Issue #118

Tesla takes stock of 2021 as a “breakthrough year” >>

While the vehicle delivery data was announced a few weeks ago, additional information about Tesla’s financial and production achievements followed during this week. With deliveries up by 87% compared to 2020, Tesla managed to increase operating cash flow to $5 billion in 2021. Cash and cash equivalents increased by $1.5 billion in Q4, to a total of $17.6 billion.

Mini offers factory EV swaps for classic models >>

Classic Austin Mini owners will be able to commission a conversion that will replace the gasoline engine with an electric motor and a high-voltage battery, giving the Mini a range of about 100 miles once the conversion is complete. The motor will generate a continuous output of up to 120 hp.

How GM and Ford EV plant investments compare: Billions of dollars, thousands of jobs >>

General Motors' $6.5 billion investment in Michigan for EV and battery plants is the latest salvo in the ongoing battle with Ford Motor Co. as the automakers vie to become leaders in electric vehicle sales. Both companies are planning the largest manufacturing investments in their respective histories to increase the output of batteries and EVs over the next three to five years.

StoreDot, the extreme fast charging battery pioneer, develops technology extending the life of batteries for first and second life >>

StoreDot revealed it has developed the technology to produce silicon-dominant EV batteries that maintain 80% capacity beyond 1,000 cycles, the point where performance generally deteriorates in lithium-ion batteries. Even after 1700 cycles, long after the accepted industry norm, StoreDot's batteries maintain 70% of the original capacity, making them highly effective in second life usage for less demanding applications such as in energy storage and grid load balancing systems.

Vulcan Energy to look for lithium-containing brine in Italy >>

According to a Vulcan statement, a sample well in Cesano near Rome detected an average lithium content of between 350 and 380 mg/l in the brine. By comparison, in the Upper Rhine Graben, where the company plans to build its first commercial plant, the deepwater contains between 200 and 400 milligrams of lithium per liter.

In this episode of the Cars Yeah podcast Dr. Doron Myersdorf and Mark Greene talk cars, EVs, and charging “100-in-2” >>

This week StoreDot CEO, Dr. Doron Myersdorff, spoke about EVs and range and charging anxiety and how, by designing and synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds, the extreme fast charging (XFC) battery became the first battery capable of fully charging an EV in just five minutes. He also shared his vision of "100 in 2" - charging 100 miles in 2 minutes.

Editor: Peter Els. Design: Meni Stern