Hyundai Heavy and Magna E-Car to develop Li-ion battery
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Magna E-Car Systems, a global supplier of components and systems for hybrid (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs), agreed on April 2 to form a joint venture named MAHY E-Cell as a platform to co-develop and grow a battery cell and battery pack business. Under the agreement, HHI and Magna E-Car will jointly conduct engineering, design, development, and testing activities with the goal of preliminary validation of battery cell and battery pack technologies for EV and HEV applications. HHI expects the joint venture, which will be owned 60% by Magna E-Car and 40% by HHI, to serve as a stepping stone to enter the Energy Storage System (ESS) business and plans to link its solar and wind power business with ESS as a new growth opportunity. HHI is an integrated heavy industries company with business divisions specializing in shipbuilding, marine engines and machinery, and construction equipment, among other sectors.
Guangxi Yuchai to develop natural gas engines
Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co. Ltd. (GYMCL), the main operating subsidiary of China Yuchai International Ltd., has begun a new project to develop and produce a full portfolio of natural gas-powered engines to complement its current diesel-engine range, primarily for the large bus, mid- to heavy-duty truck, power generator, and marine engine markets. A new facility, with a capacity to produce 20,000 gas engines, will be constructed at the company’s main facility at Yulin City, Guangxi Province. It is expected to be operational in early 2013. The new facility also will undertake R&D efforts to advance production capabilities. GYMCL notes that China’s 12th Five-Year Plan targets natural gas to make up 8.3% of the primary energy mix by 2015, which represents about 9.2 trillion ft3 (260 billion m3) of gas, more than three times the consumption in 2008. According to GYMCL, the country’s major oil companies, China National Petroleum Corp., China Petrochemical Corp., and China National Offshore Oil Corp., are actively building pipelines and facilities to increase the use of natural gas.
SAE launches A/C conformance program and database
In response to industry and consumer requests, SAE International has developed a new program to provide conformance measures for the mobile air-conditioning (MAC) industry. Overseen by SAE International's Interior Climate Control Standards Committee, the program offers a procedure for certifying compliance with appropriate SAE International technical standards. It can be used by MAC manufacturers, along with testing facilities and providers of technical training. While certification of any product is voluntary, suppliers or manufacturers that advertise their products as certified to an SAE International “J” standard are required to follow the procedures established by the respective program (the organization has similar conformance programs addressing engine power ratings). In this case, the certification is designed to raise the level of confidence and to assure consumers of MAC components, equipment, and technician training programs that the providers are following and meeting the expected performance criteria set by SAE International standards. The program is governed by SAE J2911—“Procedure for Certification that Requirements for Mobile Air Conditioning System Components, Service Equipment, and Service Technician Training Meet SAE J Standards,” a revised version of which was issued in January. MAC industry suppliers may register for the program at http://macdb.sae.org/. The SAE MAC Manufacturer Database website also provides information about companies that have submitted claims of conformance. For more information, contact SAE conformance program manager Gary Pollak at gary@sae.org.
Corning prepares for growth in heavy-duty diesel products
Corning Inc. has entered into new multiyear supply agreements with heavy-duty diesel engine, truck, construction, and agricultural equipment manufacturers, reserving a substantial portion of its current and future diesel capacity for their needs. “This is an important step toward strategically managing capacity constraints and supporting key customers during a critical growth period,” said Mark A. Beck, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Corning Environmental Technologies. “We plan to optimize our current production capability, expand existing facilities, and invest in a new manufacturing facility to assure a reliable supply of diesel products to our core customers for years to come.” Beck told investors at a November conference that demand for Corning’s heavy-duty diesel products could triple in the next five years due to tightening global regulations. He also announced a price increase for heavy-duty substrates, effective January 2012, and Corning’s plan for a second dedicated heavy-duty diesel facility to support projected market needs. The global site-selection process for that facility is now under way and is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2012.
SDCmaterials begins field trials for emission control catalysts
SDCmaterials, a Tempe, AZ-based developer of advanced high-performance catalyst materials, has commenced field trials for its Nano-Nano-Micron (NNm) emission control catalyst product. As part of this final phase of pre-production testing, the company’s NNm product will be deployed as the active catalyst ingredient within a critical exhaust system component used on municipal transit buses. This is a joint project between SDCmaterials Inc. and a major European exhaust gas aftertreatment and systems company. The exhaust system components targeted in these field trials rely on high-cost platinum group metals (PGM) to oxidize soot and convert CO and HC into CO2 and water. SDC’s catalysts are produced using a proprietary process that results in a unique nano-scale PGM structure. “The cost and performance benefits of our NNm emission control catalysts have been proven in synthetic gas and vehicle drive-cycle tests with multiple OEMs in various light-duty and heavy-duty emissions control applications,” said Maximilian Biberger, CEO of SDCmaterials Inc. The company has production facilities in Schwarzheide, Germany.
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SDCmaterials’ Nano-Nano-Micron catalyst material is said to “substantially reduce” the amount of platinum group metals required to meet stringent emissions control requirements.
EU proposes lower vehicle noise limits
The European Commission have recently published a new draft regulation on motor vehicle sound levels, according to InterRegs, an online resource for global vehicle safety and emissions regulations. In addition to limiting noise levels, the proposal would establish a new procedure for measuring noise emissions and new requirements on the minimum sound generated by electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. The reduced noise limits would be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, applicable two years after the publication of the regulation, the noise limits applicable to heavy trucks would be reduced by 1 dB (A) to between 77 and 82 dB (A), dependent on engine power and drive configuration. The noise limits applicable to other types of vehicles would be reduced by 2 dB (A) to between 70 and 79 dB (A), dependent on vehicle type, GVWR, engine power, and drive configuration. In the second phase, applicable five years after the publication, the noise limits would be reduced by a further 2 dB (A) for all vehicle types.
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