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Definitive Feasibility Study Confirms Strong Financial Returns, Rapid Payback for Waroona Renewable Energy Project
Frontier Energy Limited (ASX: FHE; OTCQB: FRHYF) (Frontier or the Company) is pleased to announce completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS or Study) for Stage One of its Waroona Renewable Energy Project in WA, comprising a 120MWdc solar facility and an integrated four-hour 80MW battery (the Project).
HIGHLIGHTS
- Study confirms the Project as a long life, low operating cost and highly profitable renewable energy project. The Project is now advancing towards a Final Investment Decision (FID)
- Project generates average EBITDA1 of $68 million pa over first five years of production and $63m pa over first 10 years of production
- Aurora Energy Research provided independent revenue forecasts for the Project
- Post-tax payback1 of 5.8 years (4.6 years pre-tax) based on $304m total initial capital cost
- Leveraged2 post-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 21.6%1 and pre-tax IRR of 27.3%1. 100% equity financed post-tax IRR is 14.8%1 and the pre-tax IRR is 18.0%1
- Frontier expects to earn a highly leveraged return, based on the Company’s financing strategy and initial debt market soundings
- First year solar energy generation forecast at 258GWh3, with 119GWh discharged/sold through the battery (in peak periods) and 115GWh discharged from direct solar generation (daytime market) into the WA Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM)
- The average energy price forecast over the life of the operation is $143/MWh4 (peak periods) and $80MWh4 (solar price), in line with 2023 actual prices on the WEM
- Stage One utilises only a third of Frontier’s 868ha landholding and represents a fraction of total long-term potential generation the Project can unlock
- Barrenjoey appointed as Corporate Advisor to assess strategic partnerships for Stage One development and future expansion opportunities
- The Company received multiple unsolicited approaches over the past year from a range of multi-nationals, global renewable energy producers and industrial firms expressing interest in the Project
- Debt financing discussions commenced; Frontier expects indicative terms during 2Q24
This comes at a time when energy demand continues to outpace supply in WA, resulting in electricity prices reaching record highs. Just last week, record peak demand on the South West Interconnected System was surpassed once again, with the top six operational demand peaks ever recorded in the state’s main grid all happening between January 31 and Feb 19 this year. Unfortunately, the majority of the energy to meet this record demand peak came from carbon emitting sources, with 58% being gas and 32% being coal generated. This highlights the urgent requirement for renewable energy storage solutions, such as our 100% renewable energy Waroona solar/battery project, to quickly come online.
Highlights of the Study include exceptionally strong financial returns under all key metrics, including forecast EBITDA averaging $68m per annum over the first five years of production. 5
These strong returns drive a rapid post tax payback of 5.8 years, or 19% of the project life of 30 years. A major contributor to this is the Reserve Capacity Payment, a feature unique to WA, which is forecast to provide revenue of about $28m per annum during the first five years of production.
We aim to now move rapidly towards a Final Investment Decision by mid-2024. Central to this is finalising our funding strategy. Debt financing work is well underway – we have NDAs signed with multiple banks and an Information Memorandum and data room ready for banks shortly.
We have also appointed Barrenjoey, a leader in renewable energy transactions in Australia, as Corporate Advisor to assess strategic development partnerships. This follows multiple unsolicited approaches over the past year from a range of multi-nationals, global renewable energy producers and industrial firms expressing interest in the Project.
The Company will assess the merits of a strategic partner, in association with debt financing, as we aim to minimise dilution. We also believe the right partner will help accelerate our future expansion opportunities, given Stage One is only about 10% of the total long-term potential generation the Project can unlock."
This article includes content from Frontier Energy, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Emergent Waste Solutions
Investor Insights
Emergent Waste Solutions presents a compelling opportunity for impact investing, leveraging a disruptive technology that promises to become a profitable solution to the world’s growing waste problem.
Overview
Emergent Waste Solutions (EWS) is a Canadian company that converts waste into marketable products using its proprietary Advanced Thermolysis System (ATS). The technology uses materials like municipal solid waste, tires, plastics, biomass and livestock waste as feedstock and converts these into valuable products, such as activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, bio-coal, syngas and bio-oil.
The company’s North American facility is in Ruby Creek, British Columbia, which has entered commercial production and achieved the first sales of its biochar. The plant, which has a CaPEx of $3.5 million has attractive economics with potential revenues at full operation of over $1.6 million and net profit before tax of $721,000 (to finance its first plant, EWS sold 54 percent interest in revenue from the plant to investors.). In addition, the company has a strong pipeline of projects in excess of $100 million in CapEx. This includes three projects in Canada and international projects in Brazil, Ghana and the Philippines.
These projects will process agriculture waste, wood waste, used tires and municipal solid waste, and depending on feedstock will produce biochar, bio-oil, bunker-grade diesel, renewable natural gas and carbon black.
EWS is pursuing several global revenue models: 100 percent ownership, the sale of its ATS plants; and joint ventures, where Emergent aims to hold a minimum of 50 percent ownership of a project. Such JV arrangements will allow EWS to maintain optimal plant operating parameters, ensure maintenance and plant upgrades, have a national and international sales strategy, and execute new product development to achieve maximum profits.
The company expects significant revenue growth over the next few years, forecasting an increase in revenue. On top of this, the margins in the business are predicted to remain high and increase as the scale of the business grows and as it focuses on sales of specialty grow blends versus commodity biochar.
According to EWS, the traditional waste treatment and disposal service industry in Canada alone was valued at $5.1 billion in 2022. Even if EWS was to capture a small percentage of this market, the potential revenue numbers are large. EWS believes the Canadian market will need more than 3,500 plants to treat different waste streams. For example, waste wood biomass would need more than 1,700 plants, municipal solid waste (MSW) will need over 750 plants, and livestock manure will need more than 600 plants.
The company’s ATS technology has lucrative economics. An ATS5000 plant (processing 120 Tonnes per day for 330 days per year) using MSW as feedstock has the potential to generate nearly $55 million in annual revenues with an operating income of about $42 million.
EWS offers investors an attractive ESG investment opportunity to benefit from the growing demand for renewable natural gas, biochar, bio-coal and carbon black.
Company Highlights
- Emergent Waste Solutions (EWS) is a private Canadian company focused on converting waste into valuable carbon-based commodities, including renewable natural gas (RNG), oils, and bunker grade diesel.
- The company boasts of a disruptive Advanced Thermolysis System (ATS) technology (patent pending) to process various feedstock such as municipal solid waste, tires, plastics, biomass and livestock waste, and convert them into useful products such as activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, bio-coal, syngas and bio-oil.
- The company’s project in Ruby Creek, BC is operational and has achieved commercial production with sales of biochar. Moreover, the company has a robust pipeline of projects both in Canada and internationally.
- The market opportunity for EWS’s technology is very large. Traditional waste treatment market in Canada is valued at $5.1 billion with an estimate of over 3,500 plants needed to treat various streams of waste in Canada.
- EWS offers investors an attractive ESG investment opportunity to benefit from the growing demand for renewable natural gas, biochar, bio-coal and carbon black. The company has entered into an amalgamation agreement with Buscando Resources pursuant to which Buscando will acquire all of the outstanding shares in the capital of EWS by way of a three-cornered amalgamation, subject to the terms and conditions of the Amalgamation Agreement.
Key Project
ATS Technology and Manufactured Products
EWS uses its patent-pending, proprietary Advanced Thermolysis System (ATS) technology, as a superior alternative to incineration and creates valuable products without creating pollution. It uses a process whereby carbon-based feedstock such as wood fiber is placed in an oxygen-deprived reactor. The heated feedstock cracks at the molecular level and separates into chemical components – carbon, oil and renewable natural gas. EWS’s technology uses a combination of steam, direct heat, indirect heat and medium pyrolysis, ensuring a complete penetration of the feedstock and a complete separation of the constituent elements.
Based on the different feedstocks, EWS’s technology can produce different products such as renewable natural gas, biocoal, biochar, carbon black, diesel and bio-oil. These products are explained below in brief.
1. Biochar: A solid material derived from carbon-based biomass. It is a pure form of charcoal and, due to its porous structure, has numerous uses and benefits.
2. Carbon Black: ATS technology recaptures and purifies the carbon black in waste rubber tires.
It is mainly used as a reinforcement agent in the manufacturing of rubber tires and also used as a pigment and as an additive in plastics, paints and ink pigment.
3. Bio-Oil: Bio-Oil is produced when biomass is processed using ATS technology. The product generated using ATS has less moisture and is a relatively purer product compared to other technologies.
4. Green Diesel: When tires or plastics are processed with the ATS, a dark-colored light diesel is produced. It can be blended with regular diesel and used for diesel generators and off-road machinery.
5. Biochar Grow Medium Blends: In conjunction with Coastal Raintree Consulting, EWS has developed a line of Grow Medium Blends with a biochar foundation, specifically a Cannabis Blend, a Germination Blend, and a Potting Blend.
6. Bio coal: It is a biomass fuel and a replacement for thermal coal (used to make electricity). It is also an alternative to coking coal for use in steel and other metallurgical industries. Moreover, thermal power plants can use bio coal without significant changes to the thermal coal plants. Bio coal burns cleaner and results in less GHG discharge.Management Team
Kevin Hull – CEO and Director
Kevin Hull holds a degree in business administration, and has extensive experience in mining and environmental technologies and has sales and marketing expertise. He has consulted for companies and developed marketing strategies. Before founding EWS, he was active in capital markets and was instrumental in securing $20 million from a state-owned Chinese enterprise into a Canadian junior resource company on the TSXV.
Brian Gusko – Director and VP of Finance
Brian Gusko has more than 15 years of experience in capital markets and has helped raise over $50 million for various firms. He has served on the board of at least 10 public companies and has also served as the CEO and CFO for several public companies. He was instrumental in taking Biome Grow public, which upon listing was valued at over $200 million.
Dan Becher – Director
Dan Becher holds a diploma in instrumentation and control systems from British Columbia Institute of Technology. He has more than 37 years of rich experience having worked in industrial chemical plants in varied roles of engineering design and maintenance of both process control and electrical systems. His experience is valuable in the areas of plant operations, maintenance and design enhancements.
Serge Borys – Director
Serge Borys holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of British Columbia and a law degree from the University of Alberta. Since 2005, he has been a principal in 77 Group Corp., a US corporation having substantial real estate holdings in China. He has a comprehensive understanding of technology and the patent process.
Alicia Passmore – VP Manufacturing
Alicia Passmore has extensive training and experience in setting up and working with manufacturing processes, specifically with implementing LEAN manufacturing techniques. She has rich experience in the vitamin and supplement industry, which includes the formulation of new products.
Benjamin Ryder – Chief Operations Officer
Benjamin Ryder has more than 23 years of experience in administration and project management. He received project management training at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He has previously worked with Bridgewater Bank where he was a key figure in the development of the credit card division. He has experience in developing large web applications and show homes for major property developments.
Rhonda Hyslop – Engineer
Rhonda Hyslop has received training as a chemical engineer and has primarily worked in industrial wastewater treatment plants, where her responsibilities have included facility design to commercial scale-up. She owns two patents and has worked on lab-scale to pilot-scale commercialization projects.
Jason Rossett
Jason Rosset is the founder of Accuworx Inc. and Sure Horizon Environmental Inc. (two leading North American environmental service companies, which are now part of NYSE listed GFL Environmental Inc.), and current chairman of Sluyter Company Ltd., a chemical manufacturer.
He is also former chair of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Upper Canada and Maple Leaf Chapters. YPO is a global organization of 22,000 current and former CEOs; their companies represent approximately 10 percent of global GDP.
Dr. David Galvez – Advisor
Dr. David Galvez received his doctorate in plant physiology from the University of Alberta, and is a seasoned expert in the formulation and commercialization of botanical-based products using traditional, non-traditional, and functional ethnobotanical plant extracts. He has developed and launched commercial products in the dietary supplement market for pain relief, sleeplessness, relaxation, and anxiety management, both in capsule and drink formats. Currently, he is focused on the nano-emulsification of cannabinoids and terpenes, the development of novel beverages, and securing research partnerships with academic institutions.
Dr. Anayansi C. Cohen-Fernandez – Advisor
Dr. Anayansi Cohen-Fernandez is a biologist and senior reclamation specialist. She is the director of Coastal Raintree Consulting and a sessional instructor at the SFU/BCIT MSc. in ecological restoration. She specializes in land reclamation and restoration planning including reclamation following mining, oil, gas, energy, urban, forestry and agricultural disturbances. She has more than 10 years of environmental consulting and resource management experience.
Dr. Amir M. Dehkhoda – Advisor
Dr. Amir Dehkhoda has a PhD in chemical engineering and has extensive research and development experience in applied electrochemistry, material development, wastewater treatment and catalysis. He is currently an industrial postdoctoral fellow with a Richmond, BC-based biotech company that focuses on the characterization and optimization of wood-based nanomaterial for electrochemical energy storage and wastewater treatment applications. He has significant experience in the development of value-added carbon material from biomass waste.
EV Maker Fisker Files for Bankruptcy Amid Financial and Production Struggles
US carmaker Fisker has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the District of Delaware, citing production issues and macroeconomic headwinds affecting the electric vehicle (EV) market.
The California-based EV manufacturer, known for its eco-friendly and sustainable Ocean SUV, is in advanced discussions with financial stakeholders regarding debtor-in-possession financing and the potential sale of its assets.
"Fisker has made incredible progress since our founding, bringing the Ocean SUV to market twice as fast as expected in the auto industry and making good on our promises to deliver the most sustainable vehicle in the world," the company said on Monday (June 17). CEO Henrik Fisker has reportedly shied away from public view since February.
"But like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic headwinds that have impacted our ability to operate efficiently. After evaluating all options for our business, we determined that proceeding with a sale of our assets under Chapter 11 is the most viable path forward,” the release adds.
The company’s financial struggles have been apparent for several months, and it had already paused the production of its Ocean SUV, launched in 2022, due to inflation and production problems.
Valued at US$2.9 billion when it went public in 2020, Fisker has seen its value quickly erode.
In its most recent financial results, Fisker reported total 2023 revenue of US$272.9 million, but recorded a net loss of nearly US$762 million. The company's bankruptcy filing reportedly shows that it has US$500 million to US$1 billion in estimated assets, and liabilities of between US$100 million and US$500 million, with 200 to 999 creditors.
Fisker's CEO also filed for bankruptcy back in 2013 for his first startup venture, Fisker Automotive.
The Ocean SUV has been plagued by issues since its release. Reports of power loss, inoperative functions and handling concerns led to the recall of over 11,201 units across the US, Canada and Europe.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article
Carbon Done Right Developments Inc. Provides Bi-Weekly MCTO Status Update
Carbon Done Right Developments Inc. (TSXV: KLX) (FSE: Q1C0) (the "Company" or "Carbon Done Right"), a company that carries on the business of developing validated and verified carbon credits from afforestation and reforestation of degraded land areas and marine ecosystems, is providing a bi-weekly status update in accordance with National Policy 12-203-Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203").
As previously announced on April 30, 2024 and further to the news releases of the Company dated May 15, 2024, and May 31, 2024, the Company applied for a management cease trade order ("MCTO") due to a delay in the filing of the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, annual management's discussion and analysis for the same period and management certification of annual filings (collectively, the "Filings"). The MCTO was granted by the British Columbia Securities Commission on April 30, 2024, and the Company continues to work diligently with its auditors and expects to file the Filings as soon as possible, and in any event no later than June 30, 2024.
The MCTO restricts the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer from trading in the Company's securities but does not affect the ability of other shareholders, including the public, to trade in securities of the Company.
The Company confirms that it will continue to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reporting in the form of news releases for so long as it remains in default of the above noted filing requirements.
About Carbon Done Right
'Carbon Done Right' is a technology enabled rainforest planting company that carries on the business of developing validated and verified carbon credits from afforestation and reforestation of degraded land areas and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, for sale into international voluntary carbon markets. Carbon Done Right works upstream as a direct owner and operator of projects, addressing a key supply constraint in the current market and the rapidly growing demand for carbon credits in global voluntary and regulated markets. The Company achieves this by investing in the exploration, restoration and management of terrestrial and marine systems that can either be protected to enhance the sequestration of greenhouse gases or restored from a degraded status to fully productive ecosystems. Carbon Done Right draws on the experience of a senior executive team and board that provide access into key target jurisdictions through relationships in the mining and natural resources sectors, combined with decades of experience in carbon markets. The Company deploys capital at risk under various arrangements (including cooperation, assignment, and production sharing agreements) with large landowners and governments in various suitable jurisdictions around the world.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information:
Carbon Done Right Developments Inc.
James Tansey, Chief Executive Officer
Suite 390, 1050 Homer Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2W9
Email: james.tansey@klimatx.com
Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements and information concerning the MCTO and completion of the audit of the Company's annual financial statements. Carbon Done Right cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of Carbon Done Right. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Carbon Done Right. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Carbon Done Right does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by securities law.
$4.3M Forward Sales Contract with Wisconsin Public Service
United States focused Cleantech company Carbonxt Group Ltd (ASX:CG1) (‘‘Carbonxt” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that its largest customer has agreed to a binding purchase order for Activated Carbon Pellets (AC Pellets) valued at $4.3m.
- Binding $4.3m purchase order received for Activated Carbon (AC) products from US utility Wisconsin Public Service
- The parties have agreed to terms on a forward purchase contract which will facilitate the $4.3m payment to Carbonxt up-front. The purchase order is for a 6-month supply of AC products
- Contract is expected to provide a material uplift to net cash in the June quarter, ahead of the planning commissioning and manufacturing launch of CG1’s flagship Activated Carbon production facility in Kentucky in Q3 CY2024
- US market conditions for both pelletized and granular activated carbon products remain strong, with the Company engaged in ongoing commercial discussions for additional sales agreements
The sale was made under a forward purchase agreement, with Carbonxt to take receipt of the full amount of the purchase order up front, with payment to be received within the next seven days from the date of this announcement. Delivery of the AC Pellets is to occur over the next 6 months.
The agreement with US utilities provider, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), is for the supply of Carbonxt’s proprietary AC Pellet product, which will be deployed as part of WPS’ innovative ReACT (regenerative activated coke technology) emissions control systems.
ReACT is an integrated multipollutant control approach that removes Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Oxides (SOx) and mercury (Hg) from coal-fired plants by adsorption with activated coke, to reduce aggregate emission levels.
WPS recently publicly announced that the Weston Power Plant (‘Weston’), which is supplied by AC Pellets from Carbonxt, will be in operation until at least 2032. Carbonxt has a long-term contract with WPS for the sole supply of AC Pellets for the life of the power station.
The structure of the forward purchase order by WPS provides Carbonxt with a material uplift in projected net cash for the June quarter. It also reflects the strong partnership that the Company has established with WPS as a long-term supplier, during which time WPS has become Carbonxt’s largest customer to-date.
The Company is in advanced negotiations with clients for additional purchase orders for Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) products from its Black Birch facility. Funds from the WPS sale will complement the ongoing construction and commissioning of the group’s flagship Activated Carbon production facility in Kentucky – a 50/50 Joint Venture with Kentucky Carbon Processing.
The commissioning and manufacturing launch of the Kentucky plant is scheduled to commence in the September quarter (refer ASX Announcement 21 May 2024). The plant is expected to significantly expand Carbonxt’s production capacity and addressable market for best-in-class activated carbon products, amid ongoing demand tailwinds for water-treatment (Liquid Phase) AC products in the US market.
The Company is advancing towards product testing at Kentucky and remains in negotiations with several large potential customers ahead of full commissioning.
Prices for AC products continue to remain well-supported above US$4,000/ton in the US market, with the plant projected to generate gross profit margins of 45% at prices of US$3,500/ton.
Comment
Managing Director Warren Murphy said: “We are pleased to confirm this forward sales contract, which further consolidates the strong commercial partnership between CG1 and WPS – our largest US partner. The up-front payment terms of the deal are a reflection of the confidence WPS has in our product, along with the ongoing demand for best-in-class activated carbon products. The contract will provide Carbonxt with a material boost to net operating cashflows at an important juncture in our stated development strategy, with major growth upside through the forthcoming commissioning and manufacturing launch of the flagship AC production facility in Kentucky. With strong market conditions for AC products and ongoing commercial discussions for additional sales contracts from our existing operations, Carbonxt is well-placed to capitalise on its strong market position to generate a step-change in group revenues and EBITDA in the second half of calendar 2024.”
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Carbonxt Group, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Tesla Doing Damage Control in Europe as Retail Price Cuts Hurt Leasing Companies
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is taking steps to mend strained relationships with European leasing companies following a series of retail price cuts that have negatively impacted fleet values.
According to Reuters, Elon Musk's Tesla is attempting to stabilize its market position by offering unofficial discounts and addressing longstanding service issues to restore confidence among buyers.
Tesla's retail price cuts were designed to counteract softening global demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and rising competition, particularly from Chinese automakers like BYD (OTC Pink:BYDDF,SZSE:002594). However, these reductions have led to financial losses for European leasing companies, which make up nearly half of the region's auto sales.
The news outlet notes that fleet customers are especially important in Europe, where companies often lease large amounts of company cars for employees. In fact, purchases from leasing and rental car companies made up 44 percent of Tesla's sales last year in the UK, as well as 15 EU countries. In Q1, its fleet sales in those areas fell by 2.3 percent.
Leasing firms calculate lease prices based on the anticipated resale value of vehicles. Sudden drops in retail prices have severely undercut these residual values, causing significant financial strain.
Richard Knubben, director general of Leaseurope, emphasized the severity of the situation, telling Reuters that there’s “nothing worse than continuously dropping the value of a fleet buyer’s assets.”
In an additional setback, Tesla began slashing Model Y production in Shanghai in March. Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that output of Model Ys in China stood at 49,498 units in March and 36,610 units in April, reflecting 17.7 percent and 33 percent decreases, respectively, compared to a year ago. The production reduction aims to address weakening demand in China, where a price war has erupted amid an economic slowdown.
Overall the company is grappling with an inventory surplus, having produced 46,561 more vehicles than it delivered in Q1. This overproduction has resulted in thousands of unsold cars being stored in parking lots.
European fleet managers report Tesla service problems
Beyond pricing issues, Tesla has been criticized for slow and expensive service, a major pain point for fleet customers.
Lorna McAtear, fleet manager at UK energy firm National Grid (LSE:NG,NYSE:NGG), told Reuters in an interview that Tesla’s repair costs are triple the industry average, with vehicles often arriving with defects.
Despite these challenges, some fleet managers, like Fiona Howarth of Octopus EVs, remain supportive, acknowledging Tesla's pioneering role in the EV market. Tim Albertsen, CEO of Ayvens (EPA:ALDA), Europe's largest auto-leasing company, acknowledged improvements in Tesla's service, but highlighted the damaging effects of falling resale values.
Conversely, Arval, the car-leasing unit of BNP Paribas (OTCQX:BNQPF,EPA:BNP), is exploring partnerships with Chinese EV manufacturers to offset losses from Tesla's price cuts. Deputy CEO Bart Beckers told Reuters that Tesla’s pricing strategy is self-defeating, saying, “You are really shooting yourself in the foot.”
Operational turmoil within Tesla has been further evidenced by recent layoffs and restructuring efforts, particularly within the company's Supercharger network division. The abrupt firing of its entire charging division has jeopardized the expansion of its charging infrastructure — a key element of Tesla's value proposition for EV customers.
Despite ongoing challenges,Tesla investor Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust recently expressed a vote of confidence by announcing its continued support to Musk's US$56 billion pay package.
Tesla pushing forward as competition increases
Even with these setbacks, Tesla continues to push forward with plans to increase its market share.
Musk has indicated a shift in focus toward self-driving technology, although the company is scaling back on other projects, such as the long-awaited affordable Model 2.
Tesla's recent activities reflect its efforts to regain the trust of European fleet buyers. Its ability to navigate these challenges will be crucial as it seeks to maintain its market position amid evolving market dynamics.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Investor Presentation
Carbonxt Group Ltd (ASX:CG1) (“Carbonxt” or “the Company”) provides the attached Investor Presentation
Company Snapshot
- Carbonxt products remove toxic pollutants from a range of industrial, water and air environments.
- The products are unique engineered activated carbons with first of a kind manufacturing operations.
- Three US-based production facilities, with the third facility being commissioned over the coming months.
- Industry leading R&D capability.
- Environmental regulations driving strong customer demand.
- New joint venture with Kentucky Carbon Processing, LLC (“KCP”) to expand production and product range.
- Recent EPA regulatory change underpins impending water market entry, significantly expanding addressable market.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Carbonxt Group, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
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