ACEA, Stellantis, EnBW, CATL, KAIST, Polestar and much more

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), sales of electric cars in the EU from 2017 to 2023 increased three times faster than the installation of new charging stations. Therefore, ACEA is calling for increased investment in public charging infrastructure, as access to public charging stations is essential for decarbonizing road traffic, in addition to market support and a competitive production framework in Europe. Last year, just over 150,000 public charging points were installed across the EU, bringing the total to 630,000. However, the European Commission states that 3.5 million charging points should be installed by 2030. To meet this goal, about 410,000 public charging points per year would need to be erected—nearly three times the current annual rate. However, ACEA estimates that 8.8 million charging points will be necessary by 2030. To achieve this, 1.2 million chargers every year (or over 22,000 per week) would need to be installed—eight times the current annual installation rate.

Coventry University in the UK is testing an innovative technology that allows electric vehicles to be charged while driving. The research project named Dynacov (Dynamic Charging of Vehicles) uses dynamic wireless transmission technologies to transfer energy from metal coils embedded beneath the road surface to the vehicle. This inductive charging technology could potentially be used for buses and commercial vehicles in the future.

Stellantis has announced plans to produce 100,000 hydrogen vehicles per year by 2030. Jean-Michel Billig, head of the company’s hydrogen program, disclosed that production of larger hydrogen vehicles is set to commence soon in Poland. Since the launch of medium-sized commercial vehicles equipped with hydrogen fuel cell electric drives at the end of 2022, the company has sold 350 units and is now ramping up to full-scale production. Billig anticipates that this technology will capture a significant market share over the next decade, potentially accounting for up to 40% of the commercial vehicle sector.

Following its unveiling at IAA MOBILITY 2023, EnBW has opened its first "NextLevel Charging Park" near Chemnitz, focusing on sustainability in all aspects of its operation. According to the EnBW, it is the first time it has fully integrated ecological, social, and economic sustainability components. These include a roof made of wood with 144 photovoltaic modules, more efficient transformers, and paving stones made from recycled materials. The facility features twelve Alpitronic Hypercharger HYC400s providing a total of 24 fast-charging points, each capable of up to 400 kW. As demand grows, EnBW plans to expand the site to 32 charging points. Additional amenities will include accessible charging spaces, seating areas, automated toilets, and an interactive playground for children, enhancing the experience during charging stops.

Leading Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has announced its intention to start pilot production of solid-state batteries by 2027. CATL currently rates the development stage of this technology at a 4 on a scale of 1 to 9, with the aim to reach 7 to 8 by 2027. While this stage permits small-scale solid-state battery production, cost challenges persist. Solid-state batteries offer a higher energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg compared to the current 350 Wh/kg of lithium-ion batteries, which could significantly increase the range of electric vehicles.

Additionally, CATL announced this week plans to establish "the largest fast-charging network in the world." The company aims to build 10,000 super-fast charging stations across 100 Chinese cities by the end of next year. This will be achieved through a strategic partnership with Chinese charging network provider Star Charge. The companies will collaborate to develop charging infrastructure and service innovations, with a focus on super-fast charging. They will also work to improve battery and vehicle safety by developing technologies that integrate charging and inspection processes.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has announced a breakthrough in battery technology with the development of a new sodium-ion battery featuring a hybrid design. This innovative battery combines sodium-ion technology with materials typically used in supercapacitors. According to researchers, this combination allows electric vehicles to be charged in just a few seconds. Additionally, the prototype battery cell built in the lab reportedly has a higher energy density than traditional lithium-ion batteries, which could help reduce costs.

Polestar has achieved a breakthrough in fast-charging technology by testing silicon-dominated battery cells from Israeli battery manufacturer StoreDot in a roadworthy prototype of the Polestar 5. StoreDot's Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology enables the battery to charge to 80% in just ten minutes. The demonstration showed increasing charging power from 310 kW initially to 370 kW by the end, averaging 324 kW during the entire charging session. The custom-made 77 kWh battery could potentially be expanded to 100 kWh, potentially adding about 200 miles of range in just ten minutes.

Farasis Energy has introduced a new battery specifically designed for electric motorcycles. The Standard Electric Motorcycle Battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 15 minutes and features an energy density 25% higher than the industry average. Its design facilitates easy battery replacement and reduces weight by 0.5 to 2.0 kilograms compared to current batteries. Additionally, the battery supports high charge and discharge rates, enabling electric motorcycles to reach speeds up to 123 mph and accelerate to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

ABT Sportsline, in collaboration with electric yacht specialist Marian, has unveiled its first luxury electric boat, the ABT | Marian M 800-R. Manufactured in Austria in a limited edition of only 20 units, the boat boasts a power output of up to 450 kW and can reach a top speed of 85 km/h (approximately 53 mph). With a battery capacity of 121.5 kWh, the boat's range is expected to be around 80 kilometers (about 50 miles). It can be charged with both DC (150 kW) and AC (22 kW) power sources. The price is set at around 500,000 Euros.

In China, the world's largest battery-electric container ship has commenced regular operations between Shanghai and Nanjing, covering nearly 1,000 kilometers (621.3 miles) along the Yangtze River without needing to be recharged. Developed by the China Ocean Shipping Group (Cosco), the ship named Greenwater 01 measures 120 meters (393.7 feet) in length and 24 meters (78.7 feet) in width. It has a battery capacity of 50,000 kWh, which can be expanded up to 80,000 kWh. This battery-electric propulsion allows the ship to save 3,900 kilograms (8,598 pounds) of fuel per 100 nautical miles (185.2 km, 115.08 mi) and reduce CO2 emissions by 12.4 tons. Greenwater 01 has a freight capacity of 700 TEU, where one TEU equals a 20-foot standard container. According to Cosco, this ship not only sets world records in terms of length, width, and carrying capacity for a battery-electric vessel but also for container capacity.

A new study found that bicycles have surpassed cars as the preferred mode of transportation in Paris. According to a survey conducted by the Paris Region urban planning institute, only 4.3 percent of trips in the French capital are now made by car, while bicycles account for 11.2 percent. The study indicates that most trips made by residents are on foot (53.5 percent), followed by public transportation at 30 percent. In the suburbs of Paris, however, cars remain the most widely used mode of transportation. This study tracked the movements of 3,337 residents of the Paris region, aged 16 to 80, from October 2022 to April 2023, and the results have now been analyzed.