The manufacturing industry is undergoing significant changes due to the swift advancement of technology and evolving global dynamics. Success in 2024 and beyond will depend on how well manufacturers accept these changes and how receptive they are to new ideas, in order to maintain a competitive edge.
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The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Associations (ACEA) welcomes the European Commission’s proposal to seek a three-year extension to the current rules of origin for batteries under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
A deal with the UK to extend the current rules for batteries would avoid the imposition of 10% tariffs on the export of European-built battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to the UK – the EU auto industry’s number one export market.
Kia and Hyundai unveiled a Universal Wheel Drive System called the ‘Uni Wheel’ at an event in Seoul, South Korea. The Uni-Wheel relocates a traditional electric vehicle’s main drive system components and reduction gear into the open space behind a vehicle’s wheel, requiring fewer parts and reducing the cost of EVs. It also frees up space, allowing car designers to add more passenger space, or add larger batteries for extending range.
Ford and Resideo Technologies will study how Ford’s future electric vehicle batteries can supply power to homes to help reduce energy costs. The two companies announced a joint simulation project to explore vehicle-to-home (V2H) energy management called the “EV-Home Power Partnership,” designed to explore the potential of electric vehicle batteries to support optimal home energy management. The project will explore, test and quantify the customer benefits of pairing bi-directional EV charging with a Resideo smart thermostat to help customers potentially save money on monthly electric bills.
PROGRESSUS focused on three central topics: Efficient energy conversion, intelligent electricity management and secure network monitoring. Among other things, a solution was introduced which would make it possible to operate ten to fifteen times more electric car charging stations on a single network connection.
The findings of the PROGRESSUS project constitute an important contribution to the new products and services which support the achievement of European climate targets.
Symbio, an equally owned joint venture between automotive technology supplier Forvia, Michelin and Stellantis, inaugurated its first hydrogen fuel cell gigafactory, SymphonHy.
With its capacity for innovation and industrialization, and an annual output of 50,000 fuel cell systems, SymphonHy is paving the way for large-scale production, supporting its customers in their drive for low-carbon transport.
Energy prices decreased by 8.2% in November, led by coal (-12.9%) and oil (-8.7%).
Fertilizer prices dropped 2.9%.
Precious metals climbed by 3.7%.