Batteries

Transport timetable: What’s moving in late 2020

Europe's transport sector, already hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, faces a crucial and possibly defining end to 2020. EU and global targets will start to bite, while new technologies will face a challenging acid test.

EU invests €350m in first domestic battery gigafactory

The European Investment Bank issued a €350 million loan on Thursday (30 July) to a Swedish company that hopes to corner a significant share of the global battery market by building the greenest power packs available.

E-trains gain upper hand over hydrogen locomotives

Rail operators could make big savings by choosing electric battery power over hydrogen fuel cells when replacing diesel engines, a new study has suggested, although the ever-changing price of energy means the jury is still out on the best power source.

UK’s next-gen warplane could tap battery power

BAE Systems, the defence company behind the British air force’s new fighter jet, has teased the prospect of electric-battery systems playing a substantial role in powering the RAF’s next-generation Tempest warplane, due to enter service in the 2030s.

BMW agrees €2bn battery contract with Swedish firm

German carmaker BMW signed a battery-supply contract worth €2 billion with Swedish manufacturer Northvolt this week, in the latest example of Europe’s big auto firms preparing to ramp up electric vehicle production.

MEPs push for uniform EU concept on energy storage

The energy network of the future will be equipped with a wide variety of storage methods,  although constructing storage facilities, in itself, comes with many obstacles. The lack of a uniform concept on the matter is something which some MEPs want to change. EURACTIV Germany reports.

VW to ditch petrol and diesel cars manufacturing at key factory

Volkswagen is set to remove production lines for all internal combustion engine vehicles from one of its key factories this year, replacing them with electric vehicle production capacity. EURACTIV's media partner, edie.net, reports.

Tesla tops list of most valuable carmakers

US electric vehicle specialist Tesla overtook Toyota to become the most valuable car company in the world on Wednesday (1 June), but Elon Musk’s firm also scaled back plans at its future Berlin factory.

EU climate transition needs mineral miners, not coal miners

The European Union needs to transform its coal-mining regions into the source of minerals for clean technology, such as cobalt and rare earths, if it is to meet its climate goals and curb import reliance, a senior official said on Monday.

Finland: Europe’s battery producing Shangri-La

Europe’s ambitions of cornering a substantial slice of the multi-billion-euro global battery market are best illustrated by Finland, which has all the raw materials needed to produce electric vehicle power packs and the right conditions needed to do it sustainably.

Is nickel sustainable in electrical vehicle batteries?

Electric vehicles are becoming more popular and attractive as prices fall and charging infrastructure becomes more widespread. Dr Mark Mistry explains what factors affect the sustainability of one of the most important ingredients in a car's battery: nickel.

Largest electric plane in Europe takes to the skies over the UK

A six-seater battery-powered aircraft flew for the first time over the UK on Monday (22 June), becoming Europe’s largest e-plane in the process just as the aviation industry revealed that it wants the EU to invest big in the future of flight innovation.

Firms start to believe in a battery afterlife

By 2040, one out of every three passenger cars around the world is predicted to be electric-battery powered. But the power packs that drive those vehicles do not last forever, so what will become of them once they lose their charge?

Denmark’s e-ferry passes sea trials in style

The world’s largest all-electric ferry completed 10 months of trials last week, as the EU-funded project revealed that battery-powered boats will save operators money compared to their diesel counterparts during their decades of service.

Germany’s EU presidency: A chance to boost electric cars at home and abroad

Germany’s six-month-long stint at the helm of the EU Council Presidency will see it preside over talks on the Commission’s planned €750 billion recovery fund. Stef Cornelis explains why Berlin should ensure those talks result in a green agreement between...

Coronavirus and the great electric-battery dividend

The global health pandemic has dealt a body blow to many areas of the economy but the battery industry looks set to reap significant rewards, even if it will also have to put up with a short-term slump in demand.

Navigating the road ahead for battery tech

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Europe's climate agenda and willingness to tag its virus-recovery efforts to green objectives mean that electric-battery technology is due for a great decade.

UK jumps on hydrogen railwagon

The UK government will fund the development of hydrogen trains, with researchers zeroing in on the final stages of a project aimed at cleaning up isolated parts of the British railway network.

Wales in line for latest battery mega-factory

A firm that aims to make the United Kingdom a leading force in sustainable battery technology has chosen Wales as the preferred site for its first giga-factory, which promises to bring thousands of jobs to one of Europe's poorest regions.

Electric plane certified by EU regulator in world-first

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted this week an electric aircraft worldwide certification to operate, in what the regulator hailed as a massive step forward in battery-powered flight.

France unveils €15bn in aerospace aid

The French government on Tuesday (9 June) lifted the lid on a €15 billion support package for its lucrative but embattled aerospace sector. The scheme involves a €500 million investment fund for smaller companies and a plan to debut a carbon-neutral plane by 2035.

US hopes to expand strategic minerals initiative

The US State Department hopes to expand a strategic minerals initiative aimed at ensuring supply chains for metals critical for batteries and wind and solar power as demand for green energy keeps growing despite the coronavirus, a top diplomat said on Tuesday (2 June).

Macron demands carmakers turn to ‘Made in France’ for €8bn virus aid

French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled on Tuesday (26 May) an €8 billion aid package for the auto industry, which includes increased subsidies for electric car purchases and encourages manufacturers to relocate their factories back to France.

Energising the EU Green Deal through better battery chemicals management

Europe's climate plans have electrification at their core but in order to unlock its potential, batteries have to be managed and regulated in the right way, explain the Cross-Industry Initiative for better regulation in chemicals management (CII).