PV-powered robotic lawn mower from New Zealand
Researchers from Massey University in New Zealand have developed a robotic lawn mower with three 50 W solar panels and a 20 Ah lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. Two of the PV panels can be retracted and stacked inside the robot. They slide out when it needs to recharge its batteries.
Tesla Master Plan projects 3 TW of solar and 6.5 TWh of storage in US
Tesla releases its third Master Plan, with a broad focus on clean electricity generation and storage, as well as related manufacturing costs.
Viessmann adds Wallbox to PV-battery-heat pump package
Viessmann’s new sub-distribution system links various components and connects them to the power grid. Its Wallbox has a charging capacity of 11 kW (three-phase) and is equipped with a 7.5-meter “Type 2” charging cable.
Japanese oil suppliers testing solar carports for EVs under PPA model
Idemitsu Kosan is leading a four-year demonstrator to assess the viability of solar carports for EV recharging at Tanegashima Airport in Japan. The 54.7 kW solar facility will sell power to airport buildings via a power purchase agreement (PPA) and to EV users under a pay-as-you-go billing system.
Tesla to build new battery plant in China
Tesla has revealed plans to build a new Megapack battery factory in Shanghai, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Australian startup using second-life Nissan Leaf EV battery packs for storage
Relectrify, an Australian battery technology startup, has secured approval from the International Electrotechnical Commission for its ReVolve energy storage product, which opens the way for it to globally scale up its cell-level control tech.
North America’s bid to onshore rare earth supply
With electric vehicle (EV) adoption set to turbocharge demand for rare earth elements in Canada and the US this decade, attempts are being made to loosen the region’s dependence on China for the sourcing and processing of such critically important energy transition materials.
Lithium-air battery with solid electrolyte
US researchers have developed a new lithium-air battery with solid electrolyte and the potential to reach a record energy density that is nearly four times that of lithium-ion batteries. The test cell demonstrated stability over 1,000 charge and discharge cycles.
Sono Motors scraps development of Sion solar cars
Sono Motors, a solar electric-vehicle manufacturer in Germany, has terminated its Sion passenger car development program, as it has failed to secure enough funding to support pre-series production. It says it will now focus exclusively on retrofitting and integrating its patented solar technology into third-party vehicles.
CATL offers big battery discounts amid looming lithium surplus
CATL’s new lithium pricing structure gives Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEM) an effective discount of more than 20%. It is making the move to win more orders amid a slowdown in the electric-vehicle market and the ongoing efforts of cell manufacturers to secure raw materials.
