Toyota and Panasonic are exploring the development of prismatic cells and collaboration that will include solid-state batteries. The agreement builds on a joint venture the companies have had since 1996 called ' Primearth EV Energy', which makes lithium-ion (li-ion) and nickel-metal hydride batteries for other Toyota cars. Toyota controls 80.5% of the entity, with Panasonic owning the remainder.  (Source: Bloomberg)

 

Singapore has launched an electric vehicle (EV) sharing program, which will run for a decade by BlueSG (a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group). There are about 80 EVs and 32 charging stations already available for public use. BlueSG aims to roll out a fleet of 1,000 EVs and 2,000 charging points by 2020. Bollore operates similar EV sharing plans in other cities, including Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon in France, Indianapolis and Los Angeles in the United States and Torino in Italy.  The BlueSG EVs feature two-door hatchbacks that run on lithium-metal polymer batteries that drive up to 200 kilometers (124.27 miles) on a full charge.  (Source: BlueSG)

 

Ten 10 electric buses (ebuses) manufactured by BYD have started operating on the island of Okinawa. The K9 ebuses run a shuttle service to and from the Okinawa Naha Port. 

(Source: BYD)

 

Pepsi has reserved 100 Tesla electric semi trucks (etrucks) for use within its U.S. fleet of almost 10,000 big rigs. Tesla has also received an order for 50 vehicles from Sysco. The number of reservations for the etrucks is estimated at over 260 units.  (Source: Reuters and Sysco) 

 

Thyssenkrupp sees potential factory gear orders of more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) over the next decade due to an expected production boom of li-ion batteries for the EV sector. The company provides assembly lines for automated car battery production and generates about 25% of group sales from the auto industry.  (Source: Reuters)

 

Skeleton Technologies has signed a distribution agreement with Sumitomo Europe with the aim of providing energy storage solutions for the EV industry.  (Source: Skeleton Technologies)

 

WM Motor is planning to start producing an EV at a plant in Wenzhou in 2Q18.  The ' Weltmeister' is due to be priced below 300,000 yuan ($45,340) to buyers in 2H18. The automaker aims to sell 100,000 EVs a year with three models within 3-4 years of the planned 2018 launch.  (Source: Reuters)

   

	Shenzhen Ebus Fleet vs 5 Largest N.A. Fleets

The city of Shenzhen plans to have an all-electric bus fleet by the end of the year. Shenzhen's fleet of ebuses is bigger than the five largest North American bus fleets combined (. The city's vehicles represent  only a small fraction of China's total ebus sales, which reached 116,000 last year.  (Source: WRI Ross Center and Metro Magazine)

	EV vs China Ebus Battery Demand

China's demand for ebus batteries is almost equal to that of demand for all-EV batteries.

 

Ford Motor intends to assemble EVs in Mexico, not Michigan.  The company altered its plans for the Michigan plant, as it expects the market for self-driving cars for taxis and delivery fleets to grow rapidly after it rolls out its first model in 2021. Ford plans to begin assembling a small, battery-powered sport-utility vehicle in a plant in Cuautitlán, north of Mexico City, in 2020. The EV is expected to travel 300 miles before needing to recharge its battery.

(Source: NY Times)

 

TVS Motor has bought a 14.78% cent stake in Ultraviolette Automotive, a Bengaluru-based startup working on electric two-wheelers and energy infrastructure. The company has tested three prototypes but has not launched an electric two-wheeler yet.  (Source: NDTV)

 

The  Canadian Government will be issuing updates to address the "Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations" in response to China's banning the import of hazardous materials into the country at the end of this year.