Mes: septiembre 2020

BOSTON, Sept. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Traction batteries and motors in electric vehicles (EVs) are very different to the powertrain components of the internal-combustion engine vehicles they replace. Their meteoric rise will lead to much greater demand for several materials markets which otherwise would see only modest growth. For example, while the combustion engine and transmission relies heavily on aluminum and steel alloys, Li-ion batteries alone also require a great deal of nickel, cobalt, aluminum, lithium, copper, insulation, thermal interface materials and much more at the cell and pack level.

The new report from IDTechEx, «Materials for Electric Vehicles 2020-2030«, identifies and analyses trends in electric vehicle battery cell- and pack-level materials, and electric traction motor materials, to determine the overall materials demand from the construction and future improvements of these components. For each, a granular breakdown is used to forecast each material required and its market value over the next 10 years.

IDTechEx forecasts over 28 materials used in the construction of electric vehicle powertrains, each with shifting market shares. A rapid increase in demand is seen across several material markets after a small drop in 2020 due to COVID-19 implications for the automotive market. Source: IDTechEx Research, «Materials for Electric Vehicles 2020-2030«.

Battery Cell Materials

Several of the raw materials used in electric vehicle components have questionable mining practices or volatile supply chains, leading OEMs to change the way they make batteries and motors. A commonly used cathode material, cobalt, has famously questionable mining practices. It is also a very expensive material with its supply and mining confined to a large majority in China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a result, OEMs are trending towards the use of higher nickel cathode chemistries such as NMC 622 and even NMC 811 in some new vehicles.

Another significant trend is the phase-out of LFP cathodes. The Chinese electric car market was, up until 2018, predominantly using LFP cathodes. This has now transitioned so that in 2019 only 3% of new cars were using LFP, however, the introduction of the Tesla Model 3 in China using LFP could upset this trend. Despite the reduction in the market share of materials like cobalt, the rapidly increasing market for electric vehicles will drive demand for cobalt and many other materials drastically higher over the next 10 years.

Battery Pack Materials

Cell energy density is increasing, but we also see that pack energy density is increasing. With manufacturers improving their battery designs, the mass of materials being used around the cells is steadily being reduced allowing for a lighter battery pack or more cells to be used for the same mass. This can be largely affected by the choice of material for the enclosure, with OEMs becoming more interested in composite utilization. The thermal management strategy also has a significant impact. This includes the choice of active or passive cooling variants, thermal interface materials, thermal runaway prevention and fire-retardant materials. With greater energy density and consumer demand for fast charging, more effective thermal management is required in a smaller and lighter package. This may lead to a decrease in many battery pack materials per vehicle, but this is likely to be overshadowed by the total market increase for EVs.

IDTechEx considered over 150 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold between 2015-2019 to show trends in energy density by thermal management strategy and by year. Full data available in the IDTechEx report, «Materials for Electric Vehicles 2020-2030«. Source: IDTechEx Research

Electric Motor Materials

Alongside the batteries, the demand for electric traction motors will increase rapidly over the next 10 years, not just from the overall vehicle sales but also with the rise of vehicles using more than one motor, specifically in premium cars and heavy-duty vehicles. Critical to materials, the majority of the EV market is using motors with permanent magnet-based rotors. These materials typically contain several rare-earths such as neodymium and dysprosium, both of which have a very geographically constrained supply chain and a volatile price history. Whilst they are in a relatively small quantity in the motor, they can make up a very significant portion of the cost of the motor. We are seeing some manufacturers like Renault using motors with no magnets, whereas Tesla has transitioned to a magnet-based motor for the potential improvements in efficiency which can increase range and hence, reduce the requirements for other critical battery materials.

Another key question in motor design comes from recyclability. Often overlooked at the development stage, when a motor/vehicle reaches end of life, is it easy to remove the expensive, critical materials used in the magnets or windings? Most current designs do not take this into account and whilst we are seeing some manufacturers switching to motors with less expensive or easier to recycle raw materials, the vast majority of the market is focussing on incremental improvements to the efficiency of current designs.

For more information on the materials used in the powertrain of electric vehicles, their demand, trends in utilization and market values, please see the new report from IDTechEx – «Materials for Electric Vehicles 2020-2030«. An extensive database of electric passenger cars, collated by IDTechEx, is further used to determine trends in the battery cell and pack energy density, energy capacity, cell geometry, cell chemistry, thermal management strategy, motor technology and power output, leading to a comprehensive set of material demands and market value forecasts.

For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/EV-Mat or for the full portfolio of Electric Vehicles research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/research/EV.

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Consultancy and Event products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information on IDTechEx Research and Consultancy, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Media Contact:
Natalie Moreton
Digital Marketing Manager
press@IDTechEx.com
+44(0)1223 812300

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SOURCE IDTechEx

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Sept. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — NeoCharge, a sustainably driven manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, has announced the launch of the first-ever UL listed 220v Smart Splitter, an entirely new product line, designed to provide fast, easy, and affordable home electric vehicle charging access.

The new line of 220v electrical Smart Splitters includes an Appliance Smart Splitter and Dual Car Smart Splitter. Both products plug directly into a home’s existing 220v outlet, preventing the need for an electrician to redo a home’s electrical system and making the conversion to level 2 charging significantly easier. The Smart Splitters work with all plug-in electric vehicles, electric vehicle chargers, and 220-volt appliances on the market. Now electric vehicle drivers can avoid the need to pay for very costly panel upgrades, permits, and rewiring, saving thousands of dollars on the electrification of their home.

«Our Smart Splitters’ take the hassle and expensive costs out of home charging installation,» said Spencer Harrison, NeoCharge’s Co-founder and CEO. «With our Smart Splitting technology, home charging access is as easy as plugging in your phone. The NeoCharge Smart Splitter is already popular amongst EV drivers across the US and Canada, with our customers saving $2,500 on average on home charging installation.»

With a plug and play solution, residential solar companies, auto manufacturers, and EV charging companies now have a solution for providing their customers with easy home Level 2 charging access. Just as important, first time home renters finally have an option to get charging access as well. 

«NeoCharge is an innovative company that is helping to overcome significant hurdles in EV adoption,» added Mike Calise, NeoCharge board of director and President of Americas at Tritium. «As residential EV adoption increases, utilities may have to upgrade their transformers to meet increased energy demand. NeoCharge’s Smart Splitters can mitigate these expensive transformer upgrades by sharing large plug loads in the home.»

Since its inception in 2018, NeoCharge has won multiple awards including Caltech’s Rocket Fund award and LA Cleantech Incubators (LACI) Innovators award. The company is actively engaged in one of the top business incubators in the world, LACI, where NeoCharge is working to create an all-inclusive green economy through teaming up with other LACI partners.

NeoCharge Contact Information:

Ryan Meffert  
Email: rmeffert@getneocharge.com 
(805) 540-1499

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SOURCE NeoCharge Corp.

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — CityLift Parking («CityLift») the leading provider of automated parking lifts in the US, has completed construction on the largest fully automated parking system in the Pacific Northwest for the Views on 5^th development in Olympia, WA. https://viewsonfifth.com/.

Developed by Brogan Companies, the Views on 5^th project required an extremely creative parking solution to meet their requirements of a landmark space near the Olympia waterfront.  Using the CityLift Tower design https://bit.ly/2Fr0f5y, CityLift constructed 144 parking spaces which are accessed via 3 entry bays.  The parking structure is surrounded on three sides by mid-level residences.  The CityLift Tower system incorporates automated tandem parking spaces for greater density. The garages are designed for public and private parking including a payment kiosk for public parking.

Many unique driver-friendly features were designed into this project. Residents use a smart phone app to schedule the retrieval of their vehicle at a specified time with GPS technology to ensure residents are in proximity when they queue their vehicle. The parking lift uses a secure license plate reader technology to determine the make, model and size of the vehicle being parked to retrieve a parking space designed for that vehicle’s dimensions.  And CityLift’s innovative flat platform design was incorporated for drivers to easily exit and enter their vehicles.

Sensors are placed throughout the system to confirm no one is in a vehicle prior to the system storing the vehicle. Remote access capabilities are built into the system to enable that CityLift provides customer service 24/7 without being on site.

A web portal enables the Property Manager to easily register and/or change parking spaces as residents move in and out and parking space needs change. 

«The tenants have been using the system since July 15^th and love it,» says Diana Kannenberg, Property Manager for Views on 5^th. «Setting up people in the system is a breeze. Tenants have commented how it really simplifies parking since the system parks the cars for them. Plus, it is unique because this is a first for the City of Olympia and surrounding areas,» says Ms. Kannenberg.

«We want to congratulate the Brogan Companies on completing View on 5^th,» says Scott Gable, CEO of CityLift. «CityLift is proud to be part of such a great project.  It was really the vision of Ken Brogan to see how automated parking could provide them with a solution that could have never been accomplished with conventional parking. While there are other automated parking lift systems around this US, this is the largest fully automated system in the Pacific Northwest.»

CityLift Parking designs, installs, and services automated parking and storage lifts that save space, reduce the cost of building parking, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of building parking structures. CityLift is headquartered in Oakland, CA with offices in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Boston. CityLift has many firsts including the first fully automated parking systems in Oakland, CA and Long Island City, NY, the tallest freestanding semi-automated Puzzle Lift in the US in Nashville, TN.  For more information please visit www.cityliftparking.com 

CONTACT: Scott Woodworth, swoodworth@cityliftparking.com

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SOURCE CityLift Parking