Suzuki and five other companies have established a new research project - "Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels" - to initiate research on "bioethanol fuel production to achieve a carbon neutral society". The other participants are ENEOS, Subaru, Daihatsu and two arms of the Toyota Group. The mission being to "to study ways to optimise the process of producing fuel". Focussed on the "optimised circulation of hydrogen, oxygen and CO2 during production", specific research areas include Efficient Ethanol Production Systems; By-Product Oxygen, CO2 Capture and Utilization; the Efficient Operation of the Overall System, including Fuel Utilization and research on Efficient Raw Material Crop Cultivation Methods.
Energica continues to grow its international distribution network, adding ElectricWheels in Vilnius as its importer for Lithuania. The EV market there is small but growing. The government has said it plans to increase the number of charging points from 600 to 1,200 by 2025, reaching 7,000 by 2030.
The BMW Group is stepping up its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by massively expanding its use of secondary material in closed recycling loops. For the first time in China, the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture (BBA) has established a closed loop for reuse of the raw materials nickel, lithium and cobalt from high-voltage batteries that are no longer suitable for use in electric vehicles.
Round Rock, Tx., based Volcon ePowersports has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Torrot Electric Europa SA, to distribute Torrot's line of electric off-road motorcycle products throughout Latin America, South America and the Caribbean Region ("LATAM"). Founded in Vitoria, Spain, by Don Luis Iriondo in 1948, Torrot is a former GasGas and OSSA owner and manufactures electric motorcycles focussed exclusively on young riders aged 3 to 11. Under the management of CEO John Dixon, Torrot products are produced in its Figueres, Girona factory - where Rieju brand motorcycles are also produced. Torrot brand products are separately distributed in USA by Central Powersports Distribution (CPD).
Energica Motor Company has a signed a collaboration agreement with Siemens Digital Industries Software. As part of the collaboration, Siemens will provide technical expertise and knowledge along with solutions from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio - to enable Energica's continuous growth in the field of battery technology and thermodynamic control innovation.
A Cambridge university professor has raised £50m for battery technology that could slash the time it takes to charge an electric car to less than five minutes. Nyobolt, a Cambridge start-up developing electric vehicle batteries, raised the cash from Vietnamese materials supplier Masan High-Tech Materials. It values Nyobolt at £300m. Nyobolt's battery anodes use niobium, a grey, crystalline metal, and tungsten, which charge batteries more rapidly - up to 90% capacity in just five minutes.
According to a published interview with Dr Alexander Wehr (BMW's Vice President of Customer, Brand and Sales), BMW has no intentions of debuting a hybrid bike in the foreseeable future. In 2019, BMW patents showed a flexible gas tank concept that makes way for a potential removable battery. "The hybrid solution has always been an important step, but it has always been an in-between step," admits Dr Wehr. "We can see on the car side of the business that the trend is towards fully electric. In motorcycles there is no upside to a hybrid drivetrain if you can have an electric. We will keep pursuing both internal combustion engines and electric, and they both fit very well - not only to scooters but to motorcycles."
Mike Donoughe, Polaris' Chief Technical Officer and Head of Electrification, passed away unexpectedly on July 2, 2022. "His spirit for innovation was inspiring and his leadership helped his team achieve a record-setting year. His passion, however, shined brightest when it came to showcasing the success of his team, which he had the opportunity to do at the 2022 Patent and Innovation Awards event held in June, when Polaris marked a record year for U.S. patent awards - 70 in the prior 12 months, with nine of them going to just one engineer.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com
