Oilandgaspress Energy / Automotive News to January 14, 2025
London, January 14, 2025 (Oilandgaspress) –- Brent crude rose above $80 a barrel, driven by wider U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and the expected effects on exports to top buyers India and China.The new sanctions included producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil, targeting revenue Moscow has used to fund its war with Ukraine.
Porsche on Monday reported a decline in global sales last year.
Worldwide deliveries dropped by 3%, totalling some 310,700 vehicles, according to the sports car manufacturer, which is part of the Volkswagen Group. While Porsche experienced growth in four of its five global regions, including Germany, it saw a significant 28% drop in sales in China, which the company attributed to the region’s ongoing economic challenges. Detlev von Platen, Porsche’s board member responsible for sales, said that the brand’s product range makes the manufacturer attractive for customers. But he also acknowledged that the economic and geopolitical conditions in 2025 are expected to pose even greater challenges. . Read More
British households are paying more for electricity than gas in any other country in Europe – in a blow to Ed Miliband’s net zero drive.
The Government wants households to install 600,000 heat pumps every year and is offering grants of £7,500 as an incentive.
However, the taxes levied on electricity bills in Britain mean that running a heat pump can still be more expensive than the cost of a gas boiler.The UK has the highest “spark gap” between the cost of electricity and gas in Europe. This means that electricity in the UK costs between four and five times as much as gas.
While a heat pump tends to be around four times more energy efficient than a gas boiler, the price disparity means that in order for consumers not to see their bills increase, it has to be. This price difference is exacerbated by the high taxes on electricity. According to a breakdown of energy bills by regulator Ofgem, environmental and social costs made up 2.46pc of a typical gas bill in 2021. The same figure for electricity bills was 25.48pc.Currently, 40pc of the UK’s electricity is generated by gas and 28 million homes still rely on it directly – meaning there is a lot of work to do to reduce the country’s reliance on it. Read More
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that Russia will provide Slovakia with natural gas in accordance with the agreement despite transit issues through Ukraine. According to “Hospodářské noviny”, Slovakia has fully stocked gas storage facilities and alternative supply routes, which ensure the country is buffered against potential interruptions. Fico stressed that Slovakia could lose €500 million in transit fees, and Europe could face a shortfall of 13.5 billion cubic metres of gas. This could lead to a rise in gas prices, which are already significantly higher than in the United States, jeopardising the EU’s competitiveness. Gazprom clarified Russian threats concerning stopping gas flow through Ukraine as necessary due to Ukraine’s failure to renew the transit contract. Read More
The UK Government has ordered an independent report into the latest headlight technology after 216 accidents in one year. It comes as more cars are fitted with bright LED headlights, and newer cars operate lights automatically rather than waiting for drivers to react.
AA members have told the organisation LED lights on vehicles are among the factors causing them to be blinded while driving, according to its president Edmund King. Labour MP Graeme Downie, warned that some drivers are “less aware of the impact their own lighting might have on others”. Read More
Tesla has announced an annual drop in sales, the first since its IPO, perhaps marking the start of a new phase for the company.At 1% down on 2023, this slowdown marks a turning point for the company after years of sustained growth.According to experts, this decline can be explained by increased competition and lower demand for electric vehicles. Tesla shares reacted to the post with a drop of over 3%. Read More
Scottish wind farms have been handed an astonishing £380million for not generating electricity as so-called ‘constraint payments’ reach a historic high. It is the first time the payouts for reducing output or turning off turbines – which are passed on to consumers via energy bills – have crossed the £300million mark., wind farm operators in Scotland have now been handed a massive £1.86billion to switch turbines off since the controversial compensation scheme began. Read More
| Oil and Gas Blends | Units | Oil Price | Change |
| Crude Oil (WTI) | USD/bbl | $78.14 | Up |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | USD/bbl | $80.34 | Down |
| Bonny Light 10/01/25 CBN | USD/bbl | $80.70 | Up |
| Dubai | USD/bbl | $78.76 | Up |
| Natural Gas | USD/MMBtu | $3.80 | Down |
| Murban Crude | USD/bbl | $81.89 | Down |
| OPEC basket 13/01/25 | USD/bbl | $81.72 | Up |
These five innovations from the CES could shape the future of cars.
Sony: Once driving itself becomes a minor matter, you no longer need a vehicle manufacturer to build a car. Japanese entertainment giant Sony seems to be trying to prove this point in Las Vegas by unveiling the Afeela 1.
Honda: Honda also announced two upcoming zero-emission models in its new O-Series, a limousine and an SUV. The Japanese manufacturer says it wants to focus on cutting-edge infotainment tech, which is why the cars get wraparound screens across the entire cockpit and in front of the rear seat.
Ypeng: Flying cars have had a hard time getting off the ground in recent years which has prompted Chinese company Xpeng to go its own way. The Xpeng modular flying car dubbed the Land Aircraft Carrier comes from the firm’a AeroHT subsidiary and is due to go into series production from next year.
Zeekr: Compared to the Zeekr Mix made by a subsidiary of China’s Geely, the electric VW ID.Buzz van is almost old-school. The genuinely variable van has multiple seat set-ups for up to six people along with a cool mismatched door arrangement.
This consists of a regular driver’s door plus a sliding rear door on one side, and two sliding doors on the other side that peel away from each other to create a giant opening which harks back to the first VW camper buses.
BMW: It will be almost another year before BMW finally brings the much-vaunted New Generation cars to market, so in Las Vegas the Bavarians offered a first glimpse of their fancy new head-up display. It has a panoramic array of features at eye level across the entire width of the windscreen and uses 3D graphics and augmented reality.
The ultra-sensory smart cockpit consists of BMW Panoramic iDrive and the new-generation BMW Operating System X along with a steering wheel with haptic buttons. Panoramic iDrive will find its way into BMW models at the end of 2025… Read More
(Reuters) – The Russian rouble eased against the U.S. dollar and China’s yuan on Monday as rising oil prices and increased forex sales by the state cushioned the impact of new U.S. sanctions designed to curb Russia’s oil and gas revenue.
The rouble was down 0.7% at 102.45 against the dollar by 1000 GMT, over-the-counter market data showed. The rouble weakened 0.8% to 13.81 against the yuan in trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX). Read More
Just Stop oil activists have daubed orange paint over Charles Darwin’s marble headstone in Westminster Abbey.
The protesters entered the Abbey around 10am on Monday and sprayed “1.5 Is Dead” on Darwin’s grave – in reference to the news on Friday that the world has exceeded the “safe” 1.5C warming limit agreed by world leaders in Paris in 2015.. Read More
The increase in authoritarian politics and efforts to protect the fossil fuel industry — which produce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change — are factors that could jeopardize civilization, Ahmed says. The global decrease in energy return on investment is central to the decline. Investing in carefully-designed clean energy and new material capabilities like that industry, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and lab-grown agriculture could create new forms of networked superabundance — when there is an abundance of resources available through networks — that protect Earth systems. But, they cannot be governed by old, centralized industrial hierarchies, Dr. Nafeez Ahmed, the bestselling author and journalist who is a distinguished fellow at the UK-based Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems, said in a statement.. Read More
KBR announced today it has been awarded a global agreement by BP International Limited (bp) for engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide EPCM for onshore, offshore, greenfield and brownfield conventional energy projects and new energy sector projects worldwide for three years, with an option to extend for two additional years. Additionally, KBR provides bp with market-leading licensed technology solutions, demonstrating the depth and versatility of its capabilities.
“We are delighted to continue our 70-year successful working relationship with bp while maintaining our record of safely and effectively delivering quality projects in conventional and new energy sectors,” said Jay Ibrahim, President, KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions. “This global agreement with bp will involve multiple project teams collaborating from offices in Houston, Baku, India, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Singapore, Perth and London, leveraging KBR’s proven ability to deliver complex projects anywhere in the world.”
KBR and bp currently have a global agreement in place for engineering services, under which KBR has played a key role in projects spanning the U.S., North Sea, Iraq, Africa and Azerbaijan. This additional global agreement expands the opportunity for EPCM services and demonstrates our successful partnership and support to bp’s expanding portfolio. Read More
Stellantis Pro One will be among the protagonists of the 101st edition of the Brussels Motor Show ;until January 19 Stellantis Pro One stand stands out, the Business Unit that brings together in a single family the six brands of Stellantis Van and Pick-up commercial vehicles, and leader of the European market with a share that is almost 30% thanks to the compact, medium and large vans of Citroën, FIAT Professional, Opel, Peugeot, Vauxhall.
Stellantis Pro One, thanks to its Multi-energy Platform, is perfectly able to meet the needs of professional customers even in this period of transition towards zero-emission engines: for this reason, two BEV models and two thermal-powered models were identified.
The four models on display are ambassadors of a range that finds its constant reference values in continuous evolution, versatility of use and adaptability. No later than last March, in fact, the entire range consisting of 12 vans such as Citroën Berlingo Van, Jumpy, Jumper; new FIAT Professional Ducato, Doblò, Scudo; new Opel and Vauxhall Combo, Vivaro, Movano; new PEUGEOT Partner, Expert, Boxer, has been completely renewed with the aim of offering unparalleled load capacity, safety and versatility for business and professional customers.
Stellantis Pro One guarantees a complete range of commercial vans, both compact and medium and large, with the most advanced technological solutions in terms of electrified propulsion, safety, ADAS and connectivity.
The 2nd generation of BEV propulsion offers the new compact vans a range of over 340 kilometers, while for medium-sized vans the battery packs offer 49 or 75 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy and up to 350 km of range. Finally, in the large van segment, the 110 kWh battery offers the best EV range in the category, up to 420 km, and the 150 kW fast charging allows the battery to go from 0 to 80% in less than an hour. Read More
Leapmotor is starring at the 101st edition of the Brussels Motor Show, the first international event of the year that brings together all the most important car brands. The event has been chosen to showcase the brand’s innovative REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) technology on the C10. Since commencing sales in Europe and other regions on September 23rd, 2024, Leapmotor has demonstrated its global ambition. The brand has rapidly expanded, establishing over 400 sales points in 13 European markets. Leapmotor aims to reach 500 sales points in Europe by the end of 2025, reflecting its commitment to growth and customer accessibility.
Leapmotor plans to launch several new models over the next three years. The journey began with the C10, a premium D-SUV, and the compact T03. The T03 is an A-segment urban-savvy car, providing access to electric mobility without compromising on content, comfort, or performance. The C10 is a family-centric D-SUV, incorporating the latest innovations from Leapmotor, such as the Cell to Chassis technology and a suite of life-easing technology and safety features, enabling the C10 to achieve a 5-star E-NCAP rating.
At the Brussels Motor Show, Leapmotor announces the launch of the C10 Range Extender version. The Range Extender technology eliminates range anxiety by combining electric power with a range extender, achieving a total range of over 950 km. With CO2 emissions as low as 10 g/km under the WLTP cycle, the C10 REEV blends sustainability with practicality.
The REEV technology allows users to choose from three charging modes: DC, AC, and onboard fuel generator. This flexibility enables the use of electric power from the grid or onboard generated electric power thanks to the 1.5-liter gasoline combustion engine. The C10 REEV offers 65 kW DC fast charging, enabling quick recharges for seamless travel. Equipped with a 215 HP motor delivering 320 Nm of torque, it ensures smooth acceleration and high-speed stability.
The starting price in Belgium is 37.400 euros, with orders officially opened from January 10th and deliveries beginning in March 2025. Read More
Chevron Corporation announced Laura Lane will become vice president and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, effective February 1. Lane will oversee the company’s government affairs, communications, and social investment activities. Lane will be based in Houston and succeed Al Williams, who is retiring in April after 34 years at the company.
“Laura’s background in both the private and public sectors, her proven leadership in complex global organizations and experience working in diverse geographic locations makes her well-suited to lead Chevron’s global corporate affairs activities,” said Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth.
“I’m grateful to Al for the contributions he’s made to Chevron’s success over the course of his career,” Wirth added. “Al has been an accomplished leader in Upstream, Downstream, Midstream, and as a corporate officer.”
Lane previously served as EVP & chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at UPS. Prior to UPS, Lane held senior positions at Citigroup and Time Warner. Lane also served in a senior government role at the office of the US Trade Representative and as a diplomat in the Foreign Service Officer with the US Department of State.
Lane holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago. Read More
TechnipFMC (NYSE: FTI) will host its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings conference call on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. London time (8:30 a.m. New York time). A press release announcing the results will be issued prior to the call at approximately 11:45 a.m. London time (6:45 a.m. New York time). . Read More
Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. – 5 to 584 Canada + 122 to 216
U.S. Rig Count is down 5 from last week to 584 with oil rigs down 2 to 480, gas rigs down 3 to 100 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 4.
Canada Rig Count is up 122 from last week to 216, with oil rigs up 100 to 144, gas rigs up 22 to 72 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0.
International Rig Count is down 10 rigs from last month to 909 with land rigs unchanged at 712, offshore rigs down 10 to 197. International Rig Count is down 46 rigs from last year’s count of 955, with land rigs down 23, offshore rigs down 13.
The U.S. Offshore Rig Count is unchanged at 14, down 5 year-over-year.
The Worldwide Rig Count for October was 1,754, up 4 from the 1,751 counted in September 2024, and down 22, from the 1,776 counted in October 2023.
| Region | Period | Rig Count | Change |
| U.S.A | 10 January 2025 | 584 | -5 |
| Canada | 10 January 2025 | 216 | +122 |
| International | December 2024 | 909 | -10 |
| Baker Hughes |
Osprey won Chargepoint Network of the Year at the EVIE Awards for the second year in a row in November, and Best EV Rapid Charging Network at the Transport and Energy Awards again too.
In the Zapmap Driver Satisfaction Survey, we ranked in the top three large rapid and ultra-rapid networks for overall satisfaction, earning the Driver Recommended Network badge for the fifth consecutive year.
Looking ahead, in 2025 we will be building flagship ultra-rapid hubs on newly acquired Osprey land: on the A737/M8 west of Glasgow, and at Twyford Services, Evesham, on the A46/A44. We will also continue our roll out of reliable, rapid hubs in convenient locations with our landlord partners. Read More
The TRATON GROUP kept unit sales at a stable level in 2024, despite a difficult market environment. According to preliminary data, the four brands Scania, MAN Truck & Bus, International (formerly Navistar), and Volkswagen Truck & Bus sold a total of 334,200 vehicles, a slight year-on-year decline of 1% (338,200).Scania sold more vehicles in 2024 than in the previous year. This was mainly due to the continued strong market environment in South America.
The persistently weak market environment in Europe, particularly in Germany, and a model change during the year impacted unit sales of trucks at MAN Truck & Bus. Tighter regulatory requirements for vehicle software systems in the EU27+3 region led to delays in unit sales of buses.
In a declining North American truck market, International (formerly Navistar) recorded a slight year-on-year increase in its unit sales in 2024. This was mainly attributable to the healthy demand for medium-duty trucks. The new powertrain S13, which is based on the 13-liter Common Base Engine (CBE) of the TRATON GROUP, attracted high customer interest throughout the year. After the delayed ramp-up of the new school bus model, bus sales also improved over the year.
Against the backdrop of the positive economic development in Brazil, Volkswagen Truck & Bus saw robust growth in sales of both trucks and buses in 2024.
The TRATON GROUP will publish its 2024 Annual Report on March 10, 2025. . Read More
Volkswagen Group with 9 million deliveries after strong fourth quarter . 9.03 million vehicles delivered worldwide, down 2.3 percent on the previous year (9.24 million vehicles) Growth in North America (+6 percent) and South America (+15 percent) was offset by constant deliveries in Europe (-0.1 percent) and declines in China (-10 percent). 744,800 vehicles worldwide BEV deliveries down 3.4 percent on the previous year (771,100 vehicles) BEV share of 8.3 percent for the full year at the previous year’s level, more BEVs delivered in China (+8 percent), declining development in the USA (-30 percent), Volkswagen Group remains by far BEV market leader in Europe despite lower deliveries (market share around 21 percent). BEV share reaches high point of 9.5 percent worldwide in Q4, BEV deliveries in Europe increased significantly in the same period despite difficult market environment in Germany (+18 percent). BEV order intake in Western Europe up around 88 percent year-on-year BEV order bank in Western Europe stands at around 170,000 vehicles, partly driven by new models such as the VW ID.7 Tourer, Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Macan Electric. 270,000 vehicles worldwide PHEV deliveries are around 5 percent higher than in the same period last year Vehicles with modern second-generation plug-in hybrid drives (PHEV) and purely electric ranges of up to 143 km1 are enjoying increasing demand. Best-selling all-electric vehicles (BEV)
Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 182,000
Volkswagen ID.3 149,100
Audi Q4 e-tron (incl. Sportback) 107,700
Škoda Enyaq (incl. Coupé) 79,500
CUPRA Born 41,800
Volkswagen ID.7 (incl. Tourer) 40,100
Volkswagen ID. Buzz (incl. Cargo) 29,900
Audi Q8 e-tron (incl. Sportback) 28,200 Read More
Hyundai Motor Company crowned the first Hyundai N Virtual Cup (HNVC) World Champion at the offline World Finals on January 11 at the SOOP Colosseum Esports Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.
The Hyundai N Virtual Cup, Hyundai N’s inaugural global sim racing esports tournament, launched in October 2024 at the ADAC SimRacing Expo in Dortmund, Germany, in partnership with KUNOS Simulazioni, creators of the global racing simulator Assetto Corsa. The digital experience allows motorsport enthusiasts to taste Hyundai N’s high-performance driving offerings through the immersive world of sim racing.
The HNVC successfully concluded its online stages, including global pre-qualification, regional qualification, and regional semi-finals, held from October to December 2024. In collaboration with Hyundai Motor’s four main global headquarters in Korea, the U.S., Europe and China, more than 2,800 participants worldwide took part in the tournament. The overall champion was ultimately decided at the World Finals. Read More
EV batteries have a finite lifespan and gradually undergo degradation – a process of chemical and physical changes that reduce their ability to hold a charge over time. As a result, battery performance diminishes with age, raising important questions for potential buyers of new or used battery EVs regarding battery longevity, the durability of their components, and the options when it reaches the end of its life.Modern EVs are designed to last 15-20 years, comparable to or even longer than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The key factor in their longevity is the battery. EV batteries are typically considered at the end of their life when they drop below 70 to 80 per cent of their original capacity. However, advancements in battery technology suggest that many EVs now sustain their performance well beyond this capacity threshold, so using this benchmark to determine the end-of-life for lithium-ion batteries may well become outdated in the future.
Many car manufacturers offer warranties for an average of eight years or 160,000 km, but real-world data shows that batteries often last much longer.A study by Recurrent in the US found that EV battery replacements are uncommon, with only 2.5 per cent of vehicles requiring replacements across all years and models, excluding major recalls.
A recent study by Geotab, analysing data from 10,000 electric vehicles, reveals that battery degradation is more gradual than previously thought, averaging just 1.8 per cent per year.
This slow rate of decline suggests that many EV batteries could maintain their performance well beyond 20 years. Read More
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OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.
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