US President Joe Biden travelled to Philadelphia last week to announce the recipients of R132 billion in federal grants across 16 states for the development of seven regional hydrogen hubs, advancing a key part of a plan to decarbonise the US economy.
The announcement of the funding to boost manufacturing and blue-collar jobs was held in Pennsylvania – a state that could determine the 2024 presidential election – underscoring the power Biden wields as he spends the upcoming months doling out money flowing from his landmark pieces of legislation that remain largely unknown to large swaths of the American public.
The seven proposed hubs involving companies ranging from Exxon Mobil to Amazon were selected, with their projects spanning 16 states from Pennsylvania to California.
The programme is intended to jump-start the production of "clean hydrogen" along with the infrastructure needed to get it to industrial users like steelmakers and cement plants.
"I'm here to announce one of the largest advanced manufacturing investments in the history of this nation," Biden said. "He noted that the total investment will reach R948 billion when taking into account additional investments from private companies.
Some 79 proposals had initially applied for the money.
Hydrogen is produced by electrolysing water, and the fuel can be considered clean – or low-emission – if it is produced using renewable energy, nuclear energy or natural gas with carbon-capture technology included.
Biden's administration has set a target to increase clean hydrogen output to 10 million metric tons by 2030, and 50 million by 2050, up fivefold from today – and considers the fuel an ideal option for cutting emissions from tough-to-decarbonise industrial users like steel and cement.
Industry representatives have expressed concerns about the economics of rapid development, however, citing high interest rates, inflation and uncertainty around permitting and access to additional federal subsidies.
Nissan Motor Co, Ltd and Wayve have announced definitive agreements to collaborate on integrating next-generation ProPILOT technology with Wayve's artificial intelligence software across a broad range of Nissan vehicles.
SCW Group’s multi-franchise set-up in Milnerton in the Western Cape now also boasts a brand-new Mahindra dealership.
The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced the long-awaited semi-finalists for the 40th edition of the prestigious 2026 Car of the Year (COTY) competition, held annually since 1986.
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According to a Reuters report, Ford and Renault have agreed to work together on a new generation of compact, lower-priced electric cars for Europe, while also expanding cooperation on commercial vans, as both manufacturers seek to defend their market positions against increasingly aggressive Chinese rivals.
As South Africa forges ahead in the automotive landscape, a notable divide has emerged in the growing realm of new-energy vehicles.
Kenya’s automotive industry recently made headlines when Tad Motors unveiled its first range of locally assembled electric vehicles (EVs), igniting discussions across Africa about the continent’s growing capacity for indigenous mobility solutions.
