Panasonic Energy Gears Up for Mass Production of 4680 EV Batteries Source : https://www.evlife.my/blog/panasonic-energy-gears-up-for-mass-production-of-4680-ev-batteries Panasonic Holdings' energy unit has finalized preparations for the mass production of its 4680 electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The company announced that its renovated plant in Wakayama will serve as the primary factory for producing these advanced cells, which boast five times the capacity of the smaller 2170 cylindrical batteries¹. The 4680 cells are expected to significantly enhance the driving range of electric vehicles while reducing the number of cells needed to achieve the same battery pack capacity. This innovation marks a crucial step forward in the EV industry, as automakers strive to improve efficiency and performance. Panasonic Energy has already sent samples of the 4680 batteries to some of its automotive partners and plans to commence production once it receives approval from these clients. The company aims to start production within the first half of the current business year, which began in April. The Wakayama plant is projected to employ around 400 staff members by March 2025, focusing on the development and production of the new batteries. This facility will also serve as a testing ground for processes that could be implemented at other battery factories worldwide. Panasonic Energy currently manufactures 2170 and 1860 cylindrical EV batteries at its Suminoe and Kaizuka plants in Japan. The addition of the 4680 cells to its production lineup underscores the company's commitment to advancing battery technology and supporting the growing demand for electric vehicles.

#iPhone16 #appleevent 蘋果公司正式推出最新款 iPhone 16，為消費者帶來了更多革新功能和優化設計。此次發表會上，iPhone 16 成為關注焦點，不僅延續了前一代 iPhone 15 的核心技術，還在多個方面做出了顯著改進。本文將對兩代產品進行詳細對比，幫助消費者了解 iPhone 16 與 iPhone 15 的主要差異。 1. 設計與外觀上的改革 在外觀設計上，iPhone 16 延續了 iPhone 15 的經典風格，但邊框變得更加纖薄，螢幕的佔比進一步提升，帶來更沉浸的視覺體驗。此外，iPhone 16 採用了全新的「鈦金屬邊框」，使機身更加輕盈堅固，而 iPhone 15 則是使用鋁合金材質。 iPhone 16 在顏色選擇上也有所創新，除了延續 iPhone 15 的傳統配色外，還推出了兩款全新色調，為消費者提供更多個性化選擇，不過這次的顏色似乎在年輕一代的消費族群有不同的反響。 2. 螢幕技術 iPhone 16 搭載全新一代的 ProMotion 顯示技術，支援高達 120Hz 的自適應刷新率，與 iPhone 15 的 60Hz 螢幕相比，畫面滑動更加流暢，適合高需求的使用情境，特別是在遊戲和多媒體應用中能提供更佳的體驗。此外，iPhone 16 的亮度和對比度也進一步提升，即使在陽光下仍能清晰顯示。 3. 處理器與效能 在效能方面，iPhone 16 內建了全新 A18 仿生晶片，具備更強的運算能力和能效表現。與 iPhone 15 的 A17 仿生晶片相比，iPhone 16 的 CPU 和 GPU 表現均有約 15% 的提升，讓多工處理和重度應用運行更加順暢，並且能更好地支援未來的 AI 和機器學習功能。 4. 相機系統 拍攝方面，iPhone 16 的主鏡頭進行了大幅升級，配備了 5000 萬像素的感測器，比 iPhone 15 的 4800 萬像素更加細緻。夜拍模式在 iPhone 16 上得到了進一步優化，新增了「智慧夜間處理」功能，讓低光環境下的照片表現更加明亮且噪點更少。此外，iPhone 16 引入了全新的 AI 攝影算法，讓拍攝體驗更加智能，並能自動調整場景模式以達到最佳拍攝效果。 5. 電池壽命與充電技術 雖然 iPhone 16 與 iPhone 15 都支援 MagSafe 無線充電與快速充電功能，但 iPhone 16 的電池壽命進一步提升。根據蘋果官方數據，iPhone 16 在標準使用情況下比 iPhone 15 多提供約 2 小時的續航時間，這要歸功於更高效的 A18 仿生晶片與更大容量的電池。 6. 軟體功能與連接性 iPhone 16 預裝 iOS 18，帶來了多項全新軟體功能，包括更強大的隱私保護功能與擴展的 AR（擴增實境）應用。iPhone 16 還支持最新的 Wi-Fi 7 標準，讓網路速度更加穩定、快速，而 iPhone 15 則只支持 Wi-Fi

Thai EV sales set to miss target as banks tighten auto loans Source : https://www.evlife.sg/blog/thai-ev-sales-set-to-miss-target-as-banks-tighten-auto-loans Thailand’s electric vehicle sales are set to miss targets this year as lenders turn more cautious in sanctioning new auto loans with the nation’s household debt hovering near a record, according to an industry group. New battery-powered passenger EV registrations are seen at 80,000 units this year, said Suroj Sangsnit, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand. That’s below the 150,000 units forecast by the group earlier this year. The tally is still about 5% more than over 76,000 units sold in 2023. The cut in sales forecast is bad news for Chinese makers like BYD Co. and Great Wall Motor Co., which have just started producing locally-made cars this year after investing in factories to capitalize on Thai government incentives to drive adoption of new-energy vehicles. Globally too, EV sales growth has slowed as demand cooled and countries scaled back subsidies. Earlier this week, Volvo Car AB abandoned a target to sell only fully electric vehicles by the end of this decade, joining several peers in dialing back their expectations. Thailand’s auto industry group has cut its full-year production forecast of all vehicles to 1.7 million units this year from 1.9 million units predicted earlier, citing a "worrisome” 50% refusal rate for auto loans. Domestic automobile sales have fallen 24% in the first seven months of the year, according to data from the Federation of Thai Industries. Sales of EVs have so far buckled the trend to post a 13% growth during the same period. Thailand has slashed import and excise taxes and given cash subsidies to buyers in exchange for automakers’ commitment to start local production - all part of a renewed push to uphold its long-time standing as a regional auto hub. That saw sales soar sevenfold in 2023. The slowdown this year has less to do with demand but more with Thailand’s chronic economic issues such as a tepid growth rate and high levels of household debt. That’s led to an uptick in non-performing loans among vehicle buyers, prompting commercial banks and other private finance companies to tighten lending rules. "It’s not that demand is declining, but when you can’t get loans approved, then it’s game over,” said Krisda Utamote, honorary adviser at the EV association. "Our economic situation isn’t looking good. EV sales are at least still up this year, while it’s all decline for the other types of vehicles.” The outlook remains bleak with the Bank of Thailand predicting further increase in non-performing loans as small businesses and individual borrowers struggle to repay debt. "Who will the EV makers who have set up factories here sell their cars to if sales continue to be like this?” association president Suroj told reporters. "We want to prioritize a discussion with the government on tackling household debt, which is the main reason why auto sales are falling.”

Over 18,000 Employees Affected by China's "Billion-Dollar" Steel Company Declares Bankruptcy Source : https://evlife.hk/blog/over-18000-employees-affected-by-china%27s-%22billion-dollar%22-steel-company-declares-bankruptcy In a surprising turn of events, China's large-scale steel enterprise, Dongling Group, has announced its bankruptcy. The repercussions extend beyond the company itself, impacting its subsidiaries and leaving more than 18,000 employees facing unemployment. Dongling Group, once a prominent player in the real estate and steel industries, has struggled amid a downturn in the Chinese property market. Let's delve into the details. The Rise and Fall of Dongling Group A Village's Ascent Dongling Village, located in Chen Cang Town, Shaanxi Province, earned the moniker of "Western China's First Village." The village's development was led by Li Heiji, who pioneered a path of collective entrepreneurship, merging village and enterprise. In 1996, Dongling Group emerged, capitalizing on opportunities during China's state-owned enterprise reforms. Through restructuring, mergers, and strategic investments, the group diversified into international trade, steel and zinc smelting, mineral exploration, real estate, finance, and even internet ventures. By 2017, Dongling Group achieved over ¥130 billion in total revenue, becoming Shaanxi's first private enterprise to cross this milestone. Real Estate Ventures Dongling Group's real estate arm became increasingly active. One notable project was the acquisition of the infamous "Wuxi First Unfinished Skyscraper," now known as Dongling Xishang. This 248-meter-high tower had languished for eight years before Dongling Group took it over in 2018 through bankruptcy reorganization. The project's total construction area reached 177,600 square meters, with an adjusted investment plan of ¥3.573 billion. By the end of 2021, the project had achieved cumulative contracted sales of ¥1.155 billion, with total sales receipts reaching ¥1.11 billion. The tower was finally completed by the end of 2022. Recent Challenges However, Dongling Group faced significant headwinds. Its steel logistics and non-ferrous metal sectors struggled, with low gross profit margins. Despite ongoing real estate projects, the company decided not to independently develop new ones, instead opting for joint ventures through land equity participation. The recent equity changes within its subsidiary, Baoji Lingshang Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., reflect the broader challenges the group is navigating. The Fallout The bankruptcy announcement has sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving employees uncertain about their futures. Dongling Group's decline has shifted the spotlight to another local giant, the Maiko Group, which now holds the title of Shaanxi's top private enterprise. As the dust settles, the fate of Dongling Group's employees remains uncertain, underscoring the complexities of China's evolving economic landscape. While Dongling Village's dream of prosperity faces setbacks, the lessons learned from its rise and fall serve as a cautionary tale for other enterprises navigating China's dynamic business environment

統一入股Yahoo台灣，布局線下零售，藉此挑戰電商領域 統一集團近日宣布以其子公司開曼統一控股有限公司（CaymanPresident Holdings Ltd.）名義，投資Yahoo奇摩台灣電商2500萬美元（約新台幣7.8億），採用可轉換公司債形式。此舉引發外界關注，部分人士解讀其可能隱含的收購意圖，對電商市場產生震撼效應。 統一集團近年來積極布局生活產業，尤其是2022年收購家樂福一事引發廣泛關注。統一不僅擁有台灣家樂福的40%股份，還成功收購了法國家樂福剩餘的60%，使其在超商、超市和量販等零售領域坐擁龐大市場份額，並將全聯超市納入旗下，進一步擴展零售通路霸主地位。 統一集團在台灣市場的佈局也不斷擴展，例如接手位於誠品信義商場的誠品信義店後，計畫打造全新百貨「Dream plaza（統一夢廣場）」，進一步擴展其在信義區的商業版圖。 統一集團董事長羅智先多次表達對亞洲流通生活大平台的理想追求，並透露公司對東北亞市場的擴展計畫，如旗下全資子公司熊津在韓國市場的進展，顯示其全球市場布局的完整性。 對於此次投資Yahoo台灣電商，統一集團表示，這不僅是對Yahoo台灣網購生態圈策略的肯定，還將有助於提升台灣電商領域的整體發展和競爭力，為消費者帶來更優質的網購體驗。 商管財經專家李世珍分析指出，統一此次以可轉換債券形式投資，保留了進退兩難的選擇權，並指出雙方合作是否能達到「強強聯手」的效果仍需觀察，然而統一擁有龐大的實體通路和物流優勢，與Yahoo台灣的數位營運及創新能力結合，有望創造共贏局面。 統一集團強調，未來將持續推動全通路生活品牌戰略，為消費者提供更便捷、實惠的消費體驗，並積極推進「亞洲流通生活平台」的建設。至於Yahoo台灣，則將利用其強大的數位資源和創新能力，為消費者帶來更多元的產品選擇、便捷的購物體驗及迅速的物流服務。 (圖/tel3c)