Author: Lei Kang/CnEVPost

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Battery News China Electric eMobility eV Ganfeng Lithium Solid-state Battery

Lithium producer Ganfeng says it has started mass production of 1st gen solid-state battery

Ganfeng said its first-generation solid-state battery can reach an energy density of 260 Wh/kg, with a production line capable of producing 4 GWh per year.

(Image credit: Ganfeng Lithium)

China's Ganfeng Lithium -- the world's largest lithium producer by market capitalization -- said it has begun mass production of its first-generation solid-state battery, after announcing the new technology in late 2021.

Ganfeng revealed the progress in a May 19 investor conference meeting minutes, saying its first-generation solid-state batteries can reach an energy density of 260 Wh/kg and that the production line is designed to have an annual capacity of 4 GWh.

Production of the solid-state battery is currently undergoing capacity creep, with application scenarios including power batteries and energy storage, according to the minutes.

Ganfeng's second-generation hybrid solid-state lithium battery uses lithium metal as the anode and can reach an energy density of 400 Wh/kg, the company said.

The safety performance of the second-generation solid-state battery meets automotive requirements, and the cycling performance of the sample battery has met the requirements of car companies, Ganfeng said.

Ganfeng unveiled its first-generation solid-state battery, a hybrid solid-state and liquid lithium-ion battery, on December 10, 2021.

The battery has an oxide electrolyte and uses graphite for the anode. It has a diaphragm, but unlike conventional diaphragms, it uses a solid electrolyte diaphragm.

Ganfeng did not announce the energy density of the first-generation solid-state battery at the time, but said the second-generation solid-state battery had an energy density of more than 360 Wh/kg.

The company's latest announcement means that it has made new progress in the development of the second-generation solid-state battery over the past year and a half, allowing for a further increase in energy density.

Current mainstream lithium-ion battery cells have an energy density of just over 200 Wh/kg, and 's (NYSE: NIO) 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery, expected to be available within months, is 360 Wh/kg.

On April 19, unveiled its new battery technology, Condensed Battery, which claims an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg for a single cell.

The Condensed Battery will be available for use in electric vehicles and will have mass production capability within this year, said Wu Kai, CATL's chief scientist at the time.

CATL unveils Condensed Battery for electric aircrafts and EVs

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BYD byd han China Electric eMobility eV Order Backlog

BYD 2023 Han DM series sedan gets 13,695 orders in 72 hours of launch

On May 18, launched the facelifts of the plug-in hybrid versions of its flagship Han sedan at reduced prices compared to the 2022 variants.  |  BYDDY.US | BYD HK

(Image credit: BYD)

BYD (OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has updated the order data for the 2023 Han DM series to show that the sedan's facelifts have received a good reception after launch.

Orders for the 2023 Han DM-i and Han DM-p models reached 13,695 units 72 hours after launch, BYD announced Sunday on Weibo.

On May 18, BYD officially made the facelifts of its flagship sedan BYD Han's plug-in hybrid versions, the Han DM-i Champion Edition and Han DM-p Warrior Edition, available in China.

The 2023 Han DM-i is available in six versions with starting prices of RMB 189,800 ($27,033), RMB 199,800, RMB 209,800, RMB 219,800, RMB 239,800 and RMB 249,800 respectively.

The 2023 Han DM-p is available in only one version, starting at RMB 289,800.

This means that the starting price of the 2023 Han DM-i is reduced by RMB 28,000 and the Han DM-p is reduced by RMB 32,000 compared to the 2022 model.

Of the 13,695 units ordered, the average sales price is more than RMB 241,000, BYD said Sunday.

Consumers who chose the 200 km battery range version accounted for 37.8 percent of consumers, and the percentage of female consumers was 37.2 percent BYD said.

On May 19, the second day of the 2023 Han's launch, BYD said the model received 8,051 orders on launch day.

Many BYD models are offered in both pure electric and plug-in hybrid versions, with the latter likely to include a DM-i version that focuses more on fuel economy, and a DM-p version that focuses more on performance.

On March 16, BYD made the 2023 Han EV available for a starting price of RMB 209,800, down from RMB 219,800 for the model's 2022 version.

The BYD Han has a length, width and height of 4,975 mm, 1,910 mm and 1,495 mm, respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,920 mm.

The entry version of the Han DM-i can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and the Han DM-p in 3.7 seconds.

The Han DM-i has two options for pure electric range, with NEDC ranges of 121 km and 200 km. The model has a combined range of 1,260 km on full fuel and full charge.

The BYD Han family sold 14,329 units in April, up 6.77 percent year-on-year and up 5.75 percent from March.

BYD aims to sell at least 3 million vehicles this year and strives to reach 3.6 million, the company's chairman and president Wang Chuanfu said at an investor conference on March 29.

($1 = RMB 7.0209)

BYD launches facelifts of Han sedan's hybrid variants with lower prices

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Autoliv China Deals Electric eMobility eV Nio

NIO signs deal with Autoliv, world’s largest maker of airbags and seat belts

and Autoliv are working together to develop a new airbag concept that provides comprehensive protection for different seating positions.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

NIO (NYSE: NIO) has entered into a partnership agreement with Autoliv Inc, the world's largest manufacturer of airbags and seat belts, as the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker continues to expand its partnerships.

Autoliv China, a subsidiary of Autoliv, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with NIO that includes several new safety technologies for EVs, according to a press release from the Swedish company.

NIO and Autoliv will develop safety products for EVs and sustainable technologies, which will include a passenger airbag that deploys from the headliner using an environmentally friendly inflator.

The two are also co-developing a new airbag concept that provides full protection for different seating positions, according to the press release.

This could provide better protection and offer more freedom in the design of vehicle interiors, Autoliv said, adding that it also includes biology-based materials for both airbag cushions and seatbelt webbing.

"We have a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, and we expect the cooperation will be extended to more areas, as we strive to enhance the driving experience and provide pleasant journeys for all global users", said Yu Pan, vice president of supply chain development at NIO.

This is the latest collaboration between NIO and auto parts suppliers.

On May 2, Dutch-headquartered computer chip maker NXP Semiconductors announced that NIO will use its 4D imaging radar solution, which offers benefits far beyond those of conventional radar.

4D imaging radar will significantly improve the performance of front-facing radar in today's vehicles, and NXP's imaging radar technology extends the functionality of radar from measuring range and speed to include direction, angle of arrival and altitude measurements, the chipmaker said.

NIO delivered 6,658 vehicles in April, up 31.22 percent from 5,074 a year ago, but down 35.85 percent from 10,378 in March, as its product switch continues.

The EV maker is now marketing the new ES6 with unprecedented intensity, with the model set to be officially launched on May 24 and deliveries to begin on May 25.

NIO pins high hopes on new ES6 with unprecedented delivery efficiency and marketing campaign

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China Electric eMobility eV Insights price war

Price competition in China auto industry poised to ease in May, analysts say

Discounts on passenger cars in China continued to expand in April, but the industry is seeing some positive changes heading into May.

Price competition in China auto industry poised to ease in May, analysts say-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The price wars that erupted in the Chinese auto industry in March carried over into April. However, analysts see fewer car discounts heading into May.

Discounts on passenger cars in China continued to expand in April, but the industry saw some positive changes heading into May, with price competition, especially for fuel vehicles, expected to ease, said CITIC Securities analyst Zhang Ruohai's team in a research note today.

These changes include the fact that some automakers are no longer offering increased discounts to dealers, and have even scaled back compared to the first quarter, according to the team.

With China allowing some fuel models based on existing emission standards to extend their sales period by six months until the end of this year, there is much less urgency for these models to clear inventory in the short term, the team noted.

In addition, inventory levels in the Chinese auto industry fell in April, with dealer inventory levels returning to a relatively balanced position, the team said.

From January to April, discounts offered by the Chinese auto industry were generally increasing, with actual selling price to manufacturer guide price ratios of 91.3 percent, 92.4 percent, 90.8 percent and 90.2 percent, respectively, according to an indicator compiled by the team.

This means that in addition to the price pickup in February, discounts expanded in March and April, the team said, adding that the indicator was 88.1 percent and 87.3 percent for fuel cars and 96.84 percent and 96.78 percent for new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the past two months, respectively.

Against the backdrop of overall weak consumer demand for cars, the price wars had a boost to sales of some models, but depressed total sales as consumer wait-and-see sentiment increased, according to the team.

In March, when the price war was at its most intense, Chinese passenger car retail sales were 1.587 million units, up 0.3 percent year-on-year and up 14.3 percent from February, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

In April, China's passenger car retail sales were 1.63 million units, up 55.5 percent year-on-year and up 2.5 percent from March.

From May 1 to 14, China's passenger car retail sales were 706,000 units, up 55 percent year-on-year and up 24 percent from the same period last month, according to data released yesterday by the CPCA.

China NEV retail up 101% YoY in May 1-14, CPCA data show

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Aston Martin China Electric eMobility eV Geely

Geely Holding becomes 3rd largest shareholder of Aston Martin, increases stake to 17%

In September 2022, Holding spent about £66 million to acquire a 7.60 percent stake in Aston Martin.

(Image credit: Aston Martin)

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), China's largest private automaker, has increased its stake in Aston Martin, becoming the third largest shareholder in the ultra-luxury car brand.

Geely Holding has committed to contribute about £234 million to acquire about 42 million existing ordinary shares in Aston Martin from Yew Tree Consortium at a price of 335 pence per share and to subscribe for about 28 million new shares at the same price, according to an announcement made by the ultra-luxury British performance brand on the London Stock Exchange today.

The transaction price represents a 45 percent premium to Aston Martin's closing price per ordinary share on May 17.

Upon completion of the transaction, Geely Holding's stake in Aston Martin will increase to about 17 percent, making it the third largest shareholder behind Yew Tree Consortium's 21 percent and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's 18 percent.

Geely Holding has agreed to cease acquiring any ordinary shares that would result in its total holding in Aston Martin exceeding 22 percent by August 1, 2024, according to the announcement.

"Geely Holding, who initially became a shareholder last year, sees tremendous potential for Aston Martin's long-term growth and success. They offer us a deep understanding of the key strategic growth market that China represents, as well as the opportunity to access their range of technologies and components," said Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin's executive chairman of the board.

In September 2022, Geely Holding spent about £66 million to acquire a 7.60 percent stake in Aston Martin.

Geely has completed a number of acquisitions of foreign automakers in recent years.

In 2006, Geely acquired a 19.97 percent stake in Manganese Bronze, the maker and owner of classic black cabs in London, and in 2013, Geely acquired the business and core assets of the company.

In 2010, Geely acquired Volvo, and in 2017, Geely acquired a 51 percent stake in Lotus Cars, a British luxury sports and racing car brand.

"Our decision to increase our shareholding in Aston Martin reflects our confidence in the company's growth prospects, its technologies and its management team," said Eric Li, Geely Holding Group chairman, according to Aston Martin's announcement.

Aston Martin sold 6,412 vehicles globally in 2022, up about 4 percent from a year earlier, with about 50 percent of those being the four-door crossover DBX line.

It currently has four models on sale in China, including the coupe Vantage, DB11 and DBS, as well as the DBX.

Chinese auto giants Geely and Changan sign strategic cooperation deal

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China Electric eMobility eV Nio NIO Benefits NIO ET7

NIO offers interior upgrades for 2022 ET7, brings new wireless phone charging panel

The upgrade will be available starting May 31 and will cost owners RMB 1,980.  |  US | NIO HK | NIO SG

( 2022 NIO ET7 interior. Image credit: CnEVPost)

NIO (NYSE: NIO) launched the 2023 ET7 sedan a month ago, bringing more than 15 upgrades. Now the company is offering an upgrade program for the 2022 ET7 as well.

NIO today announced the rollout of a center module upgrade for the 2022 ET7, bringing improvements including a 40W air-cooled, wireless charging panel and upgraded center buttons.

(Image credit: NIO)

The upgrade will be available on May 31 at 10:00 am Beijing Time and will cost owners RMB 1,980 ($282). NIO will allow owners to pay up to RMB 1,000 with their NIO App credits.

Owners of the 2022 ET7 can reserve the upgrade by paying RMB 1,000 as a deposit on the NIO App after 10 am on May 31.

NIO will initially offer only 500 upgrade slots, and the time required to complete the upgrade is one day.

The installation will start in early June and will not affect any other rights of users.

The ET7, NIO's flagship sedan, was originally launched at the NIO Day 2020 event on January 9, 2021, with deliveries beginning on March 28, 2022.

On the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, NIO launched the 2023 ET7, bringing more than 15 upgrades, including improved seats and a 40w wireless charging panel for cell phones. The model's starting price remains unchanged at RMB 458,000.

With a more comfortable ride, more refined interior and a smarter experience, the improved ET7 continues to lead the direction of change for high-end smart electric mid to large-size sedans, William Li, founder, chairman and CEO of NIO, said at the time.

($1 = RMB7.0139)

NIO asks its community for advice on pricing of new ES6

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China Electric eMobility eV Huawei Industry News Tesla Volkswagen

VW reportedly in talks to use Huawei software in its cars in China

Volkswagen is one of the top-selling car companies in China, but it is lagging behind local carmakers in the country's NEV market.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

Volkswagen has been in talks to use Huawei software in its cars in China, hoping to boost its efforts to gain a bigger share of the country's electric vehicle (EV) market, a Financial Times report said today.

Three people familiar with the situation said Volkswagen has spoken with Huawei about using the latter's technology in its cars, while another person said the German carmaker has held similar talks with other Chinese groups, according to the report.

Volkswagen is one of the top-selling car companies in China, but it lags behind local carmakers in the country's new energy vehicle (NEV) market.

In the January-April period, Volkswagen's joint venture in China, FAW-Volkswagen, sold 509,774 units at retail, up 1.4 percent from a year earlier, and came in second with an 8.6 percent share, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

BYD sold 702,608 vehicles during the period, up 79.2 percent year-on-year, and ranked first with an 11.9 percent share.

Volkswagen's other joint venture in China, SAIC Volkswagen, sold 338,673 vehicles at retail from January to April, down 2.7 percent year-on-year, and ranked fifth with a 5.7 percent share.

In the NEV segment, BYD ranked first with a 38.1 percent share from January to April, while was second with a 9.6 percent share.

The NEV sales of Volkswagen's two joint ventures were not in the top 10 of the January-April list published by the CPCA. The No. 10 on the list is , with 33,529 units sold from January to April and a 1.8 percent share.

In July 2020, Volkswagen founded software company Cariad under former CEO Herbert Diess, but earlier this month it removed almost all of Cariad's top executives from their positions.

The Financial Times report cited a person familiar with the talks between Volkswagen and the Chinese companies as saying the discussions reflected how big the problem is for a group like VW, whose unique selling proposition is their scale and platforms.

Another person said Volkswagen is also aware that a Chinese software partner could appeal to Chinese customers who favor local suppliers and are obsessed with stories of technological self-reliance.

Although its software is seen as lagging behind some local players in China, Volkswagen is one of the most aggressive of foreign car companies seeking change.

Last October 13, Horizon Robotics, one of the leading providers of computing solutions for smart vehicles in China, announced that Cariad would form a joint venture with it to accelerate its efforts to develop smart driving technology locally.

Volkswagen plans to invest about 2.4 billion euros for a 60 percent stake in the joint venture, which is expected to close in the first half of 2023, according to a statement from Horizon Robotics.

VW to invest €2.4 billion to form JV with Chinese firm Horizon Robotics

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China Electric eMobility eV Industry News Policy

China issues policy to support NEV consumption in rural areas

A government document voices support for NEV development in rural areas in terms of NEV purchases, charging infrastructure development, and consumer education.

China issues policy to support NEV consumption in rural areas-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

China has released a new government document to support new energy vehicle (NEV) consumption in rural areas, after NEV penetration in major cities climbed to high levels.

China's National Energy Administration and economic planner National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the document on supporting the development of NEVs in rural areas for provincial and municipal governments and two grid operators, State Grid and Southern Grid. The document, dated May 14, was made public on May 17.

China has built the world's largest charging infrastructure, providing a strong guarantee for the rapid development of NEVs, but there are still problems in rural areas, including insufficient public charging infrastructure, which restricts the release of NEV consumption potential there, the document says.

The advanced construction of charging infrastructure and optimization of the environment for the purchase and use of NEVs are of great significance in promoting NEV consumption in rural areas, according to the document.

The document voices support for NEV development in rural areas in terms of NEV purchases, charging infrastructure construction, and consumer education.

Car companies are encouraged to develop more economical models for consumers in rural areas, especially products including new energy cargo-carrying mini-vans, mini-trucks and light trucks.

China will improve the evaluation system for used NEVs and encourage companies to provide quality vehicles for rural areas.

The country will increase the proportion of NEVs in business vehicles and encourage local governments to increase the use of NEVs in public transportation, road passenger transportation, rental cars, law enforcement, sanitation, and logistics.

Local governments are encouraged to provide consumption voucher support for local rural residents to purchase NEVs, offering trade-in incentives for them to phase out low-speed electric vehicles and purchase regular NEVs.

Credit support for auto consumption in rural areas will also be increased, and financial institutions are encouraged to reasonably determine the down payment ratio, loan interest rate, and repayment period on the premise of risk control.

In terms of charging infrastructure construction in rural areas, local governments should accelerate the construction of charging stations and strive to achieve charging piles in every township.

Local governments are encouraged to promote the construction of centralized public charging stations, and places with conditions such as gas stations should also promote the construction of charging piles.

Existing residential communities in rural areas are encouraged to carry out charging facility construction, and a certain percentage of public charging spaces should be allocated.

Before 2030, China waives the electricity capacity charge for centralized charging and battery swap facilities with a two-part tariff, and relaxes the investment efficiency constraint for grid companies in the construction of distribution grids.

China encourages research on technologies such as two-way interaction between electric vehicles and the grid (V2G), and explores the construction of integrated charging infrastructure in rural areas where the utilization rate of charging piles is low.

In terms of consumer education, China supports local governments and industry bodies to enhance consumer acceptance of NEVs and alleviate purchase and use concerns through a number of activities.

China passenger NEV retail drops 3.6% MoM to 527,000 in Apr, CPCA data show

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Battery Swap China Electric eMobility eV Nio shell

First swap station built by NIO and Shell in Europe goes online

NIO and Shell signed a strategic partnership agreement in November 2021 to collaborate on charging and battery swap facilities in China and Europe.

First swap station built by NIO and Shell in Europe goes online-CnEVPost

(Image credit: NIO)

NIO (NYSE: NIO) and Shell, the world's largest gasoline retailer, have officially launched the first battery swap stations jointly built by the two in Europe, the electric vehicle (EV) maker said today.

The station is located in Harmelen, Netherlands, NIO said today on its Weibo account.

To date, NIO has 16 battery swap stations and eight charging stations in Europe, and its charging map there has access to more than 400,000 third-party charging piles.

First swap station built by NIO and Shell in Europe goes online-CnEVPost

In November 2021, NIO signed a strategic partnership agreement with Shell to collaborate on charging and battery swap facilities in China and Europe.

The two plan to jointly install 100 swap stations in China by 2025 and plan to operate pilot stations in Europe starting in 2022, according to a statement at the time.

On August 1, 2022, the first NIO-Shell partnership battery swap station and supercharger station went into operation in Xiamen, Fujian province, in southeastern China.

First swap station built by NIO and Shell in Europe goes online-CnEVPost

The opening of the station marked the official start of NIO's partnership with Shell in the EV energy sector, NIO said at the time.

As of May 15, NIO had 1,403 battery swap stations in China, as well as 2,580 charging stations offering 15,312 charging piles.

The company's charging map in China has access to more than 700,000 third-party charging piles.

First NIO battery swap station jointly built with Shell goes into operation

First swap station built by NIO and Shell in Europe goes online-CnEVPost

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CATL China Electric eMobility eV Qilin Battery Zeekr Zeekr 001

Zeekr starts delivery of Zeekr 001 with CATL Qilin Battery, CLTC range up to 1,032 km

Deliveries of the Zeekr 009 MPV with Qilin Battery had begun on April 17.

(Image credit: Zeekr)

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand of , started the delivery of the Zeekr 001 shooting brake model with CATL Qilin Battery, after starting the delivery of the Zeekr 009 MPV with the battery pack a month ago.

Deliveries of the WE version of the Zeekr 001 with the optional 140 kWh Qilin Battery began today, and the 1,032 km CLTC range makes the model the longest production EV in the world, Zeekr said in a press release.

The Zeekr 001's range addresses the mileage anxiety that plagues users and will allow them to enjoy a hassle-free travel experience, Zeekr said.

Zeekr was officially launched as an independent company in March 2021, with its first model, the Zeekr 001, launched on April 15, 2021, and deliveries beginning in October 2021.

On November 1, 2022, Zeekr's second model, the Zeekr 009 MPV, was launched, and its deliveries began on January 15.

On April 12 of this year, Zeekr launched its third model, the Zeekr X, which it hopes will become the benchmark for luxury compact cars.

CATL launched the Qilin Battery, or CTP (cell to pack) 3.0 battery, on June 23rd last year, claiming that its energy density can reach 255Wh/kg and can support the vehicle to achieve a range of 1,000 km.

On August 27 last year, Zeekr and CATL announced that the Zeekr 009 will be the world's first vehicle to be equipped with the Qilin Battery, while the Zeekr 001 will use the ultra-long range version of the Qilin Battery and will be the world's first production vehicle to be equipped with the 1,000 km range Qilin Battery.

On January 1, Zeekr launched the 2023 Zeekr 001, offering four base versions, including two WE versions, one ME version and one YOU version.

Zeekr offers a 140-kWh Qilin Battery option for the single-motor WE version with a 100-kWh battery pack, allowing the CLTC range to reach 1,032 km.

However, the Qilin Battery option is limited to only 1,000 units, and consumers will have to pay an additional RMB 103,000 ($14,790), meaning the Zeekr 001 with a range of more than 1,000 km will start at RMB 403,000.

On April 17, Zeekr announced that deliveries of the Zeekr 009 MPV with the CATL Qilin Battery begun.

Zeekr delivered 8,101 vehicles in April, up 279.08 percent from 2,137 in the same month last year and up 21.58 percent from 6,663 in March, according to data released earlier this month.

($1 = RMB 6.9653)

Zeekr begins delivery of Zeekr 009 MPV powered by CATL Qilin Battery

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