This week we are joined by a special guest, Dr. K. Venkatesh Prasad, the Senior Vice President of Research and Chief Innovation Officer at CAR.
Dr. Prasad discusses the rush of automakers investing in mines. Recent investments in the EV market include universities, USPS, and state governments that hope to build a growing workforce. The word on everyone’s lips is hydrogen, as the pressure to achieve zero-emission vehicles builds.
We would love to hear from you and welcome your questions at any time. If you're interested in sharing your thoughts with us on hot topics, or if you would like to ask us a research question, please reach out to Carolyn Mozheev.
Hot Topics of 3/10/2023
The Scramble for Resources:
-
EU, US working on deal to make EV minerals eligible for tax credits -EU official
-
China's CATL sells $405 mln stake in Australian lithium miner Pilbara
Prasad’s thoughts:
Every dollar spent by automakers in the race upstream to the mines is a dollar taken away from downstream product development, so while one end of the supply chain gets secure, the other end gets more exposed. We’ll have to watch this space closely to see how long this upstream race will last and how it might pay off or backfire.
Investments in the EV Market:
-
GM, Ford partner with state and universities to recruit future EV workforce
-
Postal Service taps Ford to build more than 9,000 electric delivery trucks
These are exciting times for public education, as the large public and private investments in electric vehicles (EVs) and EV infrastructure create incentives for educators to reshape curricula, both coursework and laboratory training, to better match the growing needs of automotive employers.
Zero Emission Vehicles:
-
Honda’s zero-emission stationary fuel cell provides backup power to a data center
-
Explainer: What are e-fuels, and can they help make cars CO2-free?
-
First Hydrogen designs next-generation zero-emission vehicle
Prasad’s thoughts:
While the markets are abuzz with battery electric vehicles, public and private investors must have an eye on a future beyond mineral-intense batteries, or we’ll fall behind, once again, as we did with BEVs. New concepts and low-volume products with hydrogen fuel cells are making their way into the hands of early adopters now, and the time is ripe for innovation and partnerships.
To read previous Hot Topics, please visit our Feature Stories tab at cargroup.org. 
Best Regards,
Alan AmiciPresident and CEOCenter for Automotive Research
