Tesla

CATL’s new lithium pricing structure gives Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEM) an effective discount of more than 20%. It is making the move to win more orders amid a slowdown in the electric-vehicle market and the ongoing efforts of cell manufacturers to secure raw materials.

France’s Neoen has begun construction on its 200 MW/400 MWh Western Downs Battery in the Australian state of Queensland. It is Neoen’s fourth big battery in Australia and brings its storage portfolio to 776 MW/1,279 MWh in operation or under construction. 

Tesla and Harmony Energy have connected a 98 MW/196 MWh storage project to the grid in Hull, England. The Pillswood battery energy storage system (BESS) features Tesla’s Megapack solution.

Foxconn is looking to leverage its manufacturing expertise and become a major EV maker, Rolls-Royce has unveiled its first fully electric motor car, and BMW has pledged to invest $1.7 billion to build EVs in the U.S..

Enphase Energy’s ClipperCreek unit is set to deploy more EV charging stations in the United States, and Siemens and Mahle have agreed to work on the standardization of wireless EV charging. Mercedes-Benz has expanded its battery supply partnership with CATL, while Tesla has announced that its gigafactory in Shanghai has produced its 1 millionth electric vehicle.

Sunrun has launched its new Level 2 EV charger for residential customers, while BYD has posted its highest monthly electric vehicle sales ever. Nissan, meanwhile, has revealed that it has decided to rent EVs, rather than sell them.

South Australia’s 150 MW / 193.5 Hornsdale Power Reserve, more commonly known as the Tesla Big Battery, will now provide inertia services to Australia’s National Electricity Market after securing approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator. Neoen says it is the first big battery in the world to deliver the service at such a scale.

New small-capacity solar power plants are being developed in Ukraine to avoid blackouts, which is helping businesses to stay afloat amid dire economic conditions.  

In other news, Stellantis demonstrates wireless charging tech that transfers energy from road infrastructure to EVs, Toyota defies shareholder pressure to step up electrification efforts, and Volkswagen threatens to dethrone Tesla on EV sales by 2024.

The EU Parliament has voted to end combustion vehicle sales in 2035, Siemens has announced plans to develop wireless charging for electric vehicles, and Lightyear has launched the final design of its long-range, production-ready solar car.