Author: omc_admin

The Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University has presented an approach for the virtual configuration of battery production facilities. The modelling is to be used primarily for setting up cell production at the Fraunhofer Research Production Battery Cell FFB facility in Münster. The PEM Chair has been working on the digitalisation of production processes for several years. The solution now being presented, which focuses on cell production, was unveiled at a conference in New York State in July and, according to RWTH Aachen University, has now been published as a freely accessible paper in…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most members of the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate setting committee supported further reductions to its key interest rate this year, minutes from last month’s meeting, released Wednesday, showed. A majority of Fed officials felt that the risk that unemployment would rise had worsened since their previous meeting in July, while the risk of rising inflation “had either diminished or not increased,” the minutes said. As a result, the central bank decided at its Sept. 16-17 meeting to reduce its key rate by a quarter-point, its first cut this year, to about 4.1%.Rate cuts by the Fed can lower…

Canada’s Cenovus Energy Inc. increased its takeover bid for rival MEG Energy Corp. one day before MEG investors were due to vote, signaling that the companies’ original deal didn’t have enough shareholder support.  The new cash-and-stock offer from Cenovus values MEG at C$29.80 per share, or C$7.6 billion ($5.4 billion), based on Tuesday’s closing price. That’s a bump of about 5% from the previous offer, which the MEG board agreed to in August.  Cenovus is also offering more stock this time: the new proposed transaction is half shares, half cash. The previous bid would have paid shareholders three-quarters cash, and…

(Bloomberg) — Canada’s Cenovus Energy Inc. increased its takeover bid for rival MEG Energy Corp. one day before MEG investors were due to vote, signaling that the companies’ original deal didn’t have enough shareholder support.  The new cash-and-stock offer from Cenovus values MEG at C$29.80 per share, or C$7.6 billion ($5.4 billion), based on Tuesday’s closing price. That’s a bump of about 5% from the previous offer, which the MEG board agreed to in August.  Cenovus is also offering more stock this time: the new proposed transaction is half shares, half cash. The previous bid would have paid…

Scientists at the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other research institutions have developed a polymer that reduces the interfacial resistance of solid-state batteries, thereby advancing the development of this promising battery technology. Solid-state batteries are expected to offer several advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries, particularly in terms of safety, energy density and service life. However, they are not yet ready for the market. Scientists at the IMR have now taken a decisive step forward: they have developed a new polymer electrode electrolyte material for solid-state lithium batteries. This new polymer is designed to…

At Busworld, Irizar is putting the spotlight on a new offshoot of the Irizar i3 electric and a new generation of its Irizar ie bus electric city bus. Both vehicles are designed to score points above all with greater efficiency, which is why Irizar also describes the models as representatives of its new ‘Efficient Series.’ The redesigned ie bus (Class I) and the new i3 electric Normal Floor (Class II) are on display at the Irizar stand at the Brussels trade fair until tomorrow. The former is a city bus, while the latter is an intercity bus. The i3 is…

WTI/CL Technical Analysis The light sweet crude oil market has rallied a bit to break above the crucial $62 level, an area that is the top of the overall support zone that’s been holding this market together. Ultimately, if we can continue to rally, then the 50-day EMA comes into the picture near the $63.60 level, followed by $65 a barrel. Ultimately, we do have a lot of questions out there about demand and, more importantly, over supply. So, I do think the upside is limited. Signs of exhaustion, more likely than not, will continue to be sold as we…

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced the launch of “ISO 17298: Biodiversity for organizations,” a new standard aimed at helping organizations to assess and address their biodiversity impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities. According to ISO, the new standard comes amidst growing regulatory, reputational, and operational pressures from increasing biodiversity risks, with $44 trillion, or over half of global GDP, moderately or highly dependent on nature. As pressure increases, and as companies integrate biodiversity considerations into organizational strategies and operations, however, the lack of a common biodiversity framework “has contributed to fragmented approaches and growing confusion as nature-related risks and…

Renault’s electric car division Ampere has opened its battery cell laboratory, announced last year, at the Renault Group Technical Centre south of Paris. It combines the development of cell prototypes with the evaluation of battery cell performance and behaviour. It has been known since March 2024 that Ampere has begun construction of a battery cell laboratory at the Renault Group Technical Centre in Lardy, France. Now, the new site, with a total area of 3,000 square metres, has been officially inaugurated. The new battery cell laboratory is entirely dedicated to the development and evaluation of battery cell prototypes. Ampere’s goal…

Toyota and Sumitomo Metal Mining said on Wednesday they have made advances in the development of cathode materials for all-solid-state batteries for electric cars, and have agreed to work together to mass produce those materials.Solid-state batteries hold the promise of improved safety, a longer lifespan and faster charging compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries that use flammable liquid electrolytes.But mass adoption remains some way off due to constraints in raw material availability, intricate manufacturing processes and the resultant high costs.Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker by sales, is looking to launch EVs with all-solid-state batteries in 2027 or…