Sweden to investigate phasing out fossil fuels and banning sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030

The Swedish government has appointed an inquiry (LINK) to offer proposals on how to implement a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars, and when fossil fuels should be phased out.

According to Swedish Public Service news, SVT (LINK) the goal is to prohibit to sell new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 onwards. The question will now be investigated, following an agreement between the government, the Social Democrates, the Center Party and the Liberals.

 

“Sweden will be the world’s first fossil-free welfare nation. The transport sector is responsible for a third of Sweden’s emissions of greenhouse gases, and thus has a significant role to play in the climate transition,” says Minister for Financial Markets and Housing Per Bolund.

The inquiry is to:

• analyse the conditions for introducing a national ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars, and how to exempt vehicles that run on renewable fuels and electric hybrid vehicles from such a ban;
• analyse how to bring about an EU-wide ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars and the phasing out of fossil fuels in the EU;
• make the necessary legislative proposals, albeit not in the area of taxation, where the inquiry may only analyse measures and conduct impact analyses; and
• propose a year by which fossil fuels should be phased out in Sweden, and the measures needed for this to happen in the most cost-effective manner possible.

General Motors announces a new ($2.3B) battery giga-factory joint-venture with LG Chem

General Motors has announced a new ($2.3B) joint-venture with LG Chem to build their own battery giga-factory, which will have 30 GWh of annual capacity, in Lordstown, Ohio. GM is going to make the packs, and LG Chem will be in charge of battery cell production. 

 

The companies claimed that they were on track to eventually be below the $100/kWh barrier, which is often cited as the point at which it becomes cheaper to produce a BEV than the equivalent internal combustion vehicle. BEVs already usually have a lower total cost of ownership. 

 

The 30GWh number will represent 30% of the expected 100GWh capacity that LG expects to have online by the end of 2020. That’s enough to build 2 million 50kWh electric vehicle battery packs.

 

 

 

“With this investment, Ohio and its highly capable workforce will play a key role in our journey toward a world with zero emissions,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Combining our manufacturing expertise with LG Chem’s leading battery-cell technology will help accelerate our pursuit of an all-electric future. We look forward to collaborating with LG Chem on future cell technologies that will continue to improve the value we deliver to our customers.”

 

Source: General Motors (LINK)

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By Abhishekkumar Thakur

Sono Motors Launches Community Funding Campaign with Target of 50 Million Euros

Sion is an announced solar powered, full electric car, currently being developed by the German start-up Sono Motors. Its battery can be charged using the electric grid or its own solar cells.

According to a recent press release (Munich, December 2, 2019) – The German mobility provider Sono Motors launched one of the biggest community funding campaigns in Europe yesterday. The company’s campaign target is to generate 50 million euros between now and December 30, 2019, with preorders from existing and new supporters. The capital will then primarily be invested in production facilities for prototypes of the first solar electric vehicle (SEV): the Sion. This broad-based public campaign follows a strategic reorganization of the company’s finances. Long-term realization of the vision, an unreserved focus on the objectives of Sono Motors as well as the production and delivery of the Sion are to be safeguarded in ways other than with conventional financing rounds. The idea is for the follow-up financing to likewise be borne by the growing Sono Motors community, complemented by long-term investors who share and support the company’s value system and vision.

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Full press release: Sono Motors (LINK)

BMW has invested SEK 650 million in Swedish Northvolt

[Translated from Swedish, LINK] According to Swedish media (DN and DI), the German car manufacturer BMW is one of several who announced this summer that they will continue to invest in Northvolt battery maker. Today's News reports that BMW has invested a total of SEK 650 million in the Swedish Battery company.

Cree and ABB Announce Silicon Carbide Partnership EV power electronics

[Press Release Cree, Inc. LINK], the global leader in silicon carbide technology, and ABB’s Power Grids business have announced a partnership to jointly expand the rollout of silicon carbide in the rapidly-growing high-power semiconductor market. The agreement incorporates the use of Cree’s Wolfspeed® silicon carbide-based semiconductors into ABB’s comprehensive product portfolio, enabling Cree to broaden its customer base while accelerating ABB’s entry into the fast-expanding EV sector.

Photo Credit : Cree Press release LINK