Labor Department Highlights Child Labor Issue With Chinese Batteries
Munich Re to stop supporting oil/gas projects by 10/23; Daimler Freightliner gets order for add’l 250 heavy-duty e-trucks; Volvo EV will increasingly be V2G capable; European rental car co Sixt to get up to 100,000 BYD EVs over next 6 years; US fast charge battery company EnPower opens 800 MWh, 92,000 sq ft plant in Indianapolis for advanced lithium-ion batteries; U.S Labor Dept adds Chinese batteries to list of goods related to child- or forced-labor; iron-air battery co Form Energy scores add’l $450 mn in financing; Duke Energy proposes 24X7 clean energy tariff for large customers in SC; Belgium's transmission operator plans for 12-acre artificial energy island, to support 3,500 MW of wind and connect w/Denmark and UK grids; CA startup SolarCycle to partner w/Sunrun in recycling used solar modules; Consolidated Edison to sell ConEdison Clean Energy Businesses to RWE Renewables Americas for $6.8 billion.
1) World's largest re-insurance co, Munich Re, to cease investing in and underwriting oil and gas projects as of 10/23,
2) North American logistics co Pride Group Enterprises orders 250 Daimler Freightliner heavy duty electric trucks, for short and long-term rental in U.S. Battery pack options range from 194 to 440 kWh w/maximum 230-mile range.
3) Volvo models will increasingly support bidirectional charging, via both AC and DC, and charge and discharge at 11 kW.
4) European rental car company Sixt and Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD sign agreement for up to 100,000 BYD EVs over the next 6 years. New electric fleet will be rolled out in Germany, France, the Netherlands and the UK.
5) US fast charge battery company EnPower inaugurates 800 MWh, 92,000 sq ft plant in Indianapolis to produce advanced lithium-ion batteries.
6) U.S Labor Department issues report stating Chinese batteries may be supported by child labor, adds batteries to list of goods made with materials known to be produced with child or forced labor.
7) Long-duration iron-air battery co Form Energy closes on add’l $450 million of financing, to be used to grow staff, continue tech validation, and progress towards commercial mode. Form to announce factory location shortly.
8) Duke Energy proposes tariff to allow large customers to contract w/Duke Energy's two South Carolina utilities to access clean energy from Duke-owned assets and third-party owned resources, w/goal of 24X7 clean energy match.
9) Belgium's transmission system operator presents draft plans, for 12-acre artificial energy island, 25 miles offshore, to support up to 3,500 MW of wind and serve as a hub to connect w/Denmark and UK power grids.
10) California startup SolarCycle to partner w/Sunrun in recycling components of used solar panels.
11) Consolidated Edison to sell its ConEdison Clean Energy Businesses to RWE Renewables Americas, in deal valued at $6.8 billion.