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MG Motor and Attero partner for responsible recycling of EV batteries in India

MG Motor India has partnered with urban mining firm Attero to develop ways of reusing and recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles in India.

MG Motor India—the Indian arm of the UK-based vehicle maker— has made the deal in line with India’s vision of creating an end-to-end electric vehicle ecosystem in the country.

The move aims to assist in the responsible recycling, and minimise the carbon footprint, of EV users.

Nitin Gupta, Attero’s chief executive officer, said: “We believe in sustainable approaches as we are committed to the ‘Clean India, Green India’ vision.”

Attero holds more than 30 global patents for its recycling technologies.

MG Motor

Attero

recycling

EV

batteries

India

GM to install diagnostic tools and software to recalled EVs at risk of lithium-ion battery fires

General Motors has issued a second recall on Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles due to fire risks with its lithium-ion batteries.

A number of the vehicles were built between 2017-2019 using high voltage cells produced at LG Chem’s Ochang, Korea, facility that may pose a risk of fire when charged to full, or close to full, capacity.

GM is notifying owners that it has developed a remedy to complete the previously announced global safety recall last November of 68,667 Bolt vehicles after a series of fires.

As part of the fix Bolt dealers will use GM-developed diagnostic tools to identify potential battery anomalies and replace battery module assemblies as necessary.

The fix also includes the installation of diagnostic software into the vehicles that can detect issues related to changes in battery module performance before problems develop.

When the vehicle is updated with the new software, the 90% state of charge limitation— imposed by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—will be removed so the battery is returned to its previous maximum charging capacity.

Customers of 2019 model year Chevrolet Bolt EVs were able to have this fix performed from 29 April, and customers who own 2017 and 2018 model year Bolt EVs were eligible to have the fix performed from 26 May.

GM said it would also make advanced diagnostic software available to all other Bolt EV owners in the coming months.

Additionally, they will be making this diagnostic software standard in the 2022 Bolt EV and EUV, as well as future GM electric vehicles.

EV battery swap station launched in India

Government-owned fossil fuel firm Indian Oil has partnered with transport power infrastructure company Sun Mobility to set up electric vehicle battery-swapping stations at select fuel stations in cities across India.

A state-of-the-art battery swapping station has been inaugurated at Kapoor Service Station, one of Indian Oil's leading retail outlets in Chandigarh, in northern India.

Hyundai signs MoU to use second-life EV lithium-ion batteries in ESSs

South Korea's vehicle OEM Hyundai Motor Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PV manufacturer Hanwha Q Cells to recycle old EV batteries into second-life energy storage applications.

The partnership will develop energy storage systems (ESS) using old EV batteries for the European and North American markets.

PV manufacturer Hanwha Q Cells

StoreDot creates VP of engineering role to fast track commercialisation of EV charger

Fast battery charger firm StoreDot has appointed Tzemah Kislev to the newly created role of vice president of engineering.

Kislev will lead StoreDot’s plan to bring the company’s ultra-fast charging technology for electric vehicles (EVs) to market as the Israel-based firm moves towards product commercialisation.

Tesla’s battery mastermind quits as CTO after 16 years

The mastermind behind electric vehicle and energy storage OEM Tesla’s battery technology, Jeffrey Straubel, has quit as the US company’s chief technology officer as of 24 July.

The announcement was made during a conference call with analysts that Straubel (pictured) would step down from his executive role after 16 years.

UK pledges £37M for EV charging infrastructure

The UK government has announced a funding pot of £37 million (US$46m) to transform Britain’s charge-point infrastructure, a year after launching its Road to Zero campaign to increase electric vehicle adoption.

Twelve projects are set to receive a share of the funding pot to support the creation of charging technologies including wireless, amid plans to ban the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2040.

EV

Zapinamo

battery storage system

Australian miner signs China EV lithium supply deal

Australian lithium producer Alliance Mineral Assets has signed an agreement with a Chinese producer of engines for electric vehicles (EVs) that paves the way to jointly produce and sell battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

Alliance said the non-binding memorandum of understanding with Jiangxi Special Electric Motor is to develop the terms on which the parties will cooperate in the 50-50 joint venture.

Alliance Mineral Assets

lithium hydroxide

EV

batteries

Jiangxi Special Electric Motor

Japan’s big four launch battery tech consortium for electric motorbikes

Four of the largest Japanese manufacturers are to jointly consider launching standardised replaceable battery tech for electric motorcycles in a potential game-changing move for the industry.

Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha have formed a consortium to consider launching standardised batteries and replacement systems as part of plans to boost the popularity of electric bikes.

Work starts on latest Mercedes-Benz EV battery plant

Mercedes-Benz has made a ceremonial start on building what will be the latest in its global network of electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants.

The 12,000 sq m Brühl facility near Stuttgart, Germany, at the site of the Mercedes-Benz Untertürkheim plant, will be “carbon neutral” and become one of several of the car giant’s battery factories spanning seven locations on three continents.

The plant will support lithium-ion battery production for the Daimler-owned company’s recently-launched range of EQ vehicles.