Researchers develop closed-loop method for lithium recovery from batteries

A team of researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory have developed a closed-loop process for recovering lithium from lithium-ion batteries.

In an article published in Green Chemistry, the researchers write: “We developed a sustainable lithium recovery process, which can selectively leach and recover lithium with formic acid before recycling valuable metals. With the reported method, lithium can be 99.8% recovered from layered oxide cathode materials with 99.994% purity.”

“In addition, this lithium recovery process is affordable, compared to the typical hydrometallurgical process. [It saves] 11.15% per kilogram of spent batteries,” according to the researchers.

“All chemicals can be reused via a facile distillation process, thereby allowing a fully closed-loop process for environmentally friendly lithium recovery,” according to Green Car Congress.

Proterra battery technology to power El Dorado National’s next-gen electric transit buses

Commercial EV innovator Proterra (NASDAQ: PTRA) will provide its battery technology to El Dorado National (ENC), a subsidiary of the REV Group, to power ENC’s second-generation electric transit buses.

Under a new, multi-year supply agreement, Proterra will supply its S-Series battery system to power ENC’s Axess Battery Electric Bus (EVO-BE), which will be produced in 32-foot, 35-foot and 40-foot variants. Delivery of the first Proterra Powered ENC Axess EVO-BEs is expected to begin in 2023.

Proterra says its battery systems have logged over 30 million service miles, powering electric delivery vehicles, work trucks, semi-trucks, construction and mining equipment, school and coach buses, and low-floor cutaway shuttles.

“ENC is excited to work with Proterra to provide the next-generation Axess EVO-BE with best-in-class battery technology as part of our ongoing focus on delivering zero-emission transportation solutions,” said Jason Moore, Vice President and General Manager, ENC.

The Tesla Semi is in production at last! Pepsico will get the first deliveries.

The Tesla Semi, an electric Class 8 truck, was hailed as a game-changer when it was unveiled in 2017. However, planned production dates were pushed back repeatedly, and other companies (Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo) beat Tesla to the market, while the erstwhile EV trend-setter pursued other priorities.

Now Tesla has announced that Semi production has begun, and confirmed that it offers a range of 500 miles. Pepsico, which ordered 100 units shortly after the 2017 launch, will be the first customer to take deliveries, beginning in December.

The Semis are being produced in Nevada at a new building near Tesla’s Gigafactory. Electrek reported in March 2021 that Tesla was building a Semi production line that was expected to be capable of producing about five trucks per week. Tesla reportedly plans to implement higher-volume production of the Semi at Gigafactory Texas.

Tesla’s delayed entrance into the semi segment is unlikely to amount to more than a speed bump—the economic case for an electric truck has grown steadily stronger since 2017, and there’s plenty of business to go around. Electrek’s Fred Lambert calculated that the Tesla Semi’s advertised efficiency of $0.20 per kWh, or $0.40 per mile, represents half the cost of operation of a diesel truck, so the trucking game is still ripe to be changed.

The Tesla Semi is believed to cost $180,000 per unit, and it should be eligible for a tax break of up to $40,000 under the Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle tax credit, part of the recently-enacted Inflation Reduction Act.

However, the Semi is likely to be caught in the same dilemma that plagues the entire EV industry—plenty of customers, but frustrating battery bottlenecks. And the Semi does have a whale of a battery. Tesla hasn’t revealed the size of the Semi’s pack, but Teslarati did some calculations: assuming Tesla’s figures of 2 kWh per mile and a 500-mile range, the Semi’s battery capacity would seem to be about 1,000 kWh (equivalent to about 12 Model Ys), and the monster pack would require some 10,204 of Tesla’s 4680 battery cells.

Tesla has whittled down the waiting list for its vehicles considerably of late, but Tesla-watchers are still reporting waits of at least a month or two for delivery. Will Tesla be forced to choose between limiting Semi production and further delaying deliveries of its consumer models? Or will the company find a way to increase battery cell production? Stay tuned.

Toyota Bz4x EV production restarted, fix coming for wheels falling off

2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWDToyota on Thursday provided a long-awaited update and solution regarding its Bz4x electric car, which has been waylaid by a pesky problem for months: Its wheels could fall off. After several months since the issue was originally noted, Toyota says it’s a supplier issue, with hub bolts that could vibrate loose after sharp turns or…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

Is Audi going to build its first US EV assembly plant?

Audi is the latest automaker looking to shift its strategy after the historic Inflation Reduction Act was passed, expanding federal tax credits in the US. In an interview with Automotive News, Audi’s chief technical officer, Oliver Hoffman, said the IRA bill will have a “huge impact” on its North American strategy as the automaker considers building its first US EV plant.

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Source: Charge Forward