Cars are a major contributor to Japans economy with 5.5m or 24% of employees, and contribute 14% of all exports. Toyota’s no-ev strategy could mean Japan loses 14% of its GDP and $700 billion of exports as other EV makers overtake Toyota globally.
It is becoming clear that batteries will drive the electrification of transport. Batteries are demonstrating that hydrogen and synthetic fuels are losing ground to the 22% learning curve of batteries. Biofuels may be the only transition fuel for long range aircraft.
The Tesla Semi large truck will be at least 84% cheaper for fuel costs than equivalent large diesel trucks. Combined with more torque, regenerative braking increased purchase costs suggest less than a 2 year payback.
Tesla has led innovation into grid, industrial and home storage with their range of batteries. The lines are blurred with home batteries now providing grid virtual power plant services.
Batteries made from CO2 compression and expansion have moved from lab to deployment. Offering low cost, longer term storage utilising standard equipment.
Agromining using hyperaccumulator plants would be a very profitable crop in the tropics. Research from University of Queensland shows promise from nickel.
Steel accounts for 6% of global emissions. With a small number of iron ore miners and steel producers – what are technologies to de carbonise the industry?
With the exit of coal mines, use of green hydrogen and renewable energy for steel making, and full deployment will the number of mines crash?
Direct lithium extraction is used in land based brines by a number of companies, but the vision is that the ocean has huge quantities, or could be extracted as part of desalination.
The total battery capacity for grid home and transportation is about 300TWh of batteries. This will take 10 years of manufacturing and ongoing of about 30TWh per year. Tesla aims to provide 10% of that battery capacity.
