The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) recently released its February 2023 insights report on the three electrical systems (motor, battery, control) of China's new energy vehicles (NEVs). The report pointed out that in February, the NEV power battery installation volume reached 18.4 GWh, a 66% growth. Among them, battery maker CATL continues to lead the market with a market share of 49%. The BYD-invested Findreams Battery came in second, with a 22% market share.
The Inflation Reduction Act is changing the way Swedish automaker Volvo Car AB plans to build electric vehicles, Chief Executive Officer Jim Rowan said in an interview this week. "The thing that it's changing is our supply base, especially on batteries and probably on minerals as well," Rowan said. "It's driving more and more of that technology into North America."
Acer ITS, a subsidiary of Acer for smart traffic solutions, expects its efforts to grow businesses overseas to bear fruit this year, increasing annual revenue by 50-100% on year.
The development of China's domestic high-voltage IGBTs faces obstacles such as the country's limited manufacturing and materials technology capabilities.
The US agreed to boost cooperation with Japan on critical mineral supply chains and to expand access to tax breaks as President Joe Biden aims to counter China's dominance of the electric vehicle battery sector.
South Korean LG Energy Solution has restarted a plan to build battery plants in Arizona, the US. The company said it will invest KRW7.2 trillion (US$ 5.5 billion) in the project to make cylindrical batteries for EVs and LFP cells for energy storage systems (ESS).
World-leading battery maker CATL aims to begin the mass output of M3P batteries this year, according to the company's chairman Zeng Yuqun. Moreover, the company has also developed large-sized cylindrical batteries containing higher energy density than existing products in the market.
Power semiconductor devices remain in high demand as automotive IC shortages have generally been mitigated. According to DIGITIMES Research analyst David Ma, insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) will likely see supply and demand reach equilibrium in the third quarter of this year. Its production capacity will also grow significantly in the coming years.
Leading Indian battery manufacturer Amara Raja Batteries has said they intend to establish a new manufacturing plant operating at a giga-scale capacity, with a primary focus on producing Li-ion cells and battery packs that are optimized for the unique conditions found in India. The move is part of the company's efforts to transition from being just a lead-acid battery maker to an energy and mobility player.
Taiwan's solid-state battery manufacturer ProLogium received a delegation from France's Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty earlier this year. The company said it has been scouting potential production sites in Europe and will make a decision in the second quarter this year.
China-based battery giant CATL has begun mass production of its Qilin battery, according to local news reports. The battery, which leverages the company's latest cell-to-pack (CTP) technology, is expected to deliver more power than 4680 cells.
Nickel, copper, and aluminum prices have fallen to their lowest points in months. Lithium carbonate, a key material for EV batteries, also plunged as supply outpaces demand.
US-based Albemarle Corporation announced on March 22 it has selected South Carolina as the site of its new lithium processing facility. The specialty chemicals manufacturing company plans to make 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide every year from multiple sources, including recycled batteries.
Infineon Technologies and Delta Electronics are expanding their long-term cooperation from industrial to automotive applications. On March 21, both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will deepen their joint innovation activities to provide more efficient and higher-density solutions for the fast-growing market of electric vehicles (EV). The agreement covers a wide range of components such as high-voltage and low-voltage discretes and modules as well as microcontrollers to be used in EV drivetrain applications such as traction inverters, DC-DC converters, and on-board chargers.
A year and a half ago, China's CATL put on a flashy event to make an announcement significant enough that Zeng Yuqun, the founder and chairman of the world's biggest battery maker, served as emcee.
