Headlines and links from all the news, including things we didn’t cover in depth here on EVmeme.com this past week. Follow the links for more on each.
Eramet Becomes First European Company To Produce Battery-Grade Lithium At Scale
Eramet inaugurated its Centenario Phase 1 lithium carbonate production plant in Argentina in partnership with Tsinshan. The plant extracts lithium from solar brine process into battery-grade lithium carbonate. Production is planned to begin in November of this year with full ramp-up achieved by mid-2025, producing 24k tons per year.
Lhyfe To Supply Hydrogen Refueling Station for Hyliko in France
Green hydrogen producer Lhyfe will be supplying a new, green hydrogen refueling station in Villabe, France. The station will have a compression capacity of 350 bars as well as a maintenance center for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Joby Makes 523-mile Hydrogen-Electric Flight
Joby Aviation has successfully flown its hydrogen-electric air taxi demonstrator 523 miles without refueling. The aircraft takes off and lands vertically.
Stellantis Offering At-Home Charging Station or Credits With BEV Purchases
New battery-electric vehicle buyers from Stellantis brands (Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, etc.) can choose between an at-home charging station or charging credits as part of their purchase.
Constellium Makes First Industrial-Scale Hydrogen Casting
Constellium has successfully completed an industrial-scale hydrogen casting at C-TEC, it’s primary research and development center. The casting was performed in a 12-ton furnace with no quality impact from hydrogen combustion on the metal cast.
Porsche Expands All-Electric Macan Model Range With 4S Model
Porsche has added a new entry-level, rear-wheel drive model Macan as the 4S. This model is lighter and more efficient than its all-wheel drive brethren, resulting in a range of 398 miles per charge.
SwRI Evaluates Cybersecurity Risks Associated With EV Fast Charging Equipment
Engineers at the Southwest Research Institute have identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities with electric vehicles using direct current fast charging systems. The high-voltage tech relies on power line communication to transmit smart grid data between vehicles and equipment. The team exploited vulnerabilities in the PLC layer, gaining access to network keys and digital addresses on both the charger and the vehicle.
DOE Has a Plan To Integrate EVs Into the Grid
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a paper titled The Future of Vehicle Grid Integration: Harnessing the Flexibility of EV Charging as part of its EVGrid Assist initiative. The document was developed with broad stakeholder input and outlines a shared vision for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration (VGI).
VW Expands ID Model Family In China With ID.UNYX
Volkswagen has been expanding its electric vehicle offerings in China, with the latest being a new model, the ID.UNYX. The SUV coupe includes over 600 km in range, a new human-machine interface, and a personalizable 3D avatar.
BMW Startup Garage Road Testing DeepDrive’s Dual Rotor e-Drive
The BMW Startup Garage has partnered with DeepDrive, a Munich-based electrification company, to road test a new electric motor. The motor utilizes dual rotor technology and should provide super-efficient and powerful drives that offer more range.
Fraunhofer Develops UltraPLAS Ultra-Thin Coating for Injection Molding and Die Casting
The new UltraPLAS coating is advanced release and easy to clean as a solution to the primary forming processes. It is applied as a gradient layer using a cold plasma process and works with steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. It could potentially save time and costs in production.
New Coating Made From Biowaste Offers Near Friction-Free Lubrication
A new “superlubricious” coating, detailed in a study by New York’s SUNY Polytechnic Institute, could reduce friction dramatically. The idea of “superlubricity” is not new, but has only been observed at the nanoscale. The SUNY researchers think they’ve figured out how to scale it up to the macroscale.
Porsche Launches New Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
As the most powerful of the Porsche Panamera models, the Turbo S E-Hybrid combines a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 engine with an electric motor for a combined system output of 771 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque.
Ford Pro Offering Complimentary EV Chargers to California Businesses
California-based businesses can get the Ford Pro Smart Charging Bundle, which includes complimentary Ford Pro Level 2 EV chargers to businesses subscribed to the Ford Pro Charging software.
Vertical Aerospace Unveils VX4 Full-Scale Prototype
Vertical Aerospace has unveiled its next-generation, full-scape VX4 prototype model. The electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) has been designed and built in the United Kingdom. More powerful than the previous prototype, the aircraft can reach speeds of up to 150 mph and will now undergo a full flight test program.
Bentley Shows New Ultra Performance Hybrid Powertrain for Flying Spur
The upcoming new Flying Spur sedan from Bentley will use the company’s new 792 PS “Ultra Performance Hybrid” powertrain. The same powertrain behind the Continental GT Speed. The V8-hybrid powertrain will make the new Flying Spur the most powerful and efficient four-door Bentley in the company’s 105-year history.
Ford Converting EV Plant to F-Series Super Duty Production
Ford is spending $3B to expand F-Series Super Duty production, including the retooling of a plant in Canada to convert electric vehicle production to Super Duty production.
SwRI Evaluates Cybersecurity Risks with EV Fast Charging Equipment
Southwest Research Institute engineers have identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities in electric vehicles and current fast charging systems. The team exploited vulnerabilities in the power line communications layer, gaining access to network keys and digital addresses in both charger and vehicle.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.