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Mazda documentary wins Bronze Lion at Cannes Lions 2026

Mazda Motor Corporation announced that its documentary "Goodbye RX-7: Saying Farewell to a Dear Friend" has won the Bronze Lion in the Entertainment category at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, earning Mazda its first award at the festival.

Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) today announced that its documentary film, “Goodbye RX-7: Saying farewell to a dear friend”, which depicts the bond between a car owner and her car, has been awarded a Bronze Lion in the Entertainment Lions category at the “Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (Cannes Lions) 2026.” This marks Mazda’s first-ever award at the festival.

The Cannes Lions, established in 1954 and held annually in June in Cannes, France, is one of the world’s largest festivals dedicated to advertising and communications. During the festival, award-winning works across each category are announced sequentially, and the festival is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious creative awards in the world.

The award-winning film is a documentary that traces the shared journey of a female owner and her cherished RX-7 over 25 years, capturing the irreplaceable bond forged between a human and a car. Through the owner’s deep affection and gratitude, culminating in her decision to relinquish her driver’s license as she approached 80, the film conveys that a car is not merely a means of transportation, but a companion that accompanies one throughout life.

Mazda believes that cars are irreplaceable partners that enrich people’s lives through the joy of driving. Based on this belief, the film tells a story of how the time and memories shared with a car shape the brand—an aspect that was recognized through this award. In addition, Mazda has carried forward the owner’s sentiments by taking in the vehicle and assigning it a new role as a PR car, thereby contributing to the continuation of the story portrayed in the film.

Founded in 1954 and held annually in Cannes, France, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is one of the world's leading advertising and communications events. The Entertainment Lions category recognizes brand content that goes beyond traditional advertising and engages audiences through entertainment and cultural relevance.

The film tells the authentic story of long-term ownership of a Mazda RX-7 over approximately 25 years, combining real-life use and maintenance of the vehicle with the final stages of ownership. It provides a believable portrayal of the relationship that can develop between driver and car over time, while addressing broader themes such as the vehicle's lifecycle and changing mobility needs, including voluntary retirement in later life.

The production was made in collaboration with the Japanese production company that initiated the project and submitted it for Cannes Lions. The documentary uses a factual interview-based approach, combined with observational footage, to provide an authentic record of ownership.

The RX-7, which was produced from 1978 to 2002, is one of Mazda’s most recognizable models and is closely associated with rotary engine technology. It remains a key element of Mazda’s heritage preservation efforts and engagement with enthusiasts around the world.

In addition to Cannes Lions, the film has also won several international awards, including the Crystal Award at the MAD STARS 2025 (Busan International Marketing Advertising Festival), the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the Eibunren Awards 2025, and the TEAM UKYO Award and Grand Prix at the International Auto Film Fest 2026.

The project is part of Mazda’s broader strategy to capture long-term customer relationships and the continued value and relevance of its vehicles beyond their production.

Mazda PR

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Fiat Topolino Sport Special Edition

FIAT introduces the new Topolino Sport Special Edition, a special version designed to captivate a younger audience by drawing inspiration from its rich heritage—specifically the iconic 1958 Nuova 500 Sport, a symbol of boldness and sporting spirit. In this reinterpretation, the new edition stays true to its roots while speaking the language of new drivers. Simple, fun, and iconic: these three words capture the essence of the new Topolino Sport, where timeless charm meets a fresh, contemporary attitude.

Rooted in history yet with an identity designed for the present, the new Topolino Sport boasts a bolder look and a dynamic, unmistakable presence. Created to appeal to a younger demographic, it embodies a vibrant spirit and a carefree approach to mobility, bringing fresh urban energy to young drivers.

This special series stands out for its expressive customization, offering four new color options and three distinct stripe combinations, allowing each customer to create a look that best reflects their personality. The palette includes white with a red stripe, blue with white stripes, yellow with black stripes, and black with red stripes.

A special edition created to connect with a younger audience, inspired by its rich heritage - and in particular the iconic Nuova 500 Sport from 1958, a symbol of boldness and sporting spirit.

As a modern reinterpretation of that heritage, the new edition remains true to its roots, while at the same time speaking the language of a new generation. Simple, playful and iconic: these three words capture the essence of the new Topolino Sport, where timeless charm meets a fresh, contemporary attitude.

Rooted in history, yet driven by modern energy, the new Topolino Sport offers a bolder look and an unmistakable dynamic presence. Created to resonate with a younger audience, it embodies a lively spirit and a carefree approach to mobility, bringing a new spark of fun to a new generation.

The exterior is further enhanced by distinctive design elements that reinforce its sporty character, including a unique stripe treatment, black headlight bezels, matte black wheels, and a "Sport" logo. Black mirror caps complete the look, highlighting its confident, contemporary identity.

Inside, the same design philosophy endures, offering a cohesive and refined aesthetic. The cabin features black seats and an updated "Dolcevita Box" clad in carbon-look vinyl, complemented by a new strap—details that add a modern touch while preserving the model's iconic appeal.

With its compact proportions, expressive style, and unmistakable character, the Topolino Sport reimagines urban mobility from a youthful, engaging perspective—staying true to its DNA while appealing directly to a whole new generation of drivers.

To make the ownership experience even more engaging and fun, all Topolino Sport customers will receive the new "Monsterlino" dual stereo speaker kit, featuring Bluetooth connectivity and hi-fi sound.

This special edition stands out for its expressive personalisation, with four new colour options and three distinctive stripe combinations, allowing customers to choose the look that best reflects their personality. The range includes white with red stripes, blue with white stripes, yellow with black stripes and black with red stripes.

The exterior is further enhanced with distinctive design elements that enhance its sporty character, including special striped treatment, black headlight bezels, matte black wheels and the Sport logo. Black mirror caps complete the look, highlighting its confident and contemporary identity.

Inside, the same design philosophy continues with a cohesive and refined aesthetic. The cabin features black seats and an updated vinyl-wrapped Dolcevita box, complete with a new seat belt - details that add a modern look while preserving the model's iconic appeal.

With its compact proportions, expressive style and unmistakable character, the Topolino Sport reinterprets urban mobility through a youthful and appealing lens - staying true to its DNA while directly addressing a new generation.

To make the ownership experience even more engaging and fun, every Topolino Sport buyer will receive the new Monsterlino Bluetooth hi-fi kit with two stereo speakers.

This special edition represents a seamless blend of heritage and innovation, proving that the Topolino remains simple, playful and iconic - today more than ever.

 

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The legendary “Stojadin” is back as a dangerous electric beast: See what the new Zastava 102 e looks like

Car enthusiasts in the Balkans often like to reminisce about old domestic models that generations grew up with. You probably remember the story of the Zastava 5700 model, which many in the region thought was a real, secret project from Kragujevac, although it was actually the vision of Slovenian designer Andrej Troha. The same author has now attracted a lot of attention again with a project he called the Zastava 102 e, and it is a modern electric successor to the legendary Zastava 101, or the popular “Kec”.

The photos of this concept look very realistic, as if it is a model that is ready for mass production. Troha took the recognizable lines of the former “Stojadin” and successfully adapted them to today's trends, more precisely the form of a compact electric city crossover. The design of the Zastava 102 e combines striking details from the 1980s with modern solutions in the automotive industry. 

The front grille features a black honeycomb grille with a large orange ZASTAVA inscription. The round LED headlights with a light ring are directly reminiscent of the first series of the Kragujevac-based “Kec”, while the robust bumper and intakes give the vehicle a more stable and powerful stance.

When the car is viewed from the side, the rear end and the sloping trunk are immediately noticeable, which was the main trademark of the original Zastava 101. On the roof are integrated rails with powerful LED reflectors for night driving, while the rear end is adorned with futuristic arrow-shaped light clusters, a discreet black spoiler and a diffuser with attractive orange tow hooks. The whole story is rounded off by massive rims with orange details that blend perfectly with the metallic copper body color. Also, the car’s ground clearance has been significantly raised compared to the original, which was not that difficult.

The letter “e” in the name clearly indicates that the designer envisioned this model as a fully electric car. Although these are three-dimensional renderings and an artist’s vision, the images immediately sparked discussions on internet forums, and the main question that arises is: would you drive a modern “Kec” on electricity? The European and regional markets currently lack affordable, yet strikingly designed electric cars. If an investor were to emerge ready to revive such a concept in Kragujevac’s facilities, the Zastava 102 e would likely be a serious competitor to models like the Dacia Spring and would attract a huge number of buyers in the region.

 

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Physical pressure could make EV batteries last twice as long and reduce environmental impact

Electric vehicle batteries could last more than twice as long if they are assembled in away to control the pressure inside them more accurately, according to new research published (Monday 29 June).

The team discovered that keeping batteries under the right amount of pressure as they charge and discharge significantly slows the damage that causes them to lose capacity over time.

The findings could one day mean fewer phones are thrown away only because their batteries no longer hold enough charge, while also helping electric cars and renewable energy storage systems last longer.

Heng Wang, first author of the study published in Nature Energy, and a postgraduate student at St John's College and the University of Cambridge's Department of Engineering, said: " Much of today’s battery research focuses on improving materials and chemistry.

“We've shown that simply controlling how the battery is compressed can have a huge impact on how long it lasts. That could help manufacturers build batteries that last much longer without fundamentally changing what's inside them."

Researchers led by the University of Cambridge studied the role of physical pressure on the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries and found that keeping batteries under constant pressure could double their lifespan. 

Such gains are unheard of in battery development, where tweaks to battery composition usually result in gains of five to 10 percent. Extending the lifetime of electric vehicle (EV) batteries would not only reduce the rate at which they end up in landfill or recycling, but would also reduce the environmental pressures associated with nickel or cobalt mining. 

Applying the right amount of physical pressure to lithium-ion batteries could double their lifespan, reducing battery waste and easing demand for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge.

The study released on Tuesday suggests that extending battery life may not require new materials or complex chemical innovations, but rather a carefully controlled mechanical design that maintains consistent pressure on batteries throughout charging and discharging cycles.

"Batteries don't tend to like this cycle of stress and release," said Professor Michael De Volder from Cambridge's Department of Engineering, who co-led the research.

"Much of the work on improving lithium-ion batteries is done by chemists and physicists, but as a mechanical engineer, I also wanted to look into the role that mechanics play," he said.

Lithium-ion batteries naturally expand and contract as lithium ions move between the anode and cathode during charging and discharging. According to the researchers, these repeated volume changes generate mechanical stress that gradually damages battery components and shortens battery life.

To investigate the effect of pressure, the research team developed a laboratory device that uses pneumatic bellows-small air-filled cushions-to apply a constant pressure to commercially available pouch-cell batteries. Sensors continuously monitored tiny changes in battery volume during operation.

The researchers found that the pressure must remain within the "Goldilocks" zone of about 12.5 bar. Higher pressure can cause lithium plating to form on the anode, while lower pressure can cause the cathode to crack, both of which shorten battery life.

"We found that when you keep the pressure on them relatively constant throughout each charge and discharge cycle, it's much better for the overall lifetime of the battery," De Volder said.

The technology has been tested at a laboratory scale and will require further development before it can be applied in commercial battery applications.

However, the pressure needs to be just right – too much or too little will cause the batteries to fail. The researchers built a custom device to keep the pressure on the battery in this ‘Goldilocks’ zone, without the need for any specialised chemistry. Their results are reported in the journal Nature Energy.

At their most basic level, lithium-ion batteries are composed of an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. As the battery goes through each charge and discharge cycle, lithium ions shuttle from the anode to cathode and back again. This causes the battery to physically expand and contract, almost like breathing. 

“Batteries don’t tend to like this cycle of stress and release,” said Professor Michael De Volder from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, who co-led the research. “Much of the work on improving lithium-ion batteries is done by chemists and physicists, but as a mechanical engineer, I also wanted to look into the role that mechanics play.” 

To study this, De Volder and his colleagues built a device that squeezes a type of battery known as a pouch cell using pneumatic ‘bellows’: small air-filled cushions that act like a self-adjusting clamp. The bellows maintain a continuous pressure, while a sensor monitors tiny volume changes as the battery charges and discharges. 

“We just bought commercial batteries and tested them for lifetime under different pressures,” said De Volder. “We didn't have to change anything about their electrolyte or electrode composition.”

They found that the pressure from the bellows needs to be in the ‘Goldilocks’ zone: about 12.5 bar, or roughly four times what’s standard in conventional coin cell batteries. Outside this zone, the batteries fail faster. If the pressure is too high, it can cause lithium plating to form on the anode, and too little can cause the cathode to crack. 

“We found that when you keep the pressure on them relatively constant throughout each charge and discharge cycle, it’s much better for the overall lifetime of the battery,” said De Volder. “If you press too hard, the anode is unhappy. If you don't press hard enough, the cathode starts degrading. Our experiments identified where the ‘happy place’ is for batteries when it comes to pressure.” 

The results, while early stage, could have important implications for the fast-growing EV market, especially in the second-hand market. “The longer your product will last, the fewer the number of times you’ll have to recycle the materials,” said De Volder. “And we are very bad at recycling batteries at the moment.”

In addition, longer-lasting EV batteries could reduce the volume of raw materials that need to be mined, often in extremely poor conditions, to produce new batteries. “We’ve produced a solution for cleaner electric cars, but we have to make sure that on the back of it, we are not creating new ecologic disasters in other parts of the world,” said De Volder. “If we can reduce the pressure on these mining operations a bit, that would be another important benefit.” 

The technology has been tested at a laboratory scale, but will need to be scaled up for commercial battery applications. A patent has been filed by Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s innovation arm. 

The research was supported in part by the European Research Council, the Faraday Institution, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 

Michael De Volder(St John’s College, Cambridge)

 

AUTONEWS

ZF presents software-defined systems for trucks

ZF unveiled a new generation of safety systems, motion control technologies, and electronic architectures for commercial vehicles at CV Tech Day 2026, held in Germany. These solutions preview technologies that will take center stage at IAA Transportation 2026 and reflect the company's strategy to address the evolution toward software-defined vehicles, connectivity, and artificial intelligence.

At its proving ground near Hanover, Germany, ZF is showcasing its latest innovations in safety and motion control systems ahead of IAA Transportation 2026. These technologies support customers on their specific journeys toward cleaner, safer, smarter, and more efficient commercial vehicles, enhancing operational efficiency today while enabling future-proof architectures driven by software-defined commercial vehicles and Artificial Intelligence (AI). With technology adoption progressing at varying degrees, paces, and scales across regions, ZF emphasizes that the transition to next-generation commercial vehicles is not linear—despite a clear long-term vision—a complexity further compounded by the growing diversity of global regulations. Enabling customers to develop their specific businesses and technological evolutions with maximum flexibility is the core objective of ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions division. To achieve this, ZF focuses on flexible system architectures and onboard intelligence that enhance safety, efficiency, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), while simultaneously protecting existing investments.

Rather than focusing solely on disruptive changes, ZF pursues an evolutionary approach based on scalable platforms, flexible E/E (electrical/electronic) architectures, system intelligence, and digital ecosystems. This allows OEMs and fleet operators to continuously improve efficiency, safety, uptime, and TCO throughout the vehicle's entire lifecycle, while ensuring the sustainable utilization of existing investments.

The company is focusing on integrating systems that enhance safety, operational efficiency, and vehicle uptime, while enabling the gradual adaptation of current fleets and platforms to meet new technological demands in the transport sector.

According to the company, the sector's transformation is progressing at different speeds across the globe, requiring flexible solutions that allow current and future technologies to coexist.

The strategy of ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions division relies on scalable architectures, electronic integration, and onboard intelligence, enabling OEMs and fleet operators to modernize their vehicles without the need to completely replace existing platforms.

“The direction toward the commercial vehicle of the future is taking shape, but the path is neither linear nor simple,” stated Andreas Moser, member of the ZF Board of Management and Head of the Commercial Vehicle Solutions division.

“At CV Tech Day, we demonstrated how we support our customers with practical solutions that create value today and enable a scalable, cost-efficient transition toward zero accidents and zero emissions,” the executive added.

The Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) concept involves using software as the core element to control, update, and expand vehicle functionalities throughout its lifecycle.

According to ZF, this architecture enables over-the-air updates, the integration of driver assistance systems, predictive maintenance, and new operational features without requiring significant mechanical modifications. “The software-defined vehicle is already a reality—and Brazil is directly contributing to this transformation. At ZF, we don’t wait for the future to arrive: we develop globally and deliver locally, with an engineering team capable of calibrating, customizing, and validating technologies for commercial vehicles that meet the real needs of each market, including South America,” stated Silvio Furtado, Vice President of Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Industrial Technology at ZF South America.

One of the highlights presented by the company is a new driver assistance architecture based on sensors distributed throughout the truck and trailer.

The system combines radars, cameras, electronic control units, and communication between the tractor unit and the trailer, creating continuous perception around the entire vehicle combination.

How does ZF’s new safety architecture work? According to the manufacturer, the system enables 360-degree monitoring with no blind spots, integrating braking, steering, and driver assistance into a single ecosystem.

Functions demonstrated include:

Comprehensive monitoring of the area around the truck and trailer;

Advanced reversing assistance with automatic braking;

Warning systems for urban turns;

Detection of pedestrians and vulnerable road users;

Recognition of emergency vehicles via sirens;

Monitoring of driver fatigue and distraction.

The Driver Monitoring System (DMS), for example, continuously monitors driver behavior and issues alerts in the event of signs of drowsiness or distraction.

Technologies for city buses...ZF also presented solutions aimed at urban public transport. Among them is City Bus Assist, a system that aids buses in approaching bus stops using sensors and active steering assistance.

The technology aims to reduce damage to tires, wheels, and urban infrastructure, while also improving accessibility during passenger boarding and alighting. Another highlight is Continuous Damping Control (CDC Skyhook), a software-controlled damping system that continuously adjusts suspension behavior based on vehicle operating conditions.

Electrification advances with diverse solutions...The company emphasized that the transition to low-emission vehicles will follow various technological paths, depending on the application and region of operation. For this reason, ZF maintains a strategy based on multiple propulsion technologies.

Which electrification solutions were presented? The systems demonstrated include:

TraXon 2 Hybrid automated transmission;

CeTrax 2 and CeTrax 2 Dual central electric motors;

AxTrax 2 electric axles;

Systems for electrifying implements and trailers;

E-Comp Scroll electric compressor for electrified vehicles.

According to the company, these technologies allow manufacturers to adapt existing platforms for electrification with minimal structural impact.

Software expands logistics integration...Another topic addressed during the event was the growing digitalization of transport operations.

ZF presented solutions that connect trucks, trailers, operators, and logistics infrastructure through service-oriented architectures.

Demonstrated features include the automatic configuration of operational zones, remote vehicle access, integration between truck and trailer, and emergency stop systems triggered by Bluetooth devices used by yard operators.

Strategy aims to protect fleet investments... ZF’s approach to software-defined commercial vehicles is based on the gradual evolution of electronic and digital systems, enabling carriers and manufacturers to incorporate new technologies without disrupting established operations.

According to the company, the integration of software, onboard electronics, safety systems, and electrification is expected to play a central role in transforming freight and passenger transport in the coming years, enhancing vehicle connectivity and creating new possibilities for operational management, maintenance, and safety.

 

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Citroën C3 Aircross Marine Nationale 2026

Among the countless special editions launched by the European automotive industry, few carry as striking a symbolism as the Citroën C3 Aircross Marine Nationale 2026. Developed in partnership with the French Navy, this exclusive edition celebrates the historic bond between the military institution and national engineering, transforming Citroën’s versatile compact SUV into a model rich in references to the maritime world and French pride. The launch is part of the brand's strategy to create themed versions that reinforce its local identity and pay tribute to key national institutions.

Based on the standard C3 Aircross configuration, the Marine Nationale edition retains the characteristics that made the vehicle a key player for Citroën in the segment: a robust body design, a spacious cabin, and a focus on ride comfort. However, the special edition stands out through exclusive aesthetic elements, including badges referencing the French Navy, specific bodywork finishes, and naval-inspired decorative details, lending it an appearance that is both elegant and understated.

Inside, the customization continues with unique upholstery, embroidered logos, and exclusive trim details that reflect the Marine Nationale identity. Depending on the market and configuration, the series may incorporate comfort and connectivity features found in the model's top-tier versions, such as a touchscreen multimedia system, smartphone integration, electronic driving aids, and automatic climate control. The aim is to combine everyday practicality with a distinctive, collectible character.

Mechanically, the C3 Aircross Marine Nationale does not seek radical changes compared to the standard production model. The priority remains efficiency and ease of use, retaining the powertrains already available in the lineup sold in the respective market, as well as the comfort-oriented suspension tuning that is a hallmark of Citroën vehicles. More than just a limited edition, the Citroën C3 Aircross Marine Nationale 2026 pays tribute to French heritage and the collaboration between two of the country's iconic institutions. By combining exclusive design, national identity, and the functionality of a modern SUV, this special version reinforces Citroën’s tradition of creating vehicles that go beyond mere transportation, incorporating cultural and historical elements that make every launch memorable.

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Mapping trade-offs to help build better EV batteries

Battery production has scaled at an extraordinary speed, supported by rising demand for electric vehicles and stationary storage, with demand for lithium-ion phosphate batteries totaling almost 1.6 terawatt-hours in 2025. This scale-up has delivered one of clean technology’s most dramatic cost reductions: Utility-scale battery storage costs have fallen by about 93 percent since 2010, driven by growing industrial scale, deepening supplier ecosystems, and relentless factory learning. Battery production is highly concentrated in Asia, which produces more than three-quarters of advanced batteries. As decarbonization efforts continue and battery costs continue to come down, demand for batteries is likely to more than double by 2030 to 4.2 terawatt-hours and quadruple by 2035 to 6.8 terawatt-hours, according to analysis by McKinsey Battery Insights.

This investment case is one of ten used in the research for the McKinsey Global Institute’s report, Catalyzing competitiveness: Where investment happens and why. The report examines how variations in the basic economics of comparable projects influence investment decisions in different regions globally and the impact those decisions can have on the future of competitiveness and growth across the world.

A battery gigafactory is an at-scale plant that produces lithium-ion cells using a standardized manufacturing process to produce fundamental battery components, such as electrodes, and to assemble battery cells that go into battery packs for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage. A 50 gigawatt-hour facility, the scale analyzed here, is typically organized in three to five building blocks, 12 to 20 production lines, and three consecutive manufacturing steps: preparing coated electrodes, assembling cells, and finishing cells through aging and testing.

This analysis focuses on a specific battery chemistry, lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Due to its lower cost and great thermal stability, LFP is commonly used in low- and mid-market passenger electric vehicles (EVs), commercial EVs, and battery energy storage systems. LFP chemistries are projected to account for roughly 60 percent of battery market volume in 2035. The same tools and processes are used for other battery chemistries, for instance, nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), which are commonly used in mid- and upmarket EVs. NMC and related nickel-based chemistries are projected to account for roughly 38 percent of battery market volume in 2035, with other battery chemistries making up the remainder. Some gigafactories process LFP and NMC batteries at the same plant, and the conclusions here therefore broadly apply to both types of batteries.

The battery value chain begins upstream with mining and refining the required raw materials. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, iron, phosphate, aluminum, copper, and graphite are extracted and then chemically processed into battery-grade inputs. Advanced chemistry turns them into active materials for cathodes and anodes and ensures purity and consistency. Advanced petrochemical processes are applied to manufacture materials for electrolytes and separators. These are then assembled into battery cells. Scale and supplier depth matter at every stage because high volumes and expertise lower unit costs and shorten lead times.

This part of the EV supply chain today is highly concentrated in Asia, especially in China, home to most of the global capacity in lithium refining and a dominant share of LFP and NMC battery cathode materials and graphite anodes. That concentration reduces input prices, logistics, and working capital needs for Chinese battery cell makers, while regions with smaller upstream footprints often pay more for the same materials once transportation, tariffs, and compliance are included.

A new framework has been developed to help stakeholders—from battery and vehicle manufacturers to drivers to battery recyclers—better understand, anticipate and prepare for the entire life cycle of a battery, allowing them to anticipate trade-offs and consequences and make decisions and set priorities.

The research team, which was led by the Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS), housed in the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), worked with car companies, battery developers and policy makers to develop the framework, and assessed economic, environmental and social trade-offs and outlooks from the perspective of stakeholders across the entire battery life cycle.

“I think of it as a break-out story. How do we break out of this complex puzzle where we’re trying to benefit the environment, to help the industry compete and to be cost-effective for consumers?” said Greg Keoleian, a professor at SEAS. Keoleian, who is also the co-director of CSS, is the senior author of the new study.

The assessments also underscored the various challenges facing EVs from various perspectives, including an oil industry with federal support and a vested interest in internal combustion engine vehicles. Still, Keoleian says he is optimistic the framework can help accelerate EV transition.

Working with car companies, battery developers and policy makers, University of Michigan researchers have developed a framework to help stakeholders navigate toward a future with better, more affordable and more sustainable electric vehicles. 

"I think of it as a break-out story. How do we break out of this complex puzzle where we're trying to benefit the environment, to help the industry compete and to be cost-effective for consumers?" said Greg Keoleian, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, or SEAS. Keoleian, who is also the co-director of the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems, or CSS, is the senior author of a new study published in the Journal of Energy Storage detailing the framework.

"You have all of these interested parties that can have different goals and objectives, so how do you align those?" Keoleian said. "Our framework helps stakeholders consider a holistic set of factors to achieve better outcomes for batteries and electric vehicles."

With input from experts in academia, industry and government, Keoleian and colleagues assessed economic, environmental and social trade-offs and outlooks from the perspective of stakeholders across the entire battery life cycle. This enabled the team to create a framework that stakeholders—from battery and vehicle manufacturers, to drivers, to battery recyclers—can use to better understand, anticipate and prepare for trade-offs and consequences as they make decisions and set priorities.The assessments also underscored the various challenges facing EVs from various perspectives. That includes an oil industry with federal support and a vested interest in internal combustion engine vehicles that also have more mature cradle-to-grave infrastructure, Keoleian said. But he is still optimistic the framework can help accelerate EV transition.

"There are multiple problems that need to be addressed in this journey, but ultimately these vehicles outperform internal combustion engine vehicles," Keoleian said. "They are quieter. They don't have tailpipe pollution and they're better for the environment. You get better acceleration, you have less maintenance costs, lower operating costs and the lowest total cost of ownership. We know that they are the future."

Trade-offs and chemistry case studies...Looking at the different battery chemistries that are being used and developed for EVs helps provide concrete examples of the types of trade-offs highlighted by the framework. In China, where more than 60% of new car sales are electric, EV manufacturers have come to rely on a battery chemistry using lithium iron phosphate, abbreviated LFP. Compared with another popular battery chemistry known as NMC for its nickel, manganese and cobalt components, LFP batteries are less expensive.

"EV adoption is really influenced by cost and the battery is about 30% of the cost of an electric vehicle," Keoleian said. "LFP is less costly because of the chemistry—it doesn't have the cobalt and the nickel."

But LFPs require more battery mass to achieve the same level of charge storage as NMCs. That translates to less range for an LFP vehicle. And because cobalt and nickel are valuable, there's more incentive to recycle these batteries, which would let battery makers create them more sustainably, by mining less new materials for each new battery.

American automakers, including Ford and General Motors, are also developing what are called LMR batteries, or lithium manganese-rich batteries, that have potential to marry the low cost of LFPs with the longer range of NMCs. Their durability, however, is a work in progress."There are a lot of different trade-offs and this framework helps elucidate what they are from different stakeholder perspectives," Keoleian said. "If you have blinders on, you can think you're really improving sustainability and performance, but you may actually be  causing problems somewhere upstream or downstream."

The research was funded by the Responsible Battery Coalition, and the research team also included Christian Hitt, a CSS research area specialist; Elliot Busta, a research assistant with the CSS and the U-M Electric Vehicle Center; Timothy Wallington, a CSS research specialist; and Hyung Chul Kim, a research scientist with Ford Motor Co. Experts with GM, Ford, Toyota, Dow Chemicals, the U.S. EPA, the U.S. Geological Service and Clarios, a leader in manufacturing batteries for the automotive industry, were consulted on this study.