Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Magna | Kotagiri Replaces Walker as CEO
Seetarama (Swamy) Kotagiri has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Magna effective January 01, 2021. He succeeds Don Walker, who has led the company as CEO since 2005 and will retire at the end of 2020. Kotagiri has more than 25 years of experience in the automotive industry and has been with Magna for 21 years. In his previous role as Chief Technology Officer, Kotagiri was responsible for managing the company's new innovation and product strategy and product development. He has also held various executive positions, including President of Magna Electronics, Magna Powertrain and the company's Power and Vision segment.
Hyundai | SK Innovation | Cooperation on Batteries
Hyundai Motor Group and SK Innovation have agreed to work together in the future to develop a sustainable system for electric vehicle batteries. The cooperation between the two companies will cover the entire life cycle of a high-voltage battery, including battery sales and distribution, the management of batteries during their use, and their reuse and recycling. A focus will be on the use of batteries throughout their entire value chain, which is also known as Battery-as-a-Service and includes both leasing and rental services. The aim is to strengthen the battery supply chain and create a cycle of resources from production to recycling. The overall objective will be to make the entire process more environmentally friendly. At the beginning of the cooperation, data from a battery-powered Kia model will be collected and analyzed.
ASAP | Extended Testing Capacity for Electromobility
ASAP is investing in new validation systems for the testing of inverters. After the expansion of the ISO/ICE 17025 accredited testing laboratory in Ingolstadt (Germany) in 2018 and the establishment of the electromobility testing center in Sachsenheim (Germany) in 2019, the group has increased its capacities and improved the consistency in the testing of electric drives. Ten additional test benches for endurance testing of power electronics and electric drives have already been put into operation this year. By February 2021, two further e-axle test benches are to be added in Sachsenheim. In addition, ASAP is currently setting up further testbeds in Ingolstadt for testing inverters and power electronics.
Keyou | EU Becomes Shareholder
For the first time, the European Union directly supports a project on the hydrogen engine. The investment of up to 7 million euros by the European Innovation Council (EIC) also includes a direct participation in Keyou. The company has made it through a multi-stage application process and is now officially part of the EIC's Horizon 2020 accelerator funding program: "EU participation in Keyou is a clear political signal that the hydrogen combustion engine is now officially regarded by politicians as a key technology for achieving climate protection targets in mobility," says Thomas Korn, CEO and co-founder of Keyou.
Traton | Hino | Joint Venture for E-Mobility Products
Traton and Hino Motors, a CV manufacturer that is part of the Toyota Group have signed a joint venture agreement for the planning and provision of e-mobility products within the scope of their strategic partnership. Both companies plan to reduce the lead times for e-mobility products based on battery and fuel cell technology and to develop a joint platform including software and interfaces. Specialist teams will initially work together in a site in Södertälje (Sweden) and later on in Tokyo (Japan). Yoshio Shimo, President and CEO of Hino Motors said, "As leading manufacturers of trucks, we will bundle our strengths in order to be able to offer products based on jointly planned electric heavy duty vehicles that will offer customers the greatest possible benefit."
Impulses
New Year with a Great Duo
I wish all our readers health and strength to be able to deal with uncertainties also in 2021. We would like to give you orientation also in the coming year with strong congresses - in January with the Powertrain of Tomorrow and in February with the 8th International Engine Congress.
The Powertrain of Tomorrow 2021 will take place within the framework of a broader platform, as we are planning our conference Grid Integration + Electrified Mobility in Hanau at the same time. In a technologically open format, future-oriented products and the infrastructure required for them are discussed beyond the boundaries of individual disciplines. Systems thinking is intended to help developers deal better with complex powertrains. Life cycle analyses can support managers in making decisions for sustainable products. The broadened platform aims to make it possible to take greater account of customer requirements for energy supply.
The International Engine Congress 2021 will continue to focus on the combination of combustion engines and synthetic fuels. The statements made by German Minister Presidents Söder and Kretschmann on "getting rid of fossil-fuel combustion engines from 2035" confirm our consistent action in the congress program of recent years. Where do we stand with CO2-neutral fuels? Is the efficiency chain really crucial in the development process? Why do China, Korea and Japan invest in increasing the efficiency of combustion engines, but we don't?
Covid-19 must not be allowed to impede this important exchange of expertise. We are countering this with a great duo. Be part of it - in person in Hanau and Baden-Baden or via live stream.
TÜV Rheinland | ConAC | Test Center for Powertrain Batteries
TÜV Rheinland and Aachen-based ConAC are partnering in the construction of a test center for powertrain batteries. The laboratory is planned to have an area of approximately 2000 m², making it the biggest and most modern of its kind in Europe. The investment volume is over 22 million euros. When fully operational, 25 people will be employed in the test center located in the industrial park "Avantis" in Aachen (Germany). TÜV Rheinland and ConAC are planning a joint venture for the construction and operation of the center starting from September 2021 with TÜV Rheinland as majority shareholder. The laboratory's portfolio will include tests for batteries up to 800 kg based on mandatory specifications for type approval such as ECE R100 for the testing and certification of lithium-ion batteries and UN 38.3 for the transport of powertrain batteries. Further voluntary testing according to manufacturer's specifications for additional quality assurance purposes will also be possible, for example based on the test procedure LV 124 for high voltage batteries.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
People + Companies. MTZ Worldw 82, 6–7 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s38313-020-0605-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s38313-020-0605-z
Share this article
Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:
Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.
Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative