Norway is poised to become one of the first countries in the world to approve the controversial practice of deep-sea mining…In a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, lawmakers in the northern European country are expected to approve the government’s proposal to open Norwegian waters for commercial-scale deep-sea mining…Advocates say removing metals and minerals from the ocean’s seabed is necessary to facilitate a global transition away from fossil fuels, adding that the practice is less environmentally damaging than land-based mining…Critics say deep-sea mining is “extremely destructive,” while scientists warn the full environmental impacts are hard to predict…Critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese can be found in potato-sized nodules at the bottom of the seafloor. These minerals are used for electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines and solar panels…Norway’s proposal paves the way for companies to apply to mine for critical minerals in its national waters near the Svalbard archipelago. The area, which is part of Norway’s extended seabed shelf, is estimated to be larger than the U.K. at roughly 280,000 square kilometers (108,108 square miles)…Norway’s government does not intend to immediately start drilling for critical minerals, if the plan is approved. Instead, companies will need to submit proposals for licenses that will be voted on a case-by-case basis in parliament…The approval of deep-sea mining would put Norway at odds with both the U.K. and the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, which have pushed for a temporary ban on environmental concerns…In a separate open letter calling for a pause to deep-sea mining, more than 800 marine science and policy experts across the globe warned that very little is known about deep-sea habitats and biodiversity…“The sheer importance of the ocean to our planet and people, and the risk of large-scale and permanent loss of biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem functions, necessitates a pause of all efforts to begin mining of the deep sea,” the letter says.

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is gaining momentum, with the global EV market projected to reach $800 billion by 2030. This surge in demand has brought to light the complexities and vulnerabilities of EV supply chains, particularly for Western manufacturers…The recent rise of Chinese EV giant BYD, coupled with China’s dominance in critical EV components, has highlighted the need for Western automakers to diversify their supply chains and address potential disruptions…BYD has made significant strides, overtaking Tesla as the world’s top-selling EV maker in the fourth quarter of 2023. This remarkable achievement highlights the growing prowess of Chinese automakers in the EV sector…China’s dominance in the EV battery supply chain is equally substantial. The country produces over 70 percent of the world’s lithium-ion batteries, holding a similar share in refining, processing, and manufacturing stages. Furthermore, China’s control over crucial minerals such as cobalt and graphite further strengthens its position…China’s control over critical components has raised concerns about supply chain security and potential disruptions…The reliance on Chinese-sourced components leaves Western manufacturers vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, price fluctuations, and potential political tensions. Additionally, China’s control over critical raw materials and advanced technologies further restricts Western manufacturers’ ability to compete effectively…The EV supply chain is a complex and evolving landscape, and Western EV manufacturers face significant challenges in securing their supply of critical components. However, by diversifying supply chains, investing in domestic production, forging strategic partnerships, and embracing circular economy principles, these manufacturers can enhance their resilience and seize the opportunities the growing EV market presents.

BMW Group reported record sales of over 2.5 million units in 2023 and hit its target of a 15% share of battery-electric vehicles, the carmaker said on Tuesday…BMW is "confident" it can maintain its battery-electric sales trajectory next year, the company said.

The Volkswagen brand's sales recovered in 2023 to 4.87 million cars, the carmaker said on Tuesday, after the previous year's sales were dampened by supply chain troubles…Fully-electric vehicle sales, which Volkswagen has warned have not developed as expected in the past year, were up by 21.1% to 394,000.

The US Environmental Protection Agency selected 67 applicants to receive nearly $1 billion through EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. The awards will help selectees purchase more than 2,700 clean school buses in 280 school districts serving more than 7 million students across 37 states…With today’s announcement, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has awarded nearly $2 billion and funded approximately 5,000 electric and low-emission school buses nationwide…After a review process, the EPA Clean School Bus Program selected the Notice of Funding Opportunity’s top-tier applicants to receive this investment in their community. Funds are slated to support the purchase of approximately 2,700 buses, 95% of which will be electric…EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, includes both a grant program where selected applicants are awarded funds to purchase buses, and a rebate program that allows selectees to receive awards before purchasing eligible buses that replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models. The new Clean School Bus grants are the second round of selections announced for the newly created program. EPA will make more funds available for clean school buses in additional rounds of funding.

Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), a Japanese joint venture automotive company established by Sony Group and Honda Motor in 2022 to produce battery electric vehicles, is collaborating with Microsoft to create an artificial intelligence-powered agent for its new electric car Afeela-EV, which will debut in 2025…According to Sony Honda Mobility, the company aims to “redefine” the relationship between people and mobility by creating an “emotional experience” for drivers and passengers. It hopes to achieve this by developing a conversational personal agent, which will be powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service