Canadian automotive parts supplier Magna has been awarded a contract to manufacture the INEOS Automotive off-road EV—expected to start production in Graz, Austria, in 2026. Magna started working with INEOS Automotive in 2018, providing complete vehicle engineering services ahead of the launch of the company’s first off-roader, the Grenadier. “As a global contract manufacturer with… Read more »
Author: Nikola Potrebic
Umicore invests in Blue Current to scale up solid-state battery tech development
Belgian circular materials technology company Umicore has purchased a minority stake in California-based solid-state battery manufacturer Blue Current. This investment complements the companies’ joint development agreement (JDA) to integrate Umicore’s battery materials into Blue Current’s solid-state battery technology. By providing capital—in addition to supplying battery materials under the JDA—Umicore intends to drive market adoption of… Read more »
China-based Gochin seeks to invest $10 billion in Afghanistan’s lithium mining sector
China-based Gochin has approached the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum with a proposal to invest $10 billion in Afghanistan’s lithium mining sector. The Chinese company suggested that if it is awarded the lithium mining contract, it will invest in several significant Afghan infrastructure projects, including tunnels, a power dam and highways, according to the… Read more »
Caterpillar to supply NMG with zero-emission machines and infrastructure
Canadian materials company Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) and Caterpillar have signed agreements to supply NMG’s Matawinie Mine with an integrated solution that covers a zero-emission fleet, supporting infrastructure and services. The agreements encompass machines such as hydraulic excavators, mining trucks, wheel loaders, dozers and motor graders, as well as charging and energy storage infrastructure and… Read more »
Rincon Power’s new RXC15 contactor offers 250 amps continuous up to 1,000 VDC
Electronic parts manufacturer Rincon Power is expanding its chassis-mount series of contactors by introducing the new ceramically-sealed RXC15 unit, which is capable of isolating high-voltage systems in a compact and robust package, according to the company. The RXC15 offers 250 amps of continuous duty for applications up to 1,000 VDC. The single-pole, single-throw (SPST) relay… Read more »
GM leads $50-million funding round in EnergyX to develop US lithium supply
GM’s investment arm GM Ventures is leading a $50-million Series B financing round in Energy Exploration Technologies (EnergyX) and will develop the company’s lithium extraction and refinery technology. EnergyX’s direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology can make lithium metal directly from brine, potentially in anode-ready form for EV batteries—enabling cost-effective and sustainable lithium recovery. This could… Read more »
Aquatech to provide lithium refining process for Lithium Americas’s Thacker Pass project
Water treatment company Aquatech has been awarded a contract for the lithium refining and purification process plants by Lithium Americas for the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada, the largest known lithium reserve in the US. Aquatech specializes in delivering process technology for the refining and purification of battery-grade lithium chemical products from clays, brines… Read more »
Volkswagen and Redwood Materials collaborate on US consumer battery recycling program
Volkswagen and lithium-ion battery recycler Redwood Materials have partnered to offer US consumers a convenient way to recycle rechargeable devices or lithium-ion batteries. Participating Volkswagen dealerships will offer Redwood bins for easy and safe disposal of rechargeable batteries and consumer devices, including cell phones, laptops, tablets, cordless power tools, electric toothbrushes, wireless headphones and old… Read more »
SAE releases new lithium-ion battery storage standard
Standards authority SAE International has released a new standard document, SAE J3235, which aids in mitigating risk for the storage of lithium-ion cells, traction batteries and battery systems intended for use in automotive-type propulsion systems and similar large-format applications. A need for recommendations on how to store lithium-ion batteries has been identified due to multiple… Read more »
Renault 5 EV test mules undergo endurance testing and fine-tuning
Renault is testing the first nine prototypes of the new Renault 5 EV, which it will release in 2024. Alternating between static and dynamic fine-tuning and endurance testing, the mules are being put through their paces in low-grip ice and snow conditions in Arvidsjaur (Swedish Lapland) as well as average-to-high grip conditions at the Renault… Read more »
