Author: omc_admin

Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture between Standard Lithium Ltd. and Equinor, is proud to announce that its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project has been selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects to be advanced under Executive Order 14241, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, issued on March 20, 2025, by President Trump.This prestigious designation, announced by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council, underscores the project’s strategic importance to national security, economic prosperity, and energy independence. The SWA Project, a cornerstone of Smackover Lithium’s mission to bolster domestic…

The Japanese motor company has committed 10bn Yuan to its Chinese operation, stating at the Shanghai auto show that it sees the country as the ideal market in which it can develop EVs. The company also unveiled its electric N7 sedan as well as a hybrid pickup truck, the Frontier Pro PHEV. The investment will be made by the end of 2026, and will help the company develop 10 new cars in China – all of which will be exported. Stephen Ma, head of Nissan’s Chinese operations, told a press conference: “With China moving so fast, we want to stay…

Amprius Technologies, Inc., a leader in next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, today announced the launch of its 450 Wh/kg SiCore™ lithium-ion battery. This is Amprius’ most energy-dense SiCore cell, offering 450 Wh/kg and 950 Wh/L, and is expected to move to mass production in the near term through its global manufacturing partners. Built with Amprius’ proprietary silicon anode material system, this SiCore cell delivers up to 80% more energy than conventional lithium-ion cells with graphite anodes. This enhanced energy density translates to extended flight time, greater range, and improved system-level performance, all within a compact, lightweight design.…

South Korea has opened a new charging hub in Goyang, about 20 km northwest of Seoul in the Gyeonggi Province. The new facility is the largest fast-charging station in the country. Water, a fast-charging network division of Brite Energy Partners, built the new fast-charging in Goyang. Located at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX), South Korea’s largest exhibition hall and convention centre, the new facility can serve up to 46 electric vehicles simultaneously, all with high power. To facilitate convenience, Water has divided the new charging hub into two zones and set up both in outdoor parking spaces of KINTEX…

Automotive group Stellantis and US-based battery developer Factorial Energy have successfully validated solid-state battery cells for electric vehicles. The move marks a key milestone on the road to deploying a demonstration fleet equipped with this battery technology next year. The technology validation builds on Stellantis’ $75 million investment in Factorial in 2021. Mercedes-Benz also joined Factorial at the time and began testing the technology in a modified EQS in February 2025. Last autumn, Stellantis and Factorial announced plans to launch a demonstration fleet of the Dodge Charger Daytona equipped with solid-state batteries in 2026. It is precisely for this purpose…

Food logistics company Nagel-Group has just expanded its delivery fleet with 20 new electric trucks, with the first vehicles already in operation. The company is also investing in truck charging infrastructure, with fast charging stations now open in four locations. The additions include six Volvo FH Aero Electric and 14 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 trucks, which will be used for food transportation on both regional and long-range jobs. It’s part of a wider electrification initiative by Nagel-Group, which began using electric semi-trailer trucks back in 2022. The roll-out of the electric trucks will be staggered throughout 2025; the first vehicles already…

With the ceremonial ground-breaking, construction has officially begun on the second and largest phase of the battery cell research and production facility (FFB Fab) in Münster, Germany. The expansion will enable large-scale, gigawatt-level production research. Covering a space of 20,000 square metres, the new site will house state-of-the-art production and research facilities aimed at enabling industrial-scale research and development in the gigawatt range, according to Fraunhofer FFB. Completion of the construction phase is scheduled for the end of 2027. The smaller FFB PreFab, featuring around 6,800 square metres of research space, has been operational since late April 2024. Professor Achim…

The British military has banned EVs with ‘Chinese parts’ from a secretive site in Cambridge, amid long-standing surveillance concerns. This affects not only Chinese-manufactured BEVs, but those featuring components manufactured in China. According to The i Paper, Ministry of Defence (MoD) staff working at the RAF Wyton military base in Cambridgeshire have been told to park their EVs a minimum of two miles away from key buildings. Certain BEVs have also been banned from the UK’s military training ground on Salisbury Plain in Somerset. James Bore, a cybersecurity expert, told The i Paper that EVs have the potential for ‘misuse’…

Will Ongoing Supply Concerns Drag Oil Prices Lower? Oil is heading for a weekly loss of over 2% as oversupply fears and shaky demand outlooks weigh heavily on the market. Analysts from LSEG highlighted persistent concerns about rising OPEC+ output and a stronger U.S. dollar adding further pressure to prices. Recent suggestions that OPEC+ could accelerate production hikes as early as June have fueled bearish sentiment. How Are Trade Tensions Between the U.S. and China Impacting Crude Oil? Hopes for a thaw in U.S.-China trade relations were dashed when China’s foreign ministry denied any active tariff talks, contradicting earlier claims…

AccuWeather long-range experts are predicting wildfires to burn more land across the United States this year compared to the historical average, AccuWeather stated in a media advisory sent to Rigzone this week by the AccuWeather team. “We’ve seen fires reported across 20 states that have already burned nearly one million acres so far this year,” AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok said in the advisory. “AccuWeather is forecasting seven to nine million acres to burn across the country this year, which is more than the historical average,” he added. In the advisory, AccuWeather highlighted that nearly nine million acres burned…