EV cars – Schneider Electric and GR3N have joined forces to develop the first open automation system for advanced plastic recycling 12-09-2024
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Chinese passenger vehicle sales dropped for the fifth consecutive month in August, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association
Sales declined 1.1% year-on-year to 1.92 million units, improving slightly from a 3.1% fall in July. Despite the overall decline, sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs), including electric and plug-in hybrid models, surged 43.2%, making up 53.5% of total car sales. BYD and Tesla led the NEV market, setting sales records.
Car exports also rose, up 24% following a 20% increase in July. However, consumer confidence continues to wane, with more trade-ins than first-time purchases. EV cars
Subsidies are available for drivers switching from petrol-powered vehicles, offering up to 20,000 yuan ($2,823) for those buying NEVs and up to 15,000 yuan for smaller-engine alternatives.
Local EV makers Nio and Xpeng introduced lower-priced brands to address shifting demand. Despite rising NEV sales, dealerships face challenges due to falling car prices. Over half of dealerships reported losses in the first half of the year, up 7.3 percentage points from 2023. China Grand Automotive Services, the second-largest dealership, was delisted from the Shanghai Stock Exchange in August after its stock traded below par value for 20 days straight. EV cars
Schneider Electric and GR3N have joined forces to develop the first open automation system for advanced plastic recycling
GR3N’s innovative technology, MADE (Microwave Assisted Depolymerisation), breaks down PET plastics into their chemical components, allowing for the production of new, high-quality PET pellets used in packaging and textiles. This process, based on alkaline hydrolysis, is more efficient at handling impurities than existing methods. EV cars
In March 2024, GR3N demonstrated MADE alongside Schneider’s EcoStruxure Automation Expert at their site in Italy. The plant’s modular design is built for scaling, with the first industrial facility planned in Spain, expected to process over 40,000 tons of PET waste annually. GR3N’s system, based on the IEC 61499 standard, allows seamless hardware-software integration, enabling flexible and scalable operations.
The collaboration offers several benefits, including reduced engineering costs, faster time-to-market, and the ability to scale without vendor constraints. The open automation system simplifies control, enhances data analytics, and integrates operational and IT functions, providing new optimization opportunities. Furthermore, it attracts a next-gen workforce with its modern, IT-aligned approach. EV cars
This partnership aims to scale to new sites rapidly, with the first large-scale plant set for 2027, positioning GR3N and Schneider Electric at the forefront of sustainable plastic recycling.
In August, prices for PVC and PET bottle resin declined after two consecutive months of increases
The drop in PET bottle resin prices was largely due to fluctuations in raw material costs. PVC saw a similar decline, reflecting shifts in supply and demand dynamics. Both materials had experienced a summer price surge, but August brought a reversal as the market adjusted to changing conditions.
Key factors contributing to the price drops included lower feedstock costs and reduced demand in certain sectors. PET, commonly used in beverage bottles, was particularly affected by decreasing prices of raw materials like paraxylene and PTA. Meanwhile, PVC, essential in construction and piping, faced a softening market as production stabilized and demand dipped. EV cars
The price decreases came after a period of volatility, highlighting the sensitivity of these materials to global economic trends and the supply chain. Manufacturers and buyers are now watching for signs of further adjustments in the coming months, especially with ongoing uncertainties in energy markets and raw material availability.
In summary, August saw a notable reduction in PVC and PET bottle resin prices, driven by lower raw material costs and market recalibrations after previous increases. This development may signal further price adjustments in the near future. EV cars
The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) represent a new global power shift, with Russia and China at the forefront
From Yalta in 1945 to the upcoming October summit in Kazan, Russia, 29,108 days have passed, yet the rules governing the world remain unsettled. The BRICS, once dismissed as “emerging economies,” now represent nearly half the global population and a quarter of its GDP, challenging both the G7 and the United Nations.
Key players, Russia and China, are using their influence in Africa, Asia, and beyond to reshape global dynamics. Russia has ousted former French colonial powers in Africa, controlling crucial resources like uranium. Through “proxy” politics, they wield power as the U.S. once did. Meanwhile, China secures mineral resources and strategic access in Africa by investing heavily in infrastructure projects. EV cars
In Asia, Xi Jinping controls North Korea and asserts dominance over Taiwan, while Iran, aligned with BRICS powers, strengthens its regional influence. This alliance presents a stark challenge to Western powers, including the U.S., EU, and a weakened United Nations. The Kazan summit, held just before the U.S. presidential elections, marks a pivotal moment in this evolving geopolitical landscape, where new alliances are shaping the future.
How much worse are coloured plastics for the environment?
Studies are finding more reason to boycott coloured plastic products.
In 2020, Clover Milk released their new blue milk bottles, in an effort to differentiate themselves from other white milk cartons on supermarket shelves. But as those on social media at the time will remember, this marketing ploy prompted a negative response from the public, including the #BoycottTheBlueBottle campaign. This was motivated largely by the fact that blue plastic is much less valuable at recycling plants and is therefore less likely to be recycled at all. EV cars
Now, four years later in 2024, studies are finding more reason to boycott coloured plastics.
A study done by the University of Cape Town and University of Leicester has shown that coloured plastics have a higher susceptibility to degradation when compared to plain plastics.
Faster rates of deterioration means more plastics breaking down into microplastics – which are harder to manage and can persist in ecosystems for decades.
Plastics consist of polymers which break down over time – a process accelerated by exposure to various elements. EV cars
Mario Draghi urges Europe to develop a comprehensive plan for electric vehicles, focusing on batteries, charging infrastructure, and raw materials
In his report, “The Future of European Competitiveness,” presented with Ursula von der Leyen, Draghi emphasizes the need for urgent action to revive the struggling EV sector. He warns that without a solid industrial policy, Europe risks losing production to foreign competitors. EV cars
Key steps include increased financial support for businesses and a clear roadmap for electrification, battery development, and resource management. Draghi highlights the importance of utilizing Europe’s resources through recycling and raw material extraction, suggesting the EU could meet over half its metal needs for clean technologies by 2050.
Criticizing Europe’s delayed response, Draghi points out that while China has been building its EV supply chain since 2012, the EU only launched the European Battery Alliance in 2017. EV cars
This delay has left Europe behind in both technology and charging infrastructure, with Chinese manufacturers now dominating the market at lower costs. As a result, European market share has shrunk from 80% to 60%, while China’s has grown from 5% to 15%. Europe, Draghi concludes, must accelerate its efforts to stay competitive.
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