EV

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.

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.

Toshiba is to spin-off its SCiB rechargeable battery business to make it an independent business unit within the Japanese corporation.

The decision will see SCiB (Super Charge ion Batteries) transferred from Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation (TISS)— a wholly owned Toshiba subsidiary— from 1 April 2019.

In a carefully worded swipe at the European Chemicals Agency (ECA), Eurometaux’s Chris Herron (pictured) has warned of the need for pragmatism with regard to the battery industry— when it comes to creating a low-carbon European future with batteries at the very centre of things.

Herron, public affairs manager for Eurometeaux, which represents the non-ferrous metals industry, told the International Congress for Battery Recycling in Berlin last week, a three-part solution was needed to create a new European battery industry— a circular economy, a battery action plan and a non-toxic environment— a loaded phrase, because Herron recognised that in order to make batteries, hazardous metals are inevitably involved.