Epsilon Advanced Materials (EAM) and Daejoo Electronic Materials (Daejoo), have announced a joint development program to develop a silicon-graphite composite (graphite-rich) by combining Epsilon’s graphite and Daejoo’s silicon material.

The Mumbai-headquartered Epsilon Advanced Materials is a leading global manufacturer of environmentally conscious lithium-ion battery (LiB) anode and cathode materials. While South Korea-based Daejoo is one of the leading global producers of silicon anode materials for lithium-ion battery (LiB).

The partners plan to develop a product that outperforms current material technology used in LiB, delivering enhanced performance and efficiency. The companies state that Japanese trading company Nagase played a role in enabling the partnership.

The partners have set an ambitious target to develop Gen-1 Graphite rich silicon composite anode materials for LiB with capacity of 450 - 600 mAh/g, which they say will improve discharge capacity by 50 percent and lifespan of the battery by thousands of cycles.

As per the understanding, EAM will supply synthetic graphite, which will be used to create and evaluate SiOx-graphite composites in Daejoo’s laboratories. On the other hand, Daejoo will provide samples for the same purpose, allowing EAM to tailor and test SiOx-graphite composites in its own labs.

They aim to qualify the SiOx-graphite composite materials with their customers to develop innovative products. According to EAM’s current schedule, the first stage development and evaluation of the SiOx-Graphite composite material is expected to be completed by end-2024 and then explore the material qualification with cell manufacturers jointly. 

Vikram Handa, MD, Epsilon Group, said, “We are excited to announce our partnership with one of the world's leading producers of silicon anode materials to develop revolutionary battery material technology. This collaboration shows our dedication to accelerating India's and global transition to clean energy and sustainable mobility. Through continuous R&D efforts like these, we are committed to pioneering advancements in battery innovation. Upon successful completion of our rigorous in-house evaluation processes, we will be well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the mobility industry by providing high-performance, safe battery solutions.”

Dae Woon Park, MD, Daejoo Electronic Materials, said, “This partnership marks a significant step forward in our mission to innovate and enhance battery performance. Collaborating with EAM, not only strengthens our presence in the rapidly growing Indian market but also aligns with our global strategy of developing advanced materials tailored to the diverse needs of customers and the market. With EAM, we aim to develop cutting-edge battery materials that will drive sustainable progress and deliver unparalleled value to our customers and stakeholders.”

It is interesting to note that the silicon-graphite battery materials representing a significant advancement in lithium-ion battery technology. It combines the high capacity of silicon with the stability of graphite, which offers a superior alternative to traditional graphite anodes, meeting the increasing demands for higher performance, longer life, and fast charging in modern battery applications. This makes it well suited for the evolving needs of the automobile industry and other high-power demand sectors.

Pune-headquartered automotive component supplier Kinetic Group has announced that it has inaugurated its new advanced battery manufacturing facility in Ahmednagar for an investment of INR 500 million.

With this, the Kinetic Group is set to manufacture its Range-X brand of batteries for electric two- and three-wheelers. The new facility has a manufacturing capacity to produce 60,000 LFP and NMC battery packs per annum, which it also plans to supply to other OEMs. Additionally, the facility is developing prismatic cells for electric three-wheelers.

Kinetic Group shared that its Range-X batteries are powered by the latest Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) technology, features smart BMS Integration and uses an Eco-Conscious Design manufactured using non-toxic, recyclable and ethically sourced materials.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Kinetic Group, said, “Range-X is a result of pioneering work in batteries and a significant step towards India’s mobility transformation. The Ahmednagar facility represents our dedication to self-reliance, safety and sustainability in battery technology. By integrating cutting-edge automation and smart technology, the facility ensures reliable, efficient and clean energy solutions.”

Scania and DHL Group have collaborated for the development of the EREV, an electric truck with a fuel-powered generator, allowing for the transition to battery-electric road transport without the need for a comprehensive charging network. The vehicle helps to overcome challenges such as a shortage of charging ports, the high costs of providing enough charging capacity at depots, the load on the grid and high spot prices for power on calm winter days while also allowing DHL to run on 80 - 90 percent renewable electricity.

In order to assess the new e-truck's performance in daily operations before further vehicles are added to DHL's fleet, the Post & Parcel Germany division will use it to deliver packages between Berlin and Hamburg in February. In a fully electric truck that is not required for most of the transport routes, the fuel-powered generator takes the place of one of the battery packs, lowering the range of the batteries but still supplying backup power. If necessary, the car may be refuelled at any traditional petrol station, and its potential range is between 650 and 800 miles.

The EREV is a 10.5-metre-long truck with a maximum weight of 40 metric tonnes. It is propelled by an electric motor that produces 230 kW (295 kW peak). A 120-kW fuel-powered generator and a 416-kWh battery provide the energy. The truck can go up to 800 km thanks to the onboard generator, which is first fuelled by petrol and then diesel fuel or HVO. Software that limits the use of the fuel-powered generator can be installed in EREVs, lowering and restricting CO2 emissions to a predetermined amount. It can carry about 1,000 packages and has a top speed of 89 km/h. With an extra swap body, the vehicle can tow a trailer as well.

Tobias Meyer, Group CEO, DHL, said, “It is going to take some time before renewable electricity, the grid and charging infrastructure are available and robust enough to rely fully on battery-electric trucks, especially for a large-scale system like the German parcel network of DHL. Instead of waiting for this day to come, DHL and Scania are collaborating on a pragmatic solution for making logistics more sustainable and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 80 percent. This vehicle is a sensible, practical solution that can make an immediate contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in freight transport short-term. Such reductions should be proportionally reflected in the road toll pricing and EU fleet emission scheme. We see this collaboration as a successful innovation project of two companies committed to battle climate change.”

Christian Levin, CEO, Scania, said, “The future is electric, but perfect must not be the enemy of good as we are getting there. The vehicle we have developed together with DHL is an example of interim solutions that can enhance the scaling of decarbonised heavy transport before the transport system eventually becomes 100 percent electrified. An effective climate transition requires that policymakers accept such solutions while ramping up their investments in public infrastructure and other enabling conditions.”

South Korean automotive major Kia Corporation has unveiled the exterior design of its PV5 Passenger and Cargo models ahead of the second Kia EV Day, scheduled to be held in Tarragona, Spain, later this month.

The PV5 is based on Kia’s new ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ global business strategy and was first showcased as a concept at CES 2024. The EV is designed to meet broad customer base by having flexible and customisable modularity.

The Korean automaker aims to introduce PV5 in various configurations to meet the diverse customer needs in both passenger and cargo offerings.

Karim Habib, Head of Kia Global Design, said, “While the PV5 is offered in three different body styles to provide innovative solutions for a diverse range of customer needs, they all embody the same consistent design values inspired by Kia’s design philosophy, ‘Opposites United’. Each model confidently expresses a solid, bold, futuristic character and a highly capable attitude.”

American electric truck manufacturer Nikola has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The EV maker will sell its assets, which is estimated to be around USD 500 million and USD 1 billion, while its liabilities on the other hand were between USD 1 billion and USD 10 billion. As per the bankruptcy filing, the company had USD 47 million in cash on hand.

Nikola now joins the list of alternative energy-focused automotive and allied companies globally, who aimed at disrupting the market with their potential solutions, but ended up burning millions of dollars in investor money.

A statement issued by the company said, “Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic factors that have impacted our ability to operate. We have taken numerous actions in recent months to raise capital, reduce liabilities, strengthen our balance sheet and preserve cash to sustain operations. Unfortunately, these efforts were not sufficient to overcome the current challenges. Nikola’s Board of Directors has determined that Chapter 11 is the best possible path forward for the company and its stakeholders. This will enable the company to restructure its debt and implement an orderly wind down of the business, while conducting a structured process to solicit interest in the sale of all, substantially all, or a portion of its operations.”

Steve Girsky, CEO & President, Nikola, said, “With the dedication of our employees and support from our partners, Nikola has taken significant steps to move zero-emissions transportation forward, including bringing the first commercially available Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks to market in North America and developing the HYLA hydrogen refuelling highway, connecting Northern California to Southern California. Our customers have accumulated approximately 3.3 million fleet miles across both our FCEV and BEV truck platforms and our HYLA fuelling network has dispensed well over 330 metric tons of hydrogen.”

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona Nikola has a manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona.