Royal Dutch Shell

ABB, Shell to Launch First Nationwide EV Charging Network in Germany

ABB E-mobility and Shell announced plans to launch the first nationwide network of Terra 360's, the world's fastest all-in-one electric car charger. With over 200 Terra 360 chargers to be launched across Germany in the next 12 months, ABB E-mobility and Shell will help to ensure greater charger availability and charging speed for more than 1.7 million German electric car drivers.

A New Kind of 3D Printing

While 3D printing techniques have advanced significantly in the last decade, the technology continues to face a fundamental limitation: objects must be built up layer by layer. But what if they didn't have to be?

Development of an Oxidation-Resistant Copper Core-Nickel Shell Ink

Scientists have developed a new conductive ink for use in printed electronics with significantly improved resistance to oxidation. After this ink is printed, it self-organizes into a conductive pattern with a copper core-nickel shell nanostructure. Use of this cheaper, more stable ink may help popularize printed electronics.

Ample

Ample, a startup established in 2014 and based out of San Francisco, is developing a modular battery swapping solution. The company is focusing on fleets, has integrated its modular batteries into nine vehicle models across five different automakers, and has five swapping stations across San Francisco. Ample's goal is to offer fully automated battery swaps in around ten minutes at small, self-contained swap stations.

Carboclave

Carboclave is a Canadian carbontech utilizing carbon dioxide as a property-enhancing curing agent for prefabricated concrete. In October 2021, IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr Hydra Rodrigues spoke to Dr Zaid Ghouleh, Carboclave's Co-Founder and Co-Owner.

Shell and BYD Partner on EV Charging Across China and Europe

Shell and BYD have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to help accelerate the energy transition and improve charging experience for BYD's battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle customers. The partnership will start in China and Europe and will extend to other regions across the globe.

SAFINA

SAFINA is a metal materials company specializing in precious metal and nonferrous metal products. IDTechEx spoke with Petr Stefek, head of additive manufacturing at SAFINA, on their metal AM powders activities.

Lightweight Supercapacitor-Battery Hybrid is Strong as Steel

Like the charged power suit worn by Black Panther of Marvel Comics, researchers have advanced NASA technologies to develop a power suit for an electric car that is as strong as steel, lighter than aluminum and helps boosts the vehicle's power capacity.

FUCHS: Dielectric Immersion Fluids for EVs

FUCHS are a global supplier of lubrication solutions. IDTechEx spoke to FUCHS to learn more about their dielectric fluids for immersion cooling EV battery packs.

Itero

Itero is a start-up developing pyrolysis technology for plastic waste. IDTechEx spoke with Geoff Smith (COO/CTO) and Dr Abi Mountain (Head of Product and Partnerships).

Fingertip Sensitivity for Robots

The thumb-shaped sensor is made of a soft shell built around a lightweight stiff skeleton. This skeleton holds up the structure much like bones stabilize the soft finger tissue. The shell is made from an elastomer mixed with dark but reflective aluminum flakes, resulting in an opaque greyish color which prevents any external light finding its way in. Hidden inside this finger-sized cap is a tiny 160-degree fish-eye camera which records colorful images illuminated by a ring of LEDs.

Partnership to Build an Integrated Sustainable Fuels Plant

This partnership will utilize carbon capture and sequestration, renewable energy, and other innovative practices to bring lower-cost, low carbon-intensity sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and other sustainable hydrocarbons to the global market and help accelerate the decarbonization of various industries, including the tough to decarbonize aviation sector.

Rivian: Electric Passenger Trucks

Rivian, the US electric passenger truck startup, has had a rollercoaster ride over the past several months, including a wild IPO that briefly saw Rivian become the fourth most valuable automaker in the world. Yet, the share price soon fell as Rivian missed delivery targets (delivering just 920 vehicles in 2021); investor Amazon turned to Stellantis. IDTechEx explores the company's strengths, weaknesses and future.

Making Metal-Halide Perovskites Useful

Two of the main drawbacks of using tin-based metal halide perovskites in thin-film transistors have been simultaneously solved by an innovative hybrid 2D/3D structure proposed by scientists. Their findings will help unlock the potential of environmentally benign Sn-based MHPs in CMOS technology, paving the way for flexible and printable electronic devices.

3D Printed Tags Classify and Store Data on Physical Objects

In place of the standard barcodes affixed to products, which may be removed or detached or become otherwise unreadable over time, these tags are unobtrusive (due to the fact that they are invisible) and far more durable, given that they're embedded within the interior of objects fabricated on standard 3D printers

Tonnes of Used Face Masks to Be Turned into Energy

Researchers have developed a new technology for producing cost-effective batteries from medical waste. The authors of the research claim that their technology could turn waste that is difficult to recycle into raw materials, according to a study published in the Journal of Energy Storage.

Britishvolt to Build UK Battery Gigaplant to Meet EV Demand

Britishvolt is powering ahead with its historic plans for its first full-scale electric-vehicle Gigaplant in Northumberland and is delighted that the project is receiving support from the Government through its Automotive Transformation Fund, delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre.

Perovskite Solar Cell with Ultra Long Stability

Perovskites are the great hope for further increasing the efficiency of solar modules in the future. Until now, their short service life has been considered the biggest hurdle to their practical use, but this could soon change.

University of Sheffield, ITM Power Announce Green Hydrogen Gigafactory

The University of Sheffield and ITM Power have launched a pioneering collaboration to advance the hydrogen sector, including an agreement for a new ITM Gigafactory and a joint plan to launch a National Hydrogen Research, Innovation and Skills Centre.

LanzaTech

LanzaTech is a biotech company developing gas fermentation technology to create valuable products - such as jet fuel and high-value chemicals - using waste gas streams. In November 2021, IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr. Hydra Rodrigues spoke to Babette Pettersen, vice-president (Europe) at LanzaTech.