Electromobility Report 2024, Panasonic, GAC, Maserati and much more

The Center of Automotive Management (CAM) has released its "Electromobility Report 2024," which analyzes market and innovation trends of electric vehicles in Germany and key international markets including the EU, USA, and China. The report covers industry-level market developments, the innovation strength and drive strategies of relevant automakers, and the factors influencing the market ramp-up of electric mobility, projecting scenarios for 2030. According to CAM, over 80 percent of global BEV sales in 2023 were accounted for by ten automakers, with the top three—Tesla, BYD, and VW Group—alone responsible for nearly half (46%) of all new registrations. Chinese automakers increasingly dominate global electric mobility innovation, with Tesla leading as the most innovative manufacturer of electric vehicles. Volkswagen Group is a close second, leading the "Fast Followers," followed by Geely, BYD, and Hyundai.

As of April 13, 2024, the European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) has taken effect. This regulation mandates that users at publicly accessible charging stations must have the option to charge and pay per use, without a pre-existing plan. Operators of public charging stations in the European Union are required to comply with these new regulations from this date. New charging stations must comply immediately, while existing stations with a capacity of at least 50 kW must be retrofitted by 2027. The mandatory installation of card terminals applies only to newly built DC charging stations with capacities from 50 kW. For charging stations with lower capacities, alternative secure payment methods are still permissible, as long as they offer the capability for secure ad-hoc payments. At locations with multiple charging points, a central payment terminal for all points is allowed to reduce installation and operational costs.

Research teams from Germany and Denmark have developed a new charging protocol that could significantly extend the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials, the study demonstrates that charging batteries with pulsed current, as opposed to a constant flow, reduces the formation and growth of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the electrodes. This SEI layer is crucial in the aging process of batteriesThe findings could result in electric vehicle batteries requiring fewer replacements.

Panasonic has intensified its efforts to advance manufacturing technologies for the next generation of batteries. With the opening of a new four-story facility in Suminoe, Osaka, the company aims to accelerate the development and validation of production processes for battery cells. The building will serve as a central hub for consolidating battery data from all Panasonic factories. These investments in technology are part of Panasonic's long-term strategy to increase annual production capacities to 200 gigawatt-hours by 2031 and enhance the energy density of battery cells to 1,000 Wh/l.

GAC has announced plans to introduce electric vehicles featuring solid-state batteries by 2026. These batteries are expected to have an energy density exceeding 400 Wh/kg and deliver ranges of more than 1,000 kilometers. The first vehicles to use these advanced batteries will be from GAC's luxury brand, Hyper, which was launched in September 2022. The brand's current models, the Hyper SSR and Hyper GT, are built on the company's 900-volt AEP 3.0 platform.

Maserati has introduced the new electric convertible, the GranCabrio Folgore. With a power output of up to 610 kW and a range of up to 447 kilometers, this electric convertible runs on an 800-volt platform and features three electric motors, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds. Besides its high performance, the 92.5 kWh battery supports rapid DC charging, allowing 80% of the battery to be charged in just 18 minutes.

AVL and Red Bull Advanced Technologies have announced a collaboration to develop fuel cell technologies for aviation and motorsport with the goal to create fuel cells that are two-thirds lighter than traditional systems, while significantly increasing power density. These advancements could dramatically improve gravimetric power density, aiming for 6 kW/kg at the stack level and 2 kW/kg at the system level. The objective is to make these technologies usable not only in high-performance sports but also in other applications where maximum payload is critical, such as in aviation and racing.

Chery is set to expand its presence in Europe by starting production in Barcelona later this year. The company will use a former Nissan factory, in collaboration with Spanish firm EV Motors, to produce its Omoda brand vehicles. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2024, EV Motors' brand Ebro will also begin manufacturing a fully electric pickup and later a van at this facility.

Fastned, a leading operator of fast charging stations, has inaugurated its first “highway service area of the future” in Brecht, Belgium. This new facility is exclusively dedicated to electric vehicles and features an expanded charging network along with a shop tailored to the needs of traveling electric vehicle owners. The station is notable for its sustainable construction, including usage of solar power and energy-efficient infrastructure. Fastned plans to expand this type of service area across Europe to make electric vehicle charging more attractive and convenient.

Decathlon Germany has launched a new service allowing customers to book e-bikes online and test them in real-world conditions. Known as Test & Buy, this service is currently available in about 60 stores across Germany and is set to expand to nearly all Decathlon stores soon. Customers can schedule test rides through a dedicated online page to experience the feel and features of the e-bikes before making a purchase. This provides an excellent opportunity to engage with products before buying.

Volkswagen has announced an investment of 2.5 billion euros in its new development center in Hefei, China. This is part of the company’s broader initiative to reduce product development times by 30 percent, with a strong emphasis on localizing research and development.

Vulcan Energy has commenced the first lithium chloride extraction at its newly constructed facility in Landau, Germany. The company aims to extract lithium from geothermal brine, representing the largest lithium and geothermal resource in Europe. Vulcan plans to start commercial production of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, primarily used in battery manufacturing, by 2025.

The electric SUV, Nio EL6, has achieved the highest rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests.

The e-bike brand BESV has celebrated its tenth anniversary. Its models, including the dual-suspension compact e-bike PS1 and the E-MTB TRB1 with the largest battery capacity in its class, have gained international recognition.