Category: EV Cars

India – European car 18-03-2023

India – European car

-Incredible India: that’s why it will be the new Eldorado of the European car

The growth of tensions between the United States and China and the apparent support of the Asian giant for Russia is changing the geopolitical scenarios also in the automotive sector, cooling the relations of European manufacturers with China which, among other things, with the landing of its electric cars in Europe is becoming an increasingly formidable opponent. Hence the growing interest in India which, with a population that has exceeded that of China, with half of the inhabitants under the age of 30, appears to be the fastest growing world economy. Meanwhile, according to estimates by Standard & Poor’s, India already in 2022 with 3.8 million cars has become the third global car market, overtaking Japan. India – European car
But the growth that most interests European manufacturers is that of electric vehicles, which currently represent only 1% of total car sales, but which the Indian government wants to bring to 30% by 2030. And it will do so by dint of incentives . However, European manufacturers are not looking at India only as a market, but also as a possible strategic base for producing low-cost electric cars for export abroad. Maybe even in Europe, to counter the danger of Chinese invasion. Many are thinking about it, from Stellantis, to Renault and Volkswagen. And it is in this scenario, and in the wake of the recent relaunch of negotiations between India and the EU for a global free trade agreement, that Acea, the association that brings together European car manufacturers in Brussels, is asking India to to commit to liberalization also on the automotive front, ensuring the abatement of all customs duties for all EU industrial products, both vehicles and car components.

In a note, Acea underlines that ”exports of European vehicles to India have historically represented a negligible value due to prohibitive tariff and non-tariff barriers and oppressive national taxes, kept in force for decades to promote development of the Indian automotive industry and protect the domestic market from international competition”.

On the contrary, with a domestic production of around 5 million vehicles a year, India has become “a major global exporter of automobiles and the EU has traditionally been one of its main destination markets”. India – European car

To overcome this gap, Acea is asking India to undertake to eliminate the prohibitive tariffs which effectively block the access of EU products to the Indian market. Furthermore, the EU auto industry is asking for “a threshold of 45% of non-originating materials for all vehicles and 50% for car parts and components, including engines”.
A key prerequisite for an agreement concerns vehicle approval rules, which in India must align with international regulatory standards of the sector to avoid technological barriers. Another obstacle to the liberalization of the sector is the high internal taxes. In India, all cars are subject to a tax of 28%, with the exception of electric vehicles, on which a tax of 5% is applied, and hydrogen vehicles, with a tax of 12%. There is then a further tax ranging from 1 to 22% depending on the length of the vehicle, the type of fuel, the engine capacity and the type of bodywork. India – European car

As part of an agreement with the EU, Acea is asking India to extend the 5% tax to plug-in and mild-hybrid vehicles as well and to apply the same tax to larger or more expensive vehicles other cars.
Another focal point is that India guarantees foreign investors the same treatment as domestic ones. An important clarification given that, as Acea points out, ”some European car manufacturers are evaluating the possibility of making substantial investments in electric vehicle technology in India in the coming years, in the wake of the government’s objective of reaching by 2030 an sales of electric vehicles by 30%.

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India - European car

Indorama-IVL – Chemical recycling 17-03-2023

Battery recycling – Pastics sorting 07-03-2023

Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

Crude Oil Prices Trend

Crude Oil Prices Trend Polyestertime

Crude Oil Prices Trend Polyestertime

-Mercedes begins building battery recycling factory in southern Germany

The pilot plant will have an annual capacity of 2500 tonnes and will contribute to the production of more than 50,000 battery modules for Mercedes EVs.

Mercedes-Benz laid the foundation stone for a sustainable battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, southern Germany on Friday.

The pilot plant will have an annual capacity of 2500 tonnes and will contribute to the production of more than 50,000 battery modules for new electric Mercedes vehicles, the automaker said in a statement. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

Recycled batteries will come from test vehicles and start-up batteries. Based on the pilot’s success, production volumes could be scaled up in the medium to long term.

Commissioning for the first stage of the plant — mechanical dismantling — is scheduled to begin in December this year. Subject to talks with the public sector, the pilot factory will be completed a few months later.

The Kuppenheim plant already runs a CO2-neutral operation with solar and green electricity. Its construction is being funded as part of a scientific research project by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

“We are sending an important signal of innovative strength in Baden-Württemberg and Germany for sustainable electromobility,” said Jörg Burzer, management board member of Mercedes-Benz in production and supply chain management.

Thekla Walker, minister for the environment, climate and energy in Baden-Württemberg, said she was pleased that Mercedes was promoting the topic of the circular economy.

“This is of particular importance in view of the limited availability of important raw materials that are in high demand, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel,” she said.

Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

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Battery recycling - Pastics sorting

-Solvay to sell its stake in RusVinyl

Solvay announced that it has agreed on final terms to sell its 50% stake in the RusVinyl joint

venture to its joint venture partner Sibur. Upon completion, the divestment will represent

another important milestone in the transformation of Solvay’s portfolio, and will mark the

final step in the Company’s strategy to exit its cyclical global polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

operations. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

The agreement is based on a purchase price for Solvay’s 50% stake of around €430 million.

A capital loss of around €175 million will be recognized on completion mainly reflecting the

crystallization of historic currency translation balances.

The completion of the transaction is expected to take place towards the end of the first

quarter 2023.

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Solvay to sell its stake in RusVinyl

-Colorado city plans development of pyrolysis plant, plastics sorting facility

The city of Greeley, Colorado, is discussing the development of a plastic sorting facility and pyrolysis plant.

The city of Greeley, Colorado, is in talks with an unidentified company to develop a pyrolysis plant and an associated plastics sorting facility in the city.

The proposed pyrolysis plant would be next to Andersen’s Sales & Salvage on 8th Street in Greeley, according to a memo from Benjamin Snow, Greeley’s director of Economic Health and Housing, and J.R. Salas, manager of the Greeley Urban Renewal Authority (GURA), sent Jan. 30 to GURA’s board of commissioners. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

The memo states that Andersen purchased that property from GURA in 2022 and holds the title to this property under the name ASR Energy LLC. Andersen intends to convey plastic scrap from its auto recycling operations to the adjacent site for processing, according to the report.

To make the plant economically viable, GURA reports that the unidentified company it is working with will collect household waste and sort it into plastics destined for the pyrolysis plant. The report states that the unidentified company has secured commitments from household waste haulers operating in Greeley to use their proposed local sorting facility site as the delivery point. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

Snow tells Recycling Today Media Group that Greeley City Council still needs to approve plans for the facility, and, until that happens, he and GURA wish to keep the name of the company unidentified.

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Battery recycling - Pastics sorting

-Pakistan on path of bankruptcy, could textile industry be the savior?

Bottoming foreign exchange and rising inflation

A recent public speech by Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister, in which he declared that “It (default) has already taken place. We are living in a bankrupt country,” quickly set tongues wagging. Pakistan is facing one of its worst economic crises since independence. Its public debt stands at nearly $294 billion, or 90% of gross domestic product. By March, nearly $20 billion in debt payments are due, making default almost certain. Reserves held by the central bank have recovered slightly to $3.258 billion, but that would cover only three weeks of imports. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

The poorly-developed export industry is the main cause for Pakistan’s foreign exchange shortage, while the interest rate hike becomes the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. With the rapid rise of the US interest rate, Pakistan’s huge debt falls into an infinite cycle of compound interest.

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Battery recycling - Pastics sorting

-Tesla, large objectives in the third phase of development: 20 ml cars in 2030 and engines at $ 1,000. But it does not reveal the compact

What Elon Musk revealed to the annual Investor Day – by calling him Master Plan Part 3 – has disappointed a part of the investors as it did not enter in detail by anticipating new models (including the long -awaited compact, smaller and cheaper than Model 3 ). The only anticipation is a minivan premium electric, rival of Mercedes EQV. But instead he made his eyes stretched to professionals and above all the rival houses that, if the announced plan should respect times and objectives, would find themselves in an embarrassing situation. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

In the first place Musk “snorted an industrial goal that is not exaggerated to define mega-galactic. In fact, to the fateful date of 2030 Tesla aims to invade the world markets with 20 million vehicles per year, multiplying the current production capacity for 8 which is 2.5 million divided between the United States, Germany and China. Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030
An extraordinary amount of electric vehicles, which would require an investment – detailed the CFO of Tesla Zachary Kirkhorn – equally large, $ 150 billion which includes the 28 spent to date for the factories. With 20 million Tesla sold today – it should be emphasized – Elon Musk would overwhelmingly tear the scepter of the number one manufacturer in the world, making the 10 million registrations made in 2022 by the Toyota giant. Another ‘Uppercut’ placed to opponents is the technological and industrial plan that combines the rethinking of the hardware – in this case the combination platform, battery and engine – and the relative manufacturing lines. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

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Tesla, large objectives in the third phase of development: 20 ml cars in 2030 and engines at $ 1,000. But it does not reveal the compact

-India’s oil buy from Russia surges, now more than one-third of total imports

India’s imports of crude oil from Russia soared to a record 1.6 million barrels per day in February and is now higher than combined imports from traditional suppliers Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Russia continued to be the single largest supplier of crude oil, which is converted into petrol and diesel at refineries, for a fifth straight month by supplying more than one-third of all oil India imported, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa.

Refiners continue to snap up plentiful Russian cargoes available at a discount to other grades. Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

From a market share of less than 1 per cent in India’s import basket before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russia’s share of India’s imports rose to 1.62 million barrels per day in February, taking a 35 per cent share. 

India, the world’s third-largest crude importer after China and the United States, has been snapping Russian oil that was available at a discount after some in the West shunned it as a means of punishing Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

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India's oil buy from Russia surges, now more than one-third of total imports

-Remarkable Mushroom Could Replace Plastics In Everyday Products

Researchers have found that a certain mushroom could replace plastic as a raw material for a myriad of everyday products. A Feb. 22 study published in Science Advances expounded on the capability of the Fomes fomentarius mushroom to yield a wide range of materials with different properties.  Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

  1. fomentarius becomes hoof-shaped as it ages, gaining it the nickname “hoof fungus.” The mushroom has been branded the “tinder fungus” as it is easily combustible and has been used to start fires for thousands of years.

The researchers scrutinized F. fomentarius using advanced imaging techniques and mechanical strength tests to study each layer and assess their potential uses. They found that it possesses different material properties ranging from soft and sponge-like to tough and woody.

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Remarkable Mushroom Could Replace Plastics In Everyday Products

Battery recycling – Pastics sorting

Enzymatic technologies – Indorama IVL 06-03-2023

Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030 07-03-2023

Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030

-Tesla, large objectives in the third phase of development: 20 ml cars in 2030 and engines at $ 1,000. But it does not reveal the compact

What Elon Musk revealed to the annual Investor Day – by calling him Master Plan Part 3 – has disappointed a part of the investors as it did not enter in detail by anticipating new models (including the long -awaited compact, smaller and cheaper than Model 3 ). The only anticipation is a minivan premium electric, rival of Mercedes EQV. But instead he made his eyes stretched to professionals and above all the rival houses that, if the announced plan should respect times and objectives, would find themselves in an embarrassing situation. In the first place Musk “snorted an industrial goal that is not exaggerated to define mega-galactic. In fact, to the fateful date of 2030 Tesla aims to invade the world markets with 20 million vehicles per year, multiplying the current production capacity for 8 which is 2.5 million divided between the United States, Germany and China. Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030
An extraordinary amount of electric vehicles, which would require an investment – detailed the CFO of Tesla Zachary Kirkhorn – equally large, $ 150 billion which includes the 28 spent to date for the factories. With 20 million Tesla sold today – it should be emphasized – Elon Musk would overwhelmingly tear the scepter of the number one manufacturer in the world, making the 10 million registrations made in 2022 by the Toyota giant. Another ‘Uppercut’ placed to opponents is the technological and industrial plan that combines the rethinking of the hardware – in this case the combination platform, battery and engine – and the relative manufacturing lines. One of the charts shown by Elon Musk highlights the value of the project with its disruptive simplicity: 75% of the use of silicon carbide in engines; possibility to use any type of battery chemistry; 50% reduction in CO2 imprint in production; motor cost around $ 1,000. Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030
Tesla says that the new platform will begin to be used in a new plant in Mexico. And it will work – as should be expected when efficiencies derive from a holistic approach – with the sum of minor earnings throughout the line. “If we intend to climb as we want we must rethink the production again – said the vice -president of Tesla’s engineering, Lars Moravy – We started with the Model Y when we made these huge single or printed single pieces and we eliminated hundreds of parts”. Moravy recalled that Tesla simplified the assembly of the Model Y with the structural battery where the battery is precisely the floor of the car. This made it possible to do things in parallel, completely rethinking the process and reducing the final assembly time by about 10%. Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030
This production method brings a greater work density (+44%) with operators who are less time to do nothing. And more cars produced. It is no coincidence that it has been anticipated that “new generation cars, like the one that the new platform will use, will be designed by thinking about automation”. The new production scheme presented by Tesla would seem to be doubly winning: faster and also cheaper. It should help reduce costs up to 50%, making the future $ 24,000 electrical model significantly more feasible.

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Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030

Courtesy of Tesla

Tesla 20milionEV Cars 2030

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Enzymatic technologies – Indorama IVL 06-03-2023

Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2 28-02-2023

Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

Crude Oil Prices Trend

Crude Oil Prices Trend Polyestertime

Crude Oil Prices Trend Polyestertime

-How safe are plasticisers?

Demand for renewably-sourced plasticisers on the rise

Plasticisers have a reputation. These additives, while crucial to many applications, have been a source of unrest as unsettling reports of the detrimental health effects of some plasticisers emerged. At the same time, it is fair to say that no other type of additive has been studied so intensively as plasticisers have been – mainly because of the ubiquity of their use. They are, in fact, among the most commonly used additives in the industry. Plasticisers are used in applications varying from medical and the automotive industry to fashion, building and construction. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

They offer flexibility and pliability to thermoplastic resins such as PVC; and serve to enhance processability and mouldability. Depending on the application and resin, they are used at levels that can be significantly higher than other additives – up to as much as 60% by weight. The global market for plasticisers is therefore huge: valued at $14.7 billion in 2020, it is projected to reach $22.0 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2021 to 2030.

As these additives are not bound to the polymer matrix, plasticisers are known to migrate out of plastics, into the environment, both outdoors as well as inside. For example, studies have found phthalates in indoor dust. As well, phthalates can potentially disrupt the endocrine system and have been linked to certain cancers and metabolic disorders. Their use is very strictly regulated in Europe. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

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Plasticisers - Energy storage - H2

-Avantium and Origin Partner on PEF

Avantium is partnering with Origin Materials to accelerate the mass production of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and plant-based, fully recyclable plastic, polyethylene furanoate (PEF).

The partnership will combine Avantium’s proprietary YXY process with Origin’s patented technology platform that turns carbon found in sustainable wood residues into building-block chemicals such as chloromethylfurfural (CMF), which can be used to make FDCA.

The company has already started to build a commercial-scale FDCA plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, while Origin reached mechanical completion this month on its first commercial manufacturing plant for CMF and derivatives in Sarnia, Canada, with start-up expected in the second quarter of 2023.  Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

Under their collaboration, Avantium has granted Origin a non-exclusive license to use certain parts of its YXY process – including certain patent rights – for enabling the conversion of CMF derivatives into FDCA at a 100,000 t/y plant. Avantium added that it will also develop a “bridge” between the companies’ respective technologies.

Origin paid Avantium €5 million upfront last year and will also pay a milestone fee of €7.5 million, as well as subsequent license fees upon achieving certain development milestones.

“The technologies of both companies are highly complementary and will also enable the use of non-edible, renewable feedstocks for the production of FDCA and PEF, meeting the expectations of brand owners and consumers worldwide,” said Avantium CEO Tom van Aken.

The partners have also entered into a conditional offtake agreement whereby Avantium will sell FDCA and PEF to Origin Materials from its FDCA pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, in 2023 and from the Delfzjil plant once it goes into commercial operation in 2024. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

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Avantium and Origin Partner on PEF

-Enea in the European energy storage research network

Create the first European network of research infrastructures on energy storage, to encourage the growth and diffusion of renewable sources.
This is the objective of the StoRIES project in which Enea, Cnr, Eni and 43 other partners from 17 European countries participate, including the German research center Karlsruhe Institut Fur Technologie in the role of coordinator.

The four-year project is funded with 7 million under the European Horizon 2020 program and involves research institutions, technological institutes, universities, industries, members of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and associations, including the European Storage Association of Energy (EASE).  Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

Enea will participate with eight infrastructures including a hi-tech laboratory to develop innovative materials for medium temperature thermal storage, a solar park among the largest in the world for the research and construction of molten salt concentration plants and a supercomputer in capable of performing up to 1.4 trillion mathematical operations per second (1.4 PetaFlop).

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Plasticisers - Energy storage - H2

-Stellantis – Tavares: “We need LFP batteries to produce affordable electricity”

Stellantis intends to follow the example of several competitors, using a type of battery for electric cars that is less expensive than the devices that are predominant today.

These are lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are less expensive than NMC cells (nickel, manganese and cobalt) but characterized by a lower energy storage capacity.

“We need LFPs and we will have LFPs because, in terms of costs, they guarantee the possibility of making affordable cars for the middle classes,” said Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares, during the conference call on the annual financial results.
No timing. However, the Portuguese manager did not provide more precise details on the timing of the adoption of the new technology for the electrics of the various brands of the group, nor on where the LFP batteries will be purchased. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

At the moment, the group is focusing on NMC chemistry for the three gigafactories that the Acc joint venture with Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies intends to open in Europe between 2024 and 2026.

The first, in Douvrin (France), will start producing the first prototypes already in the second half of this year to then start series production at the beginning of next.

However, LFPs are now seen as a solution to higher raw material prices as they do not contain the expensive nickel, cobalt and manganese. Not surprisingly, more and more companies are using them.

Tesla, for example, buys them from the Chinese Catl and uses them in the basic versions of the Model 3 and Y. Similar destinations have been chosen by various Chinese brands, such as Xpeng, Nio or MG.  Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

fter all, according to the analyzes of Benchmark Minerals, it is still China that dominates the production of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, with over 99.5% of supplies and 97% of manufacturing capacity planned until 2030.

Also for this, Ford has chosen the Chinese Catl to build a new plant for the production of LFP batteries in Michigan capable of refueling 400,000 vehicles a year starting from 2026.

Plasticisers - Energy storage - H2

-China’s first integrated methanol-to-hydrogen and hydrogen refueling service station now in operation

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) officially launched China’s first methanol-to-hydrogen and hydrogen refueling service station in Dalian, China. An upgrade from the previous fueling station offering oil, gas, hydrogen, electric charging services, the integrated complex can produce 1,000 kilograms of hydrogen a day, with a purity of 99.999%.  Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

Sinopec’s hydrogen production plant has the advantages of covering a small area, having a short construction time, and having a green, environmentally friendly production process. The new Service Station can save costs on hydrogen production, storage and transportation by more than 20% compared to traditional hydrogen refueling stations; it is intended to become a pilot model to lead the development of China’s hydrogen energy industry. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

China produces the most methanol in the world, accounting for 60% of the global total. The storage and transportation cost of methanol is also much lower than hydrogen, making methanol-to-hydrogen an attractive hydrogen production technology.

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China’s first integrated methanol-to-hydrogen and hydrogen refueling service station now in operation

-Commodity resin prices on the rise at the start of 2023

Commodity resin markets started 2023 with a bang, with four of those materials seeing higher prices during January and at least two more in February.

North American prices for PVC and polystyrene resins both increased in February.

PVC prices moved up an average of 1 cent per pound for the second consecutive month, according to market sources contacted by Plastics News. Availability of PVC remained somewhat tight again in February, as construction industry buyers began to make purchases ahead of spring construction. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

The January hike ended a streak of six consecutive monthly price drops for PVC, including a 6-cent decline in December. PVC prices finished 2022 down a net of 31 cents. Residential construction in the U.S. has slowed as interest rates increased.

U.S. housing starts for January came in at an annualized rate of a little less than 1.34 million. That number essentially was flat vs. December but down more than 27 percent vs. the same month in 2022.

Prices for both solid and expanded PS were up 3 cents in February after being flat in January. The February price hike was linked to price fluctuations for benzene feedstock, which is used to make styrene monomer.

Market prices for benzene were up 47 cents in February to $3.58 per gallon, an increase of a little more than 15 percent. Prices for the material had been up 4 cents in January, but that amount wasn’t enough to lift PS prices. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

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Commodity resin prices on the rise at the start of 2023

-Volkswagen is going to ramp up recycled materials in its EVs

Volkswagen is going to put recycled materials in the rest of the ID. series that have already been mass-produced in the ID. Buzz.

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s interior is made up of a sizable amount of recycled materials, and those materials will be gradually introduced in the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and ID.7.

For example, many of the Buzz’s interior components are made of recycled ocean plastic, or 63 (yes, VW is precise) 500 ml PET bottles. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

The Buzz’s seat cover’s outer material is made of Seaqual yarn, which is made of 10% collected marine debris and 90% recycled PES yarn – a durable synthetic yarn made from polyester. VW says Seaqual yarn saves 32% of emissions compared with conventional surface materials.

VW says that seat covers are made of ArtVelours Eco – which is made from a blend of natural and recycled materials, including recycled polyester, natural latex, and jute; the recycling share is 71%.

The Buzz’s headliner and floor covering are made from 100% recycled polyester, and the carpet’s insulating layer also contains recycled plastics. Other components, such as the underbody cladding and the wheel housing liners, also contain recycled plastic.

The Buzz’s doors, instrument panel, and steering wheel clip no longer feature chrome because it’s bad for the environment. Plasticisers – Energy storage – H2

Chrome production uses toxic chemicals that can be harmful to human health and the environment, and when chrome plating is applied, it requires the use of acids, solvents, and other hazardous chemicals. VW replaced the Buzz’s chrome with a liquid paint with a chrome look that has a bio-based binder.

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Volkswagen is going to ramp up recycled materials in its EVs

Recycled batteries- Carbon cycle 27-02-2023

Volkswagen Group – Electric cars 24- 02-2023

Volkswagen Group – Electric cars

-Volkswagen Group Technology develops complete drive system for electric cars

  • In addition to the battery and electric motor, in future the technology powerhouse of the Group will also develop pulse inverters and thermal management systems
  • The development of a complete drive offers efficiency and cost advantages, up to 20 percent more efficiency through the optimal combination of individual components
  • Group Technology bundles Group-wide activities in the areas of batteries, charging and electronic components  Volkswagen Group – Electric cars
  • Thomas Schmall: “Our goal is to achieve technological leadership, also in electric mobility. That’s why here, too, we rely on our internal competencies.”

At Tech Day 2023, Volkswagen Group Technology provided an outlook of upcoming electric car innovations in the areas of batteries, charging and electronic components. The focus was on the electric drive system of the future. For this purpose, Volkswagen is taking care of all the central components itself and, in addition to batteries and electric motors, is now developing pulse inverters and thermal management systems internally. The Volkswagen drive system coming from one source offers significant efficiency and cost advantages: Up to 20 percent more efficiency is possible through the optimal combination of individual components alone. Volkswagen Group – Electric cars

Oliver Blume, Chair of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group, said: “The Volkswagen Group and its brands stand for first-class products and technologies. Thanks to the size and breadth of the Group, as well as our in-house expertise, we can leverage enormous economies of scale. This benefits our customers and makes our vehicles even better.”

Thomas Schmall, member of the Volkswagen Group Board of Management with responsibility for Technology, said: “Our goal is to achieve technological leadership, also in electric mobility. That’s why here, too, we rely on our internal competencies and, after battery cells and electric motors, we are taking over the development of pulse inverters and thermal management systems. In future, this will make the Volkswagen Group one of the only car manufacturers in the world that’s able to offer a holistically optimised complete system.”  Volkswagen Group – Electric cars

Daniela Cavallo, Chairwoman of the General Works Council of the Volkswagen Group, added: “The know-how and innovative strength of the Volkswagen colleagues are unique worldwide. Promoting and exploiting this strength again and again helps us not only in competition, but also in the transformation of the company.”

“Designed by Volkswagen”: Pulse inverters and thermal management systems

The pulse inverter is the brain of the electric drive train and is largely responsible for efficiency and performance. For the first pulse inverter to be “designed by Volkswagen”, the developers of these core components redesigned the hardware and software from the ground up. Thanks to the modular toolkit principle, this can be implemented in everything from entry-level engines to sports cars with an output of over 500 kW and more in future. The technology is currently being developed for series production maturity and can already be used with the next MEB generation. Volkswagen Group – Electric cars

When it comes to thermal management systems, Volkswagen is working on entirely new solutions. While today a large number of individual modules and long hose connections are used, in future these will be replaced with an extremely compact, integrated thermal module. This will control the entire air conditioning, including for the high-voltage battery, and thus will have a major impact on the vehicle’s range and fast-charging capability. The new all-in-one module is also significantly lighter, more robust and more efficient than current systems.

In addition to efficiency, the main focus of the development of all central electric drive components is scalability – because high economies of scale reduce costs.

Group Technology: The technology powerhouse of the Group

Volkswagen Group Technology bundles Group-wide activities in the areas of batteries, charging and electric components and supports the and supports the brands as a group-wide technology supplier. Volkswagen Group – Electric cars

The subsidiaries PowerCo (batteries) and Elli (charging and energy) are also involved here. Among other things, the high-tech portfolio comprises the unified cell, which will be utilised in all Volkswagen Group

vehicles as of 2025 and will set a new benchmark in terms of battery technology. The division also includes the Platform Business, which covers cooperation with external partners like Ford and Mahindra. Around the world, Volkswagen Group Technology employs around 70,000 people. Volkswagen Group – Electric cars

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Volkswagen Group - Electric cars

rPET bottle – Green hydrogen 23- 02-2023

Stellantis electric cars 23-02-2023

Stellantis electric cars

-Stellantis: electric cars will have an almost double life. A great cost reduction

Electric car, master race. Green mobility wants to burst onto the scene by acclaim. Not only because it respects the environment and has no emissions, it is silent and uses only clean energy from the sun and wind. Gradually, the exclusively battery-powered cars have been appreciated for their pluses which are numerous compared to the old thermal cousins. Power, acceleration, dynamic values, habitability and available space. But management costs, reliability and a very infrequent relationship with assistance also stand out. As time passes, other positive characteristics emerge, capable of inviting manufacturers to exploit them to the full and consumers to reap the benefits above all for their wallets. Stellantis electric cars

A recent novelty, which has surprised even the technological producers of accumulators and the car manufacturers themselves, is the life of the batteries in real use. Virtual tests and laboratory tests had suggested a shorter useful life.
But it’s not just the expensive accumulator that stands the test of time. The mechanical simplification and the almost total absence of parts to be lubricated with polluting oils lengthens the existence of the entire vehicle which, already now, could have a lower cost per kilometer for the entire cycle from production to recycling. A virtuous path that feeds the nascent “circular economy”. Stellantis electric cars

Peugeot took pen and paper and did the math again. An electric car, if it takes full advantage of the advantages it has available, can last almost twice as long as a traditional car: the useful life rises from 15 years for internal combustion vehicles to 20-25 years. Consequently, it is necessary to adjust everything else and, periodically, renew those components that are not linked to the electrical soul.
In Peugeot, everything is based on the Stellantis STLA platforms, then everything must be recycled and recyclable up to providing some parts for complete renewal during the use of the vehicle. For example, the padding and upholstery can easily be changed when a new owner arrives and the software always remains “fresh” thanks to the OTA (Over the Air, like the smartphone) update. Stellantis electric cars

The French showed these new capabilities in great detail on the Inception concept exhibited at the recent CES in Las Vegas. The avant-garde racing car anticipates gems that will be on even more compact production cars from the Leone from 2025. There will be the “Steer-by-Wire” and the “Hypersquare” control in which the digital electric controls replace the mechanical connections.
The “BEV-by-design” electric native platforms will also introduce technology modules powered by artificial intelligence: STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit and STLA Autodrive. The most “human” part of the prototype sees the STLA Large platform which allows the creation of low (134 cm) and long (5 meter) vehicles. Stellantis electric cars

The 800-volt technology and the 100 kWh battery allow for rapid recharging and a range of 800 km. Consumption is contained (12.5 kWh per 100 km), the two motors on the axles deliver 500 kW (680 horsepower) which burn the 0-100 in less than 3 seconds.

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Stellantis electric cars

Chemical recycling – PET-nonwovens 22- 02-2023

Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm 17-02-2023

Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

Crude Oil Prices Trend

Crude Oil Prices Trend

Crude Oil Prices Trend

-IVL showcasing latest eco-fibres at Filtech

Indorama Ventures’ Hygiene Group will present its sustainable suite of recycled and biodegradable polymer solutions for filter media applications, including its latest offering Deja CO2 Neutral Fibers, at this week’s Filtech exhibition.

The company’s fully certified carbon neutral brand Deja CO2 Neutral is the latest addition to its innovative Deja range, a carbon neutral solution for PP staple fibres.

Deja CO2 Neutral Fibers come with an independently verified carbon neutral certification of compliance to demonstrate its sustainable production throughout its supply chain. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

The final carbon footprint is reduced to zero through the use of clean energy, recycled water, low impact transport network and by using carbon credit offsetting for unavoidable emissions.

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Eco-fibres - Electric-car alarm

-Alterra’s technology selected to build ambitious 192,000 t/pa chemical recycling plant

Freepoint obtains licence for its projected Gulf Coast recycling facility

In a statement released 14 Feb., Alterra Energy announced that it has entered into its first licensing agreement in North America. The agreement – with a subsidiary of Freepoint Eco-Systems Holdings LLC  – provides for the construction of a 192,000 tonnes per annum chemical recycling facility for waste plastics in the Gulf Coast region. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

Alterra has developed a liquefaction technology that, unlike many of its competitors, is a continuous, rather than a batch or semi-batch process. The company currently operates an industrial-scale, fully continuous 20,000 tonnes per annum recycling facility in Akron, Ohio, where it processes, for the most part, post-consumer mixed plastic otherwise destined for landfills or incineration.

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Alterra’s technology selected to build ambitious 192,000 t/pa chemical recycling plant

-Ford taps Michigan for new LFP battery plant; new battery chemistry offers customers value, durability, fast charging, creates 2,500 more new american jobs

Ford is the first automaker to commit to build both nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in the U.S., helping America’s No. 2 EV company in 2022 bring EVs to more customers and diversify its U.S. supply chain

Ford is investing $3.5 billion to build an LFP battery plant in Marshall, Michigan; this wholly owned subsidiary is part of Ford’s $50 billion+ global push to lead the EV revolution.  Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

Initial production slated for 2026 with 2,500 employees to start

Adding LFP batteries to Ford’s EV lineup this year – starting with Mustang Mach-E – and backing a U.S. LFP battery plant are key parts of the company’s Ford+ plan; this helps Ford scale more quickly, making EVs more accessible and affordable for customers

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Eco-fibres - Electric-car alarm

-New recycling record: 1.3 billion bottles processed

Despite numerous challenges, PET to PET Recycling Österreich GmbH in Müllendorf has set a new recycling record for 2022: 32,900 t of PET material from around 1.3 billion bottles were successfully kept in the bottle-to-bottle cycle. This corresponds to an increase in processing volume of 20% compared to the previous year (2021: 27,300 t). In 2023, the company will continue to focus on renewable energy and install a 6,400 square meter PV system with an output of 1.2 MWp on the roofing of its storage areas. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

The year 2022 was also marked by economic challenges for the recycling industry in Austria. As the restrictions and burdens of the coronavirus pandemic gradually eased over the course of the year, other dramatic developments occurred: Russia’s war against Ukraine resulted in extreme energy price developments with unprecedented price swings – coupled with uncertainty about whether enough gas would be available for the winter months. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

Waves of inflation, a lack of availability of raw materials and disrupted supply chains have placed enormous demands on industry for months.

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Eco-fibres - Electric-car alarm

-Electric car alarm: repairing them costs up to 50% more than a petrol model. Here because

ROME – Not only the purchase price, but also the repair price of an electric car in the event of an accident is higher than that of a combustion car. And that leads to a higher insurance premium.  Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

But what are the evaluation criteria that affect the different cost of repairing electric vehicle claims? And what is their impact on claims and insurance premiums? To analyze the problem, the UK government has funded a study, which will last a few months, led by the research institute Thatcham Research, which will draw on real-world claims data through collaboration with LV= General Insurance, one of the largest insurers of electric cars in the UK which is part of the Allianz Group.

In the first phase, the project will focus on identifying what differentiates the claims workflow for electric vehicles, revealing potential weaknesses. According to a study conducted by CCC Intelligent Solutions, the average repair cost for a small electric city car, in the event of a frontal impact, is 26.6% higher than for an equivalent combustion car. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

And the differential increases to 53.3% when a luxury SUV is involved. Above all, the higher costs of spare parts have an impact, linked to the greater use in electric vehicles of more expensive lightweight materials, such as aluminum and carbon fiber, as well as to their particular design.

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Electric car alarm: repairing them costs up to 50% more than a petrol model. Here because

-Microplastic pollution, the new disturbing discovery

The damage caused to the environment by human polluting activities could be irreparable.  Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

With an article published in “Environmental Science and Technology”, a research team from the University of Barcelona, Spain, claims that the microplastics that have settled on the seabed over the last 50 years have remained intact.

Scientists have found confirmation of their hypotheses after carrying out some surveys in the Balearic Sea, near the Ebro delta, one of the longest rivers in the Iberian Peninsula.

Microplastic pollution, the new disturbing discovery

-Elon Musk: “Times have changed”. Tesla earns more than GM and Ford

Tesla Inc.  has emerged as a force to reckon with in the automotive industry, thanks to execution and external factors that support faster adoption of electric vehicles. An analyst recently shared data that highlighted how the Elon Musk-led company has risen in ranks over the years. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

What Happened: Tesla has increased its sales from a mere $0.4 billion 10 years ago to $81 billion currently, said Charlie Bilello, chief market strategist at CPI Wealth noted. In comparison, legacy automakers General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) grew topline from $152 billion and $134 billion, respectively, 10 years ago to $157 billion and $158 billion, he noted.

The numbers suggest while Tesla grew revenue by 20,150% over the past decade, GM and Fed saw revenue growth of 3.3% and 17.9%, respectively. The net income comparison highlights Tesla’s supremacy even more. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

GM’s net income increased from $6.2 billion to $10 billion over 10 years. Over the same time frame, Ford’s bottom line turned from a profit of $5.6 billion to a loss of $2 billion.

Elon Musk: “Times have changed”. Tesla earns more than GM and Ford

Tesla has increased its net profit from a negative $0.4 billion to $13 billion. It now makes more money than GM and Ford combined.

The comparison caught the attention of none other than Musk and he mused, “How times have changed.”

Why It’s Important: The lead Tesla has over its legacy counterparts which are taking baby steps toward electrification is only going to grow, provided it can continue to execute. Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

The company has had a head start and is way ahead of the rest of the pack, which is trying to make meaningful inroads into the industry. Tesla also has other subsidiary businesses, including energy and insurance, and it has the most extensive charging infrastructure and network which is an added advantage for vehicle sales.

From the profit perspective, the scale of operation and geographically well-diversified production give the Austin, Texas-based company an edge.

Ford and GM, therefore, have a lot of catchups to do if they have to pose a potent threat to Tesla.

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Elon Musk: “Times have changed”. Tesla earns more than GM and Ford

Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm

PET washing – Hydrogen – Cars 16-02-2023

Emissions EV CAR loser 16-02-2023

Emissions EV CAR loser

-Emissions, costs and materials: why electric is a loser

Stopping internal combustion vehicles is useless for the climate, harmful for the environment, socially impracticable and destructive for industry and the economy. The good news is that there won’t be, because in the end, consumers will decide. But now government and industry decide whether to follow science or Greta.
Useless. Emissions EV CAR loser

The climate is changing and the most accredited scientific hypothesis claims that it depends on man-made greenhouse gases, the concentration of which in the atmosphere increased from 280 parts-per-million in 1850 to 370 in 2000, the year of China’s entry into the WTO and its industrial take-off, up to the current 420. Global CO2 is 37 billion tonnes (gt).

Now, the European Parliament, the same one that decided to stop, says that “the transport sector is responsible for 30% of total CO2 emissions in Europe, of which 72% comes from road transport alone”. Emissions EV CAR loser

Cars “are among the most polluting vehicles, considering that they generate 60.7% of the total CO2 emissions from transport”.

Very high percentages. But in quantity?
The European Environment Agency, a body of the EU, reports that in 2019 European transport emitted 0.835 gt of CO2, of which 72% on the road, i.e. 0.601 gt, of which 61% cars, i.e. 0.367 gt, equal to 1 % (one-per-cent) of the total. By way of comparison, the International Energy Agency reports that in the two-year period 2020-21, while the rest of the world reduced CO2 emissions by 0.570 gt, China alone increased them by 0.750 gt. Emissions EV CAR loser

This means that if all cars circulating in Europe were to magically switch to zero emissions, the benefit for the climate would not only be minimal, but would be canceled by the Dragon in just one year. Corollary: what are we talking about?
Harmful. An electric car has zero exhaust emissions, not in the complete cycle: to compensate for the CO2 linked to the production of the battery, 80 to 150,000 km are needed with zero emissions. Emissions EV CAR loser

Then comes the issue of recycling or disposal of batteries. Then there is the generation of electricity. In the current European mix, just over half comes from nuclear power and renewables: zero emissions do not exist. To this, we must add the damages associated with the extraction and processing of the raw materials needed to produce batteries, solar panels and wind turbines.

Environmental but also social damage, due to the exploitation of territories and manpower in Africa and Asia. Emissions EV CAR loser
Impractical. Sales of electric cars have increased in recent years and account for around 15/16% in the three main markets, Germany, the UK and France, while in Italy and Spain they do not reach 4% and have also decreased in the last year. According to some, we are behind on the road to progress. In terms of cold economic analysis, the numbers say something else, that there is a different adoption of this technology, for various factors: availability of private parking space, per capita income, effectiveness of incentives, gullibility that it will be so.

But above all they say that the adoption curve tends to a limit, a ceiling, and that this ceiling is far from 100%. Why? There are various reasons, but the basic one is that the use of electric cars requires a planning of travel, depending on the time and the difficulty of recharging, which is not compatible with today’s lifestyles, made up of last minute decisions and of flexibility.
Industrial and economic suicide. The European automotive industry has engine and gearbox technology that is difficult to match in the short term by Chinese competitors. Giving up this competitive advantage means opening up the market to Dragon manufacturers. Emissions EV CAR loser

According to a recent survey conducted by the Fleet&Mobility Study Center for AgitaLab, a think tank, 38% of sector operators predict that they will be able to conquer a share of the European market between 20 and 30% in less than twenty years, while for 23 % will exceed 30%.

For reference, it took Japanese and Korean manufacturers thirty years to get to the current 21% of the market. Emissions EV CAR loser

Also, 95% believe they will be products made in China. Add to this the dependence on raw materials and batteries.

In the light of the facts, the ideological obstinacy of Parliament and the Commission seems truly incomprehensible. But now the government and industry can no longer hesitate.

They need to take a clear and definitive position: to support this economic and industrial suicide or to affirm that the heat engine will not be discontinued and to work so that the next bodies resulting from next year’s elections put things right.

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Emissions EV CAR loser

Emissions EV CAR loser

Waste-tire recycling – EU car 15-02-2023

Cars become virtual power 16-02-2023

Cars become virtual power

-Cars become virtual power plants (and make money)

By storing energy at off-peak hours and selling it at peak times, battery-powered cars create the grid of the future Cars become virtual power
Does charging an electric car cost a lot? Perhaps. It depends on many factors. But what if we told you that instead of spending money when you leave your car plugged in, is there a way to make money? Just keep in mind a few words: virtual powerhouses.
Unlike physical ones, which immediately catch the eye for reinforced concrete buildings, chimneys and transmission lines, virtual power plants can be defined as a series of points where distant but connected energy sources are located. And among these there are also electric vehicles.  Cars become virtual power
How do they work
The idea behind it is that cars recharge their batteries during off-peak hours, when electricity costs are lowest, and store energy to be fed back into the grid during peak demand, selling it at higher prices than those of ‘purchase.
In this way, “they can act as a large-scale power plant and provide the same services known so far,” explains Mark Dyson, managing director of a zero-emissions energy program launched by RMI, a non-profit organization committed to the ecological transition ( source: Automotive News). Cars become virtual power
Projects and prospects
The association just announced a virtual power plant program called the “Virtual Power Plant Partnership,” in which Ford and General Motors are also participating. The goal is to educate motorists, politicians and companies on the benefits of this technological possibility.
“Raising awareness is of paramount importance,” says Rob Threlkeld, director of global energy strategy at GM. The coalition will then share knowledge and best practices to build a more resilient network. However, beyond the good intentions, something else will also be needed to make everything mature:  Cars become virtual power
“As soon as we have intelligent charging infrastructures that allow us to better manage energy supplies, then we will benefit from virtual power plants, because they reinforce the promise of electric vehicles,” concludes by Nathan Niese, global head of EV at Boston Consulting Group  Cars become virtual power

Cars become virtual power

Unlocking the true value of the EV battery through price

Unlocking the true value of the EV battery through price

Waste-tire recycling – EU car 15-02-2023