Lithium News

Oil and gas major Total will invest heavily in car battery production only if it can compete on a level playing field with Chinese and Asian manufacturers, its chief executive said on Friday.

Battery maker Saft, a unit of Total, said in May that it planned to invest more than 200 million euros ($233 million) in a next-generation European battery alliance project to research, develop and build a new generation solid-state battery to compete with Asian and U.S. rivals.

Saft’s four-way alliance with Siemens, Solvay and Manz plans to begin mass production of new generation lithium-ion batteries from early 2020, but Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne is concerned that European manufacturers would be operating at a disadvantage to Asian rivals.

“I will not launch the group and Saft in operations worth several billion euros if in the end we do not have the fair competitive framework between us and others,” Pouyanne said at a conference in Paris, adding that some Chinese manufacturers benefit from state aid.

Several projects have been announced in recent months to build battery plants in Europe and last week the German government said it had set aside about 1 billion euros to support battery cell production.

“Today, if you want to provide an electric vehicle in China with a battery, it must be built in China by a Chinese manufacturer,” Pouyanne said.

“That’s a problem and for now the dialogue we’re having with European governments is to know if we can protect ourselves like that in Europe.”

France called on Thursday for European battery manufacturers and carmakers to create a consortium able to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and compete with dominant Asian producers.

Pouyanne said it was out of the question for the sector to replicate what happened in the solar panel industry, where European companies invested heavily only to close down in the face of Chinese competition.

The current sole Tesla battery supplier Panasonic will double down on the partnership and plans to move its battery operations to the U.S.

Osaka-based Panasonic has been planning to transfer the production of Tesla batteries from an in-house company for automotive and industrial systems to a new U.S.-based unit starting next April.

The move of battery production would be an opportunity to upgrade the Model S and Model X batteries. Model S and Model X 18650 battery cells are made in Japan. The Model 3 2170 cells are slightly more advanced.

The US Advanced Battery Consortium has awarded US$1.8 million to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute to advance its research regarding lithium-ion battery recycling.

The AdvancedBattery Consortium, which is a collaborative organisation of Ford Motor Company, General Motors and FCA US LLC, is funding an innovative 24-month project battery recycling project conducted by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This ‘phase 2 contract’ will enable researchers to demonstrate the ability of a new process to recycle spent lithium-ion batteries and produce new cathode materials to generate a premium nickel cathode powder.

Patented solution

The research is led by Professor Yan Wang, who developed a patented closed-loop recycling process inwhich the batteries are first shredded. After the shredded materials areseparated, the cathode powders are dissolved. By adjusting the chemistry of thesolution, new materials, in the desired ratios, can be precipitated out asprecursor and used to make cathode material for new batteries.

Other materials recovered from the shredded batteries – including steel, graphite, and plastics – can also be recycled.

A new challenge

Whilethe work was previously proven to present an effective recycling solution, researchers argue that modern-day batteries have changed. Especially the last five years, battery makers and car manufacturers have favoured higher nickel cathode formulations in hopes to limit the quantity of cobalt contained in the cathode powders.

Thischange in materials used results in batteries that can store more energy, Wang observes. And yet, he points out that producing nickel-rich cathodes is a ‘moredemanding’ process that requires additional steps not required for cobalt-richcathodes.

Therefore, Wang and his team will seek to demonstrate their ability to produce high-quality nickel-rich cathode powders from materials recovered from recycled batteries. The objective is to create cathode powders that can be incorporated into batteries with electrochemical performance of the same high quality as OEMcontrol units made with commercial powder.

The innovation of lithium batteries employed in the agricultural field raises increasing interest, so much so that Bagioni decided to improve them further by adding the charge indicator on the battery.

Only a couple of months after the patent was applied for, various companies have shown their interest, especially when it comes to asparagus harvesting machines. The patented system concerns the management of the voltage and amperage to reduce ampere consumption and make sure the equipment benefits from all the advantages of lithium batteries. These include zero maintenance, weight three times less than lead batteries, improved efficiency, duration of 10 years, lower costs.

The batteries have a broad voltage and reduce ampere consumption. They are manufactured specifically for Bagioni Technology and must be ordered in advance. This technology is very useful for those companies that have multiple machines and that spend time and money to maintain lead batteries. Lithium batteries need no maintenance or particular checks.

“Our previous machines featuring lead batteries can also be updated with lithium batteries, while the new machines can be supplied with the new kit. We patented the regulating system because it is unique in the world,” explains Aurenzo Bagioni.

“I don’t think lithium batteries have ever been used in this sector to supply machines like ours. This is because it’s not easy to overcome a few technical limitations, which we solve thanks to our patent. An asparagus harvester is in fact not exactly like a cell phone.”

Battery Power Industries (BPI) has provided the battery drive system for Manitou Southern Africa’s first electric telehandler.

Manitou’s battery driven telehandler, the first of its kind, was unveiled earlier this year at Electra Mining Africa 2018, and has already found its first customer, mining infrastructure construction firm TDS Projects Construction.

BPI designed and implemented the conversion of the telehandler from a diesel driven system to a fully electric system using lithium-ion battery technology.

A South Africa OEM specialising in the development of battery energy systems, electrical traction systems and high speed charging systems for underground mining equipment, BPI was launched in 2018.

Calvin Coetzee, BPI Managing Director, said: “We were approached by TDS Projects Construction to design an electrical system for the MHT-790E electric telescopic handler to address their need to eliminate fatigue in the mines associated with diesel particulate emissions, particularly in tight and closed off areas. This is one of many common challenges facing the mining industry that our technology is able to address.”

The transporting of fuel to refuel diesel machines is also challenging in terms of time, cost and accessibility and can be solved by the switch from conventional diesel to electric systems, according to Coetzee.

“Electric machines and equipment can solve these problems without the loss of power or production time. All of this is perfectly illustrated in the MHT-790E electric telescopic handler,” he said.

The MHT-790E electric telescopic handler has a lifting capacity of up to 9 t and a lifting height of up to 6.84 m. The machine is powered by a LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery, known to be one of the safest battery chemistry compositions for its thermal and chemical stability, according to BPI.

The additional advantages of using this type of battery include its low cost, non-toxicity, the natural abundance of iron, safety characteristics and electrochemical performance, according to Coetzee.

“In the MHT-790E electric telescopic handler all of these advantages culminate into a machine with zero emissions and far less heat being produced which protects the health and safety of those working in confined areas such as tunnels and mines.

“It also has a long battery life expectancy of 3,000 cycles and continuous battery shift time of eight hours, combined with a high speed charging time of 90 minutes or on-board charging time of eight hours, to ensure an uninterrupted work shift,” Coetzee adds.

BPI’s system addresses mining ventilation as well. The heat produced by machinery working underground puts pressure on ventilation systems resulting in additional costs for system upgrades.

“Due to the fact that it emits far less heat than a conventional diesel driven machine, the MHT-790E does not put pressure on these systems, resulting in savings on fuel needed to support ventilation as well as savings in upgrade costs,” Coetzee says.

This was achieved with the machine’s built-in active air-cooling system which is completely sealed and cools the air down to keep the battery temperature at optimum levels while the electric motor is cooled via a water cooling method. This system is part of BPI’s ultra-safe design approach to all systems.

Additional safety features built into the MHT-790E telehandler include various detection systems, ensuring that the vehicle slows down should a person, vehicle or obstacle be detected, thus reducing the possibility of accidents. The battery pack included in the MHT-790E is also 3G impact rated, protecting it in the unlikely event of an accident. An automatic fire detection and suppression system specifically designed for lithium-ion battery systems also forms part of the system allowing for the detection and protection of any electrical sparks and smoke, or short circuit overload that may occur.

“BPI’s main objective is to remove all emissions and harmful equipment from use in mining operations as part of our innovation-led approach to sustainable mining. This approach involves the application of cutting-edge technology to address mining’s major challenges,” Coetzee said.

“We firmly believe that our designs are able to outperform traditional diesel-fuelled vehicles on the market and achieve considerable energy cost savings and lower overall machine costs. The launch of the Manitou’s MHT-790E electric telehandler affords us the opportunity to have the return of investment on our electric vehicle systems field proven.”

According to Manitou, the MHT-790E electric telehandler offers a return on investment over a period of just two-to-four years.

Manitou Southern Africa states: “Savings on fuel, possible fuel rebates and reduced maintenance costs, as opposed to maintenance on a diesel powered vehicle, all contribute to the cost effectiveness of the machine. The estimated running cost of the MHT-790E is 32% of a diesel equivalent which, combined with the multi-functionality of a telescopic handler and an array of available attachments, is a truly cost effective solution for the mining and construction industries.”

BPI’s team was challenged with a turnaround time of just three months to complete the project – from conceptualization through to design, procurement, manufacturing construction, assembly and, finally, commissioning.

The first MHT-790E electric telehandler was purchased by TDS Projects Construction, who will be using it in its underground operations.

Subaru hasn’t been a major player in the world of electric vehicles (EV) since it first offered its STELLA in Japan a decade ago. This week, it announced it will unveil its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) at the LA Auto Show. CleanTechnica will be there to see it up close and report back on the details.

Some automakers definitely leave you scratching your head. Subaru is one of them. The carmaker has been lauded for its carbon-neutral factory in the US, yet in the midst of an EV revolution only has a hybrid in its portfolio. What you might not remember is that the company even beat the almighty Nissan to market with the first modern commercial EV — the STELLA, released in 2009 in Japan.

The Crosstrek Hybrid will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, where we will take a closer look at the vehicle. The company says it will use its new StarDrive technology, which rests on its 2-liter direct-injection Boxer engine coupled with two electric motors. It will also use its famous Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and it is introducing a new Lineartronic CVT.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, Much Ado About A PHEV?

To put this news into perspective, Subaru is not a car company that can afford to come up with new cars and disruptive technologies every three years. It can’t afford endless splashy and lavish press releases either. Toyota has a 20% share, which helped the company produce its BRZ and Toyota’s rebadged version.

Subaru has been slow to electrify since its initial attempt, only putting a hybrid drivetrain in its Crosstrek a few years ago after other companies had long been offering hybrids. While the hybrid Crosstrek hasn’t won over the world, the company hopes its PHEV variant will — maybe. Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International writes: “The Crosstrek Hybrid will be built on Subaru’s Global Platform, and will be available to retailers toward the end of 2018. The Los Angeles Auto Show runs November 30 to December 9, 2018.”

echnically, the new Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid uses one electric motor to get the car going and to accelerate. The platform can run in series and parallel mode, meaning the electric motor can be powered by the internal combustion engine (ICE) or as a generator for the battery pack. The other electric motor is used in hybrid and all-electric driving mode. Its lithium-ion battery is located below the cargo area, which we assume will take away from its cargo volume. The Crosstrek Hybrid makes use of regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack when braking, as is 100% logical.

The electric top speed of the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid will be limited to 65 mph (105 km/h). Its EV range will be 17 miles (27 km). The total range should be 480 miles (770 km).

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid LA Auto ShowSubaru Crosstrek Hybrid LA Auto Show

The Subaru press release adds more information. The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has an estimate 90 MPGe fuel economy, for those of you who still follow that oddity of that system.

It will come with the company’s EyeSight Driver Assist technology as standard. This includes a Pre-Collision Braking and Throttle Management; Adaptive Cruise Control; Lane Departure and Sway Warning; and Lane Keep Assist. For the first time in a Subaru vehicle, a Driver Assist Indicator has been installed at the top of the combination meter to increase the visibility of EyeSight status or other warnings. The price announced is $34,995 plus $975 for destination and delivery.

The Crosstrek Hybrid comes standard with the Linerartronic CVT, which features its X-MODE and Hill Descent Control for enhanced performance in low-friction and off-road conditions. Subaru claims the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid is the most efficient version of the versatile compact SUV ever.

We look forward to seeing up close Subaru’s first PHEV at the LA Auto Show 2018 next week. My first question will be why the company is calling a PHEV a hybrid when it already offers a regular hybrid. I may not get an answer to that question.