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☆ Hybrid vehicle sales surge in China, posing fresh threat to foreign automakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A Li L7 electric SUV by Li Auto is displayed at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 18, 2023. One-third of total vehicle sales by Toyota, the world's top-selling automaker, are already hybrids and the company reported a 34% surge in hybrid sales in the six months to end-September, outpacing 9% growth in overall revenue. Sales of HEVs in China, which Toyota still dominates with four top-selling models, tumbled 15%, while gasoline car sales dropped 11%, underscoring potential challenges facing foreign automakers. But it was a failed trial, with sales of just over 4,000 units, and GM in 2020 halted sales. BYD is expanding PHEV sales overseas, offering Han, Qin and Song lineups in Latin America, which has less charging infrastructure.

Persons: Li Auto, Aly, Xu Min, Yale Zhang, BYD, Li, Han, Qin, Stellantis, Leapmotor, Xu, Bill Russo, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Miyoung Kim, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Li, Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Toyota, Honda, Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Institute, Intelligent, Reuters, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, HK, Automotive Foresight, Reuters Graphics, Prius, General Motors, Buick, GM, Li Auto, Jiao Tong University, HEVs, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Europe, U.S, outpacing, United States, Shanghai Jiao, Reuters Graphics CHINA, America, Leapmotor, North America

☆ China’s graphite curbs send green warning shot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Global demand for graphite, seen at 770,000 tonnes this year, is expected to treble by 2033, according to estimates by Fastmarkets graphite analyst Georgi Georgiev. China currently accounts for 64% of the global production of natural graphite and more than half of the artificial equivalent. More importantly, the People’s Republic refines more than 90% of the graphite into high-purity material used in EV batteries. This echoes the approach China used earlier this year to restrict exports of gallium and germanium, two metals used in chips and fibre optic cables, triggering a fall in international shipments. Mining graphite in Europe, which wants to lead in EV adoption, is simply more expensive, says Aiden Lavelle, CEO of miner European Green Metals.

Persons: Georgi Georgiev, Aiden Lavelle, Carmakers, Una Galani, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, People’s, EV, Shanghai Putailai, Energy Technology, Metals, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Republic, Shanghai, Finland, Sweden, Beijing, Western, Europe, U.S

☆ Factbox: Few suppliers of synthetic graphite for EV batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A sign directing towards electric vehicle charging points is seen in a car park in Manchester, Britain, September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 12 (Reuters) - Although synthetic graphite has been around for more than 100 years, few companies are supplying the material to makers of electric vehicle batteries and battery electrodes. Here’s a short list of public and private companies engaged in the development and production of synthetic graphite, regarded as higher purity and offering better performance, for EV batteries:Anovion (USA)Founded: 2022Partners: Forge Nano, American Battery FactoryOperations: USABTR New Energy Materials (China)(835185.BJE)Founded: 2000Investor: Syrah Resources (SYR.AX)Partner: CNGR (300919.SZ)Operations: China, IndonesiaKuntian New Energy Technology (China)Founded: 2018Investors: Sinopec (600028.SS) , SK China, A123 Systems, Eve Energy (300014.SZ) , BTR New Energy Materials (835185.BJE) , SvoltOperations: ChinaNovonix Group (Australia)(NVX.AX)Founded: 2012Investor: Phillips 66 (PSX.N)Partners: LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) , Kore PowerOperations: Australia, Canada, USAResonac Holdings (Japan)(4004.T)formerly Showa DenkoFounded: 1939Operations: JapanShanshan Technology (China)(SSHOLG.UL)Vianode (Norway)Founded: 2020Investors: Elkem (ELK.OL) , Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL)Operations: NorwaySources: Felixwire, PitchBookReporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by Timothy GardnerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Phil Noble, Paul Lienert, Timothy Gardner Organizations: REUTERS, EV, American Battery Factory, BTR, Energy Materials, Syrah, Indonesia Kuntian, Energy Technology, SK China, Systems, Eve Energy, BTR New Energy Materials, Svolt, China Novonix Group, LG Energy, Power, USA Resonac Holdings, Japan Shanshan Technology, Norsk Hydro, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, China, BJE, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Japan, Vianode, Norway, Detroit

SEOUL/SHANGHAI, July 31 (Reuters) - Chinese battery materials firms are ramping up investment in South Korea, announcing projects worth at least $4.4 billion this year to try to meet U.S. electric vehicle (EV) tax credit rules aimed at lowering reliance on China's supply chains. The IRA, designed to wean the U.S. off the Chinese supply chain for electric vehicles (EVs), will also eventually bar tax credits if any EV battery components were manufactured by a "foreign entity of concern", a provision aimed at China. South Korea has a free-trade agreement with the United States that would likely make batteries manufactured in the North Asian nation and later installed in U.S.-manufactured electric cars eligible for the federal tax credits. SK On and its supplier EcoPro Co (086520.KQ) also announced a joint venture with China's Green Eco Manufacture to make battery precursors in South Korea. POSCO Holdings (005490.KS) said last month it would cooperate with China's CNGR Advanced Material (300919.SZ) on nickel refining and precursor production in South Korea.

Persons: Kang Dong, hasn't, China's, 1,274.0000, Heekyong Yang, Zoey Zhang, Miyoung Kim, Tom Hogue Organizations: SK, U.S, Hyundai Motor Securities, China JV, U.S . Treasury Department, South, New Energy Technology, Reuters, Zhejiang, LG Chem, LG Energy, EcoPro, China's, POSCO Holdings, LG, Samsung SDI, EV, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, SHANGHAI, South Korea, United States, China, U.S, Korea, Ningbo, Seoul, South Korean, Korean, KS, Shanghai

But rival European battery groups are still scarce, and global carmakers have more to gain than lose. Chinese battery suppliers like Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), SVOLT, Envision, and most recently EVE Energy (300014.SZ), are shaking up Europe’s e-mobility supply chains. At 4.5 billion euros, investments in projects to build new plants in Europe overtook spending on mergers and acquisitions. European battery makers will struggle to compete. Given the chance, Chinese battery makers can power up Europe’s own supply chains, and its auto companies too.

Persons: CATL, It’s, Bernstein, Emmanuel Macron, Tesla, Elon, Lisa Jucca, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Volkswagen, BMW, Volvo, Technology, EVE Energy, Shanghai Putailai, Energy Technology, Mineral Intelligence, Companies, Wall Street, LG, Samsung SDI, Union, Commission, EU, United, Mercedes, Benz, Elon Musk’s, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, People’s Republic, Europe, Shanghai, People’s, Sweden, United States, EU, Hungary, Spain

☆ China's CATL unveils condensed matter battery to power civil aircraft
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, April 19 (Reuters) - Chinese battery giant CATL (300750.SZ) on Wednesday unveiled a condensed matter battery that it said could supply enough energy to power electric passenger aircraft for civil aviation use. CATL will also be able to start mass production of the condensed matter battery for electric vehicle uses later this year, Wu added. Condensed matter technology is being embraced by battery makers competing to develop new materials to improve energy density of the current generation of lithium-ion batteries, which is under 300 Wh/kg. Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio (9866.HK) is planning to power its ET7 cars with a semi-solid state battery with 360 Wh/kg energy density developed by Beijing Welion New Energy Technology. Reporting by Zhang Yan, Albee Zhang and Brenda Goh Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ New China ETFs test investor appetite amid Sino-U.S. tech war, market rout
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Five Chinese tech-focused ETFs launched on Friday, testing investor appetite for chipmakers, new materials producers and machine tool manufacturers amid an escalating Sino-U.S. tech war, and a global rout in tech shares. Two of the ETFs will invest money into the stocks of the 50 biggest chipmakers listed on Shanghai's STAR Market, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) (0981.HK) and Montage Technology Co (688008.SS). read moreIt also comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and tech rivalries between China and the United States. The Biden administration took fresh steps in recent weeks to support domestic tech sectors and cut economic reliance on China, sending shares in Chinese biotech and new energy lower. Shanghai's tech-focused STAR Market - which Beijing hopes will fund China's tech self-sufficiency - has tumbled roughly 30% this year.

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