Hybrid vehicles give lifeline to Platinum Metals
In the next few years, a surge in hybrid car sales as the electric vehicle market slows will likely lead to an unexpected increase in demand for platinum group materials (PGMs), similar to what is predicted for coal's extended life. PGMs – primarily platinum and palladium – face a long-term decline in demand, as their primary use was to clean auto exhausts – a process not required in pure EVs. Few years ago, prospects for producers of PGMs such as Anglo Platinum Impala Platinum Sibanye Stillwater seemed grim…
British Business – September 6
These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. According to a new study, British pension funds have the lowest level of support for their own stock market among developed economies. This will fuel debates about reforming UK retirement pots in order to boost the London Stock Exchange. BMW plans to launch its first hydrogen powered vehicle in 2028 using the fuel cell technology it developed with Toyota Motor Corp.
BMW will bring its first Hydrogen car to the market in 2028
BMW plans to launch its first hydrogen powered vehicle in 2028 using the fuel cell technology it developed with Toyota Motor Corp. The company did not provide any further information. It said that the vehicle will be a model already in production with an option for hydrogen fuel cells. The company did not provide any details about the price or volume of production. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse stated in a press release that the vehicle will "highlight the way technological progress shapes the mobility of tomorrow".
Japan signs 70 MOUs on energy transition with partners
On Wednesday, Japan signed 70 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with partners regarding energy transition on the sidelines Asia Zero Emission Community Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta. The AZEC initiative was launched in 2023 by 11 countries, including Indonesia, Australia and Thailand, to share the same philosophy and work together in order to accelerate the energy transition. Today 70 new MOUs are to be announced. METI made $1 billion available for 14 projects to provide new financial assistance through a partnership with Global South Support Scheme…
NYK, Sanyo Kaiji Start Japan's First Ship-to-Ship Biofuel Supply Trial for Tugboats
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and its affiliate Sanyo Kaiji Kabushiki Kaisha (Sanyo Kaiji) have started a continuous three-month test navigation using biodiesel supplied by Toyotsu Energy Corporation in tugboats operated by Sanyo Kaiji. The biofuel will be supplied via ship-to-ship using a bunkering ship to supply fuel to the tug, the first time for this to be done in Japan. Three test trials are planned to take place by July. This biofuel supply and test navigation are…
Ship Emissions: MIT Takes the Lead Toward Net Zero
The MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) launched a new research consortium—the Future Energy Systems Center—to address the climate crisis and the role energy systems can play in solving it. Randall Field, Executive Director, discusses current research and the challenges ahead for the maritime sector.The reputation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is such that it can take mammoth issues — such as driving the world to net zero — head-on, and suddenly make the impossible…
NYK Bulk Carrier Completes Another Run on Biofuel
NYK conducts third successful biofuel trial on ship carrying Tata Steel cargoThe bulk carrier Frontier Sky, which is owned by NYK and operated by Tata NYK Shipping Pte. Ltd., conducted a trial use of biofuel to transport cargo provided by Tata Steel Limited, the major steel manufacturer in India. According to the company, this is the third successful trial use of biofuel by an NYK vessel.In this test voyage, the vessel was fueled with biofuel by Toyota Tsusho Petroleum Pte. Ltd. at the port of Singapore on November 14 and a test voyage was conducted on a route to the port of Dhamra, India.
Yanmar Conducts High-Pressure Ship Refueling Test with Hydrogen
Yanmar Power Technology (YPT) conducted what it touts as the world's first 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen refueling of a ship using a demonstration test boat equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system. The 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen refueling was carried out in cooperation with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, using a specially licensed high-pressure facility and a newly developed prototype long hydrogen refueling hose. The 70MPa high-pressure refueling resulted in more than three times longer cruising time compared to the previous refueling process.
Meet the World's First Digital Smart Ship, the Japanese Built LNG-Fueled PCTC Sakura Leader
The run up to 2050 and dramatic reductions in emissions from ships will, by most expert’s thinking, be an evolution of small steps premised on melding new fuels and digitalization technologies. The recent delivery of the LNG-fueled PCTC Sakura Leader to NYK can be considered a sizable leap in this regard, as the ship has been designated as the world’s first digital smart ship.A Big Step Toward CO2 Reduction TargetsOn October 28, NYK took delivery of Sakura Leader, a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) capable of navigating oceans with only LNG as the ship’s main fuel.
Toyota Intros New Lithium-ion Range
U.S. distributor of Toyota lift trucks and tow tractors Toyota Material Handling has announced the approval of a new lineup of lithium-ion batteries for use in its 3- and 4-wheel electric sit-down models.The provider of material handling and industrial lift trucks and equipment, this introduction makes Toyota the first manufacturer in the industry to obtain UL-E and UL-EE certification for the combination of lift truck and lithium-ion batteries on a sit-down counterbalanced forklift.Toyota…
NYK Line and Partners Set Up Second LNG Bunkering Project
NYK Line has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kyushu Electric Power, Saibu Gas, and The Chugoku Electric Power for joint discussions on the commercialization of a new business to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel to ships in the Setouchi and Kyushu areas of western Japan.This is the second LNG bunkering project NYK Line is engaged in after investing in an LNG bunkering vessel with "K" Line, Chubu Electric, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation."The demand for LNG as a marine fuel…
Japan's First LNG Bunkering Vessel to Launch in 2020
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Chubu Electric Power, Toyota Tsusho, and Nippon Yusen KK said on Friday that their joint venture has placed an order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The vessel, which is scheduled to be delivered around September-December 2020, will be the first LNG bunkering vessel to be operated in Japan, the companies said in a statement. The companies plan to start supplying LNG to vessels as fuel in the Chubu region in central Japan.
Glencore Suspends Rusal-EN+ Share Swap due U.S. Sanctions
Swiss-based trader Glencore said on Tuesday it would not "at this time" be swapping its shares in Russian aluminium producer Rusal for Global Depository Receipts in EN+ due to U.S. sanctions on both firms. Foreign partners of Russian firms like Rusal, which was hit by new U.S. sanctions on Friday, have a narrow window to ensure they are compliant with the new regulations that generally prohibit U.S. entities from having dealings with sanctioned Russian individuals and firms. Glencore…
K-Line, NYK Line, Chubu Electric, Toyota Tsusho Eye LNG Bunkering
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Chubu Electric Power, Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) have decided to work in the field of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering in Japan. A joint statement that LNG is expected to become an important alternative to heavy fuel oil due to its relatively low carbon footptint, which will enable ships to meet increasingly stringent international regulations on emissions. The shipping forms K Line and NYK Line, together with electric utilities provider Chubu Electric Power and trading company Toyota Tsusho Corporation…
More than Half of Norway Car Sales Now Electric, Hybrid
Norway tops global sales of electric cars as big subsidies have aided shift from fossil fuel cars. Sales of electric and hybrid cars exceeded half of new registrations in Norway in 2017, a record aided by generous subsidies that extended the Nordic nation's lead in a shift from fossil-fuel engines, data showed on Wednesday. Pure electric cars and hybrids, which have both battery power and a diesel or petrol motor, accounted for 52 percent of all new car sales in 2017 in Norway against 40 percent in 2016, the independent Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) said.
Honda says Fuel From Shell, Total, PSO Harms Engines in Pakistan
Pakistan's state oil and gas regulator said on Thursday it would investigate a complaint that fuel suppliers including local units of Shell and Total as well as Pakistan State Oil (PSO) had added manganese to their gasoline. Honda Motor Co's Pakistan subsidiary, Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd., filed the complaint, saying the additive appeared to be damaging engines in its vehicles. Manganese can be added to fuel to make it appear to be of a higher quality but it can reduce fuel economy and potentially harm public health due to emissions.
Awaiting Trump's coal comeback, miners reject retraining
When Mike Sylvester entered a career training center earlier this year in southwestern Pennsylvania, he found more than one hundred federally funded courses covering everything from computer programming to nursing. He settled instead on something familiar: a coal mining course. "I think there is a coal comeback,” said the 33-year-old son of a miner. Despite broad consensus about coal's bleak future, a years-long effort to diversify the economy of this hard-hit region away from mining is stumbling…
Norway races Australia for Japan's Hydrogen Business
Norway may provide cleanly produced hydrogen to Japan; but Australia hopes to export the fuel extracted from brown coal. Norway and Australia are racing each other to show they can supply Japan with hydrogen, hoping to fulfil its ambition to become the first nation significantly fuelled by the super-clean energy source. While Australia has planned to derive liquid hydrogen from brown coal for some time, Norway could steal a march if a pilot project producing the fuel using renewable energy - a climate-friendly method more in keeping with Japan's aims - is cheaper.
Trump Won't Seek to Roll Back CA Vehicle Rules
President Donald Trump will announce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will revive a review of the feasibility of strict fuel efficiency standards through 2025, but will not seek to withdraw California's authority to set its own vehicle rules, a White House official said late on Tuesday. Reuters reported on Monday the administration planned to announce the review on Wednesday as Trump heads to Michigan, home of the U.S. auto industry. A White House official briefing reporters…
Peak Gasoline Demand Looming as Engine Efficiencies Grow
Global gasoline demand to peak in 2021 - WoodMac. Demand for gasoline in the United States, which accounts for a tenth of global oil consumption, is expected to peak next year as engines become more efficient, WoodMackenzie analysts said. Global demand for gasoline, which accounts for more than a quarter of the world's oil consumption, is set to peak as early as 2021 even in the face of relentless growth in the vehicle fleet, according to the Edinburgh-based consultancy. A rise in the number of hybrid and electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf…
