Ford-VW Partnership Confirms Ranger-Based Amarok Truck, More Electric Vehicles

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After more than 20 months of gestation, the Ford-Volkswagen partnership is now official. Volkswagen will lend Ford its MEB electric vehicle and Caddy van architectures in exchange for a foot in the door with automated drive pioneer Argo AI, a one-ton commercial van platform, and the chassis for the Ranger, which it’ll convert into the next generation of Amarok pickup truck.

Arriving in 2022, the new Volkswagen Amarok will ride on a Ranger architecture that’s expected to undergo a redesign for 2022. This platform will reportedly accommodate a variety of powertrains, including pure gasoline, diesel, and even high-performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drive, recently rumored to produce a generous 362 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. Whether these trucks’ powertrains will be supplied by Ford, Volkswagen, or a mixture of both is not yet certain, nor is which drivetrains will be available in the United States.

What is certain is that the Amarok’s odds of landing on American shores aren’t particularly high. A Volkswagen spokesperson told The Drive that there are “no plans” to sell the Amarok here, contrasting a 2018 statement from recently displaced VW brand CEO Herbert Diess that suggested the Amarok could be sold stateside. Ford and Volkswagen affirmed that their partnership will leave them free to compete with one another in the marketplace, so given the midsize pickup market’s small size relative to that of the full-size pickup, this town may just not be big enough for the two of them.

 

Nikola Signs Purchase Order with Nel

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Nikola Corp., a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen fueling station infrastructure, has signed a purchase order with Nel ASA for 85 MW alkaline electrolyzers supporting five of the world’s first 8 ton per day hydrogen fueling stations. Together, these electrolyzers may produce over 40,000 kgs of hydrogen each day.

The purchase order has a value in excess of $30 million, and the electrolyzers will primarily be delivered from the new electrolyzer mega-factory currently under development in Norway. This purchase order will support Nikola’s five initial stations with 8 ton per day hydrogen production capacity. The remaining equipment will be covered by a separate purchase order that is expected to be finalized within the coming months.

“We are building the largest hydrogen network in the world and I couldn’t be prouder to have Nel part of it,” says Trevor Milton, Nikola Corp.’s founder and executive chairman.

Toyota Establishes a New Hydrogen Fuel Cell Joint Venture with Chinese Auto Firms

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Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp is doubling down on its commitment to the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The automakers announced a new venture on Friday with Chinese automakers FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, Beijing Automotive, GAC and hydrogen fuel cell developer Beijing SinoHytec.

The joint venture is named United Fuel Cell System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (FCRD). FCRD’s primary business will be the development of fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles in China.

Each company, including Toyota Motor Corporation and Beijing SinoHytec Co., Ltd. will invest in the joint venture. The joint venue will focus on the development of low-cost, competitive fuel cell systems and related components required for the widespread adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) for commercial applications.

The total investment from Toyota will be about 5.02 billion yen ($46 million). The company said in a statement that it will hold a 65% share of the new joint venture.

“FCRD is a company that holds tremendous significance for Toyota’s global fuel cell strategies. There is no other automobile market with such a sense of speed, and I am extremely confident that we will gain partners we can work with toward the shared target of expanding the use of FCEVs in China,” said Shigeki Terashi, Operating Officer of Toyota.

U.S. Gain Secures RNG Offtake Agreement with Holsum Dairies

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Appleton, Wisconsin, June 1, 2020– U.S. Gain proudly announces the completion of a renewable natural gas (RNG) offtake agreement with Holsum Dairies located in Hilbert, Wisconsin. RNG produced will be taken to U.S. Gain’s fleet customers in California, displacing nearly 900,000 gallons of gasoline.

Holsum Dairies consist of two separate farms (Elm Dairy and Irish Dairy) with digesters that breakdown animal waste to create methane that later is converted to RNG. Raw digester gas from Irish Dairy is transported via pipeline to a central conditioning plant located at Elm Dairy, where it is stripped of impurities to produce RNG. The RNG is then injected directly into the natural gas pipeline through an interconnect installed by Holsum Dairies. In addition to RNG, the anaerobic digestion process also creates organic nutrients and bedding material for animals that can be used by the farm or sold.

“RNG provides a beneficial diversification strategy for our business,” said Holsum Dairies owner Dr. Bob Nagel. “Not only can we profit from continued utilization of our digester, but also the valuable byproducts as part of the process. We encourage other farms to explore the impact RNG production can have on their operations.”

EPA approves RFS fuel pathway for biomass gasification project

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The U.S. EPA in May approved a fuel pathway under the Renewable Fuel Standard for a biomass gasification plant under development in McFarland, California, that will produce renewable natural gas (RNG) for sale into the transportation fuel market.

The project, known as the San Joaquin Renewables plant, is currently majority owned by Frontline BioEnergy, a company that has been active in the bioenergy space for approximately 15 years.

Frontline BioEnergy first started up a commercial-scale biomass gasification plant at Benson, Minnesota-based Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co. LLPP’s corn ethanol plant in 2008. That system converted up to 110 tons per day of wood residues into syngas that was burned in place of natural gas at the biorefinery.

 

Lightning Systems Receives bp Reaccreditation

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Lightning Systems, a developer of zero-emission powertrains, has received reaccreditation under bp’s Advancing Low Carbon (ALC) program.

The ALC program was created by bp to encourage bp and its partners to identify lower carbon opportunities. Activities within the program include everything from low carbon products to global research initiatives to partnerships with startups developing new technologies.

“bp’s Advancing Low Carbon program encourages every part of bp to pursue lower carbon opportunities, which includes investments in low carbon technologies,” says Heath Morrison, ventures principal at bp and a board director at Lightning Systems.

GreenPower Launches the EV Star CC Model

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GreenPower Motor Co. Inc., a designer, manufacturer and distributor of electric-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, has launched its new EV Star CC Model.

The EV Star CC is a purpose-built, battery-electric, multi-utility cab and chassis that can be used by cargo and delivery companies who wish to use their body design while transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet. The 25-foot chassis has a payload of up to 6,000 lbs and can be configured with a range of options including a lift gate, wireless charging and autonomous capabilities. This approach allows operators to buy a “future proof” blank canvas with maximum flexibility and configuration options.

“This is an exciting product launch for GreenPower and the potential is unparalleled. While this initiative has been in place for more than a year, we certainly find ourselves in the right spot at the right time as we roll out our new EV Star CC,” says Brendan Riley, president of GreenPower.

EIA: CO2 Emissions Will Decline by 11 Percent in 2020

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The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has forecasted that U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will decline by 11% in 2020.

If realized, this decline would represent the largest decline in not only percentage but also absolute terms in EIA’s energy-related CO2 series that dates back to 1949. In EIA’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions are forecast to fall more than the 5% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.

Much of the drop in CO2 emissions in EIA’s updated forecast arises from estimates of the travel restrictions and general economic slowdown associated with the efforts to mitigate the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, even before the effects of COVID-19 became apparent in mid-March, EIA had expected a decline in 2020 energy-related emissions, generally consistent with the trend of lower U.S. CO2 emissions since their peak in 2007.

Electric Vehicle Sales Are Surging. Can Mineral Producers Meet Future Demand?

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Elon Musk isn’t known for playing by the rules.

The 48-year-old tech billionaire got himself into hot water with regulators a couple of years ago by tweeting that he was “considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” (At its 52-week high in February, the company’s stock traded at more than double that amount.) Then there was the time he smoked weed live on Joe Rogan’s show, a decision that the administrator of NASA himself called “not appropriate.”

Oh, and you may have heard that he named his and Canadian singer Grimes’ newborn son X Æ A-12, though California regulations may have something to say about it.

Even more recently, Musk—a vocal critic of coronavirus lockdown measures—disobeyed a California county’s laws by reopening the Tesla assembly plant. “If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me,” he tweeted. (Since then, county officials have capitulated and will now allow the plant to officially reopen next week.)

 

Hyundai Motor to Jointly Establish Hydrogen Refueling Station at IIAC

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Hyundai Motor Co. has partnered with Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), Air Liquide Korea and Hydrogen Energy Network (HyNet) to accelerate Incheon Airport’s efforts to become a low-carbon eco-friendly airport. The four parties have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a hydrogen refueling station for fuel cell electric buses at Incheon Airport’s Terminal 2 by March 2021.

Hyundai will support the construction cost of the hydrogen refueling station while providing fuel cell electric buses, as well as their maintenance and service. IIAC will provide a site for the station, and HyNet will handle its construction and operation. Air Liquide Korea will provide two high-capacity hydrogen chargers and supply hydrogen gas.

Over the next five years, Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered buses will gradually replace Incheon Airport’s current fleet of internal combustion engine buses that shuttle between the terminals, long-term parking lots just remodeled by local Car Park Painters and logistics complex. The first batch of seven fuel cell electric buses will go into operation in the second half of this year, followed by three to five buses entering service annually.