Lion Electric Q2 2022 earnings results: Record vehicle deliveries, upbeat outlook

Commercial EV maker Lion Electric released its Q2 2022 earnings results today, showing another strong performance as demand grows for commercial EVs. Lion Electric is carving out a profitable market with a record number of vehicle deliveries and a growing line-up.

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Source: Charge Forward

LG Chem and GM reach agreement for long-term supply of cathode active material

LG Chem and GM have announced a binding agreement for the supply of cathode active material (CAM), a key battery material consisting of processed nickel, lithium and other materials that represents about 40% of the cost of a battery cell.

LG Chem plans to supply more than 950,000 tons of CAM to GM from 2022 through 2030, enough for approximately 5 million EVs. The CAM will be used by Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, at its battery cell plants in Warren, Ohio; Spring Hill, Tennessee; and Lansing, Michigan.

GM and LG Chem will also explore the localization of a CAM production facility in North America by the end of 2025.

The cathode materials that LG Chem plans to supply are NCMA (nickel, cobalt, manganese and aluminum) materials, which LG Chem describes as “a product that combines LG Chem’s best material technology and is characterized by its excellent stability and output.” In the latest formulation, aluminum has been added to strengthen stability while decreasing the amount of cobalt used by 70% compared to GM’s previous generation of batteries.

“This agreement builds on GM’s commitment to create a strong, sustainable battery raw material supply chain to support our fast-growing EV production needs,” said Jeff Morrison, GM Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “LG Chem has demonstrated technical expertise, high quality and mass production capabilities of cathode active materials over the last decade. GM now has contractual commitments secured with strategic partners for all battery raw material to support our goal of 1 million units of EV capacity by the end of 2025.”

bp to invest £50 million in new UK battery R&D center

bp has unveiled plans to invest up to £50 million (around $60 million) in a new, state-of-the-art EV battery testing center and analytical laboratory in the UK.

The new facilities, which are planned to open by the end of 2024, will be located at bp’s existing global headquarters for its Castrol business in Pangbourne, Berkshire, and will support the technology, engineering and science roles housed there today. The site already undertakes research and development of fuels, lubricants and EV fluids.

Castrol will use the new facilities to work with car manufacturers and suppliers to co-engineer future battery technology and associated thermal management fluids. It will also look to develop future technologies required for the ultra-fast charging which underpins bp pulse’s growth strategy.

Castrol ON e-fluids manage temperatures within battery packs. The technologies and engineering can also be applied to other industries such as thermal management fluids for data centers.

“The growth of EV fluids is a huge opportunity, and we aim to be the market leader in this sector,” said Castrol CEO Michelle Jou. “Two thirds of the world’s major car manufacturers use Castrol ON EV fluids as a part of their factory fill, and we also supply Castrol ON EV fluids to the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team. This significant new investment will allow us to build additional strategic technologies and capabilities to further advance EV fluids for the future.”

Richard Bartlett, Senior VP, bp pulse, added: “At bp pulse we aim to provide the fastest and most reliable charging experience to our EV customers. This investment will help us co-develop battery and charger technology and digital solutions with our OEM partners.”

Next-gen Lightning Mobile DC fast charger offers rapid deployment of charging

Lightning eMotors (NYSE: ZEV) has unveiled its second-generation Lightning Mobile charger for commercial and consumer EVs. The new systems are available to order for delivery in late 2022.

The Lightning Mobile DC fast charger is designed to offer rapid deployment of charging in locations where static charging stations are not possible or that only have Level 2 power available—without the constraints associated with installing static charging stations.

Each modular unit offers between 105 and 420 kWh of battery storage capacity, and can provide up to 5 DC fast-charging outputs. The modular unit features active thermal management for optimum battery performance, as well as telematics/analytics features.

“Lightning Mobile provides a much-needed charging solution for everything from mobile disaster relief and rescue to intermittent charging points at facilities like sports stadiums, which need an EV charging and power solution in various locations,” said Lightning eMotors CEO Tim Reeser. “It can also serve as a short- or medium-term charging solution for fleets to rapidly deploy EVs while waiting for permanent infrastructure to be installed.”

“Lightning’s next-generation mobile charger can support an accelerated rate of electric commercial vehicle adoption while their depot charging is being installed, a process that, unfortunately, can take a long time,” said VP Brandon McNeil.

BMW is making room for hydrogen in next-generation Neue Klasse EV

BMW iX5 Hydrogen prototypeBMW could engineer its next-generation EV platform to accommodate hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains as well. As reported by Automotive News, BMW chairman Oliver Zipse mentioned this during the automaker’s recent half-year earnings call, saying fuel-cell vehicles will be needed to achieve BMW’s electrification goals. BMW is aiming for half of its…
Source: Hybrid and Electric Car News and Reviews

The Electrek Review: BMW i4 eDrive40 is low effort but still highly enjoyable experience

The BMW i4 eDrive40 delivered to my door by BMW looks almost indiscernible from a 4-series internal combustion engine vehicle. It even has what appear to be exhaust pipes out the back.

I imagine the pitch for this car in some Bavarian BMW corporate office was something like:

Look, Tesla is eating our lunch, let’s please just make an EV version of the 4 series to take on the Model 3. It will take almost no effort, we’ll just rip out the ICE components and throw in a battery and some electric motors. It will barely appear on the balance sheet. How bad could that be?

Yet somehow this is still a very compelling EV, and I’d argue a lot better than the 4-series it is masquerading as. It is even better than the Model 3 in a bunch of ways…

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Source: Charge Forward