either, no matter how efficient the EV might be.
bloomberg.com
Events for the upcoming week: New York International Auto Show (Apr 03-12; New York, USA) ++ FIA Formula E, Round 6 (Apr 04; Long Beach, USA)
You can find a complete list of upcoming industry events at electrive.com/calendar
New Chevy Volt unveiled: GM already took off the wraps of the next-generation Volt at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Technical details will follow at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week where the new Volt will be officially launched.
insideevs.com, theverge.com
Hyundai to launch BEVs: The Korean manufacturer will release its first pure battery-electric car by 2016, say Hyundai officials quoted by the Korea Times. The electric sedan will be followed by an electric sports car and an electric SUV. Batteries will come from both LG Chem and the SK Group. The new EV is a change in strategy as Hyundai focussed on PHEVs before while leaving BEVs to Kia.
koreatimes.co.kr, chargedevs.com
China to extend subsidies: The Chinese government will continue its “green energy vehicle” incentives beyond 2015 until 2020. The subsidies, 60,000 yuan (9,650 dollars) for electric cars and 35,000 yuan (5,600 dollars) for plug-in hybrids, will gradually be reduced by ten percent in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
china.org.cn, globaltimes.cn, reuters.com
China had to scrap its quota system restricting exports of rare earth minerals after losing a World Trade Organisation (WTO) complaint. The new guidelines still require an export license for rare earths but the amount that can be sold abroad will no longer be capped by a quota.
wsj.com, bbc.co.uk
EV exception: The German Ministry of Transport has issued a new decree for electric vans weighing up to 4.25 tons, taking into account the weight of the battery. Those EVs can now be driven by drivers holding a B driver’s license that usually allows for vehicles up to 3.5 tons only.
eurotransort.de (in German)
Model S 85 to become faster: Tesla is working on a software update for the Model S 85D and P85D. Designed to increase performance and boost top speed from 130 to 155 mph, this free upgrade will be rolled out “in the next few months”.
greencarreports.com, latimes.com, slashgear.com
