🚢 Mobility Futures #5

HolonIQ's mobility futures coverage for the week ahead.

Our Climate Tech coverage has grown significantly and due to popular demand, we're splitting out our coverage into weekly Energy Futures, Enviro Futures, Infra Futures and Mobility Futures newsletters over the coming weeks.

This newsletter is 'Mobility Futures,' you can update your subscriptions to any of the other weekly newsletters here.

Happy Monday 👋

Shanghai plans to electrify its entire bus and taxi networks by 2027, while Lithuania is subsidizing electric buses and infrastructure, mandating alternative drive systems from 2026. Archer Aviation is launching an eco-friendly air taxi network in Los Angeles, and Hong Kong is introducing its first hydrogen-powered light rail train to cut emissions. In maritime advancements, COSCO launched the world’s largest battery-electric container ship, and ABB will equip the U.S.’s largest ferry system with hybrid-electric propulsion. Additionally, Global Aircraft Leasing raised $1.1B to refinance its debt.

🚘 Ground Mobility

🚌 Shanghai Electrifying Public Transport by 2027. Shanghai revealed plans to overhaul its bus and taxi networks, completely switching to new energy vehicles by the end of 2027.

⚖️ China Challenges EU's Anti-Subsidy Measures on Electric Vehicles at WTO. China challenged the European Union's decision to apply provisional anti-subsidy measures on electric vehicles at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This action aims to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

🚌 Lithuania Embraces Electric Buses for Public Transport. The Lithuanian government is subsidizing the procurement of electric buses and charging infrastructure for public transport companies with EU funds. From 2026 onwards, only buses with alternative drive systems will be allowed.

🛬 Aviation

✈️ Archer Aviation Unveils Air Taxi Network in Los Angeles. Archer Aviation, an aerospace company, announced plans for an air taxi network in Los Angeles, aiming to provide an eco-friendly transportation option ahead of major global expansion.

✈️ flydubai Expands European Network with Basel Flights. flydubai, a UAE-based airline, has launched direct flights between Dubai and Basel, Switzerland, becoming the first UAE carrier to connect EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg with a four-times-weekly service.

🚋 Rail

🚃 Hong Kong Introduces Hydrogen-Powered Light Rail Train. Hong Kong received its first hydrogen-powered light rail train as part of its efforts to promote green energy and reduce carbon emissions.

🚆 US Takes a Step Towards Electric Rail Transit. CalTrain, a commuter rail service in California, introduced two new electric trains, marking a first for the US and suggesting growing interest in electric rail transit to catch up with other countries.

🚋 Bosch Unveils New Tram Automation Technology. Bosch Engineering is presenting a new tram assist suite at the InnoTrans event, aimed at providing seamless protection and improved reliability for trams.

🚢 Water Mobility

⚡ Largest Battery-Powered Container Ship Begins Operations. A major shipping company COSCO  launched the world's largest battery-electric container ship, signaling a shift towards more environmentally-friendly maritime transportation.

🛬 Propulsion

⚓️ ABB to Power U.S. Ferry Fleet with Hybrid-Electric Propulsion. ABB, a leading technology company, is chosen by the largest ferry system in the U.S. to provide its Onboard DC Grid propulsion system for a new fleet of hybrid-electric ferries.

✈️ Cryogenic Hydrogen-Electric Propulsion for Net-Zero Air Travel. The University of Nottingham is working on a $5.83M  project to develop a cryogenic hydrogen-electric propulsion system that could enable net-zero air travel.

💰 Deals of the Week

✈️ Aircraft Leasing Firm Raises $1.1B to Refinance Debt. Global Aircraft Leasing, which has a stake in the major Irish aircraft leasing company Avalon, raised $1.1B on the junk bond market to refinance its debt.

✈️ Stellantis to Fund Archer's Air Taxi Manufacturing. Stellantis, an automotive company, agreed to contribute up to $400M to help Archer, an air mobility company, scale up manufacturing of its Midnight air taxis.

🚗 Israeli Startup Element Acquires Autofleet for $110M. Element, an Israeli startup, acquired Autofleet, a turn-key solution for businesses to launch, manage, and scale sustainable fleet operations globally, in a $110M deal.

🚲 Ather Energy Becomes a Unicorn with $71M Funding. Ather Energy, an Indian electric vehicle startup, raised $71M in funding from the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), valuing the company at $1.3B post-money and making it a unicorn.

✈️ Surf Air Mobility Secures $35.2M Funding. Surf Air Mobility, a regional air travel company, closed a $35.2M mandatory convertible security deal with GEM Global Yield, a private investment group.

✈️ Cambodia Airways Announces Planned IPO for Fleet Expansion. Cambodia Airways, an airline company, plans to go public through an initial public offering (IPO) to raise funds for expanding its aircraft fleet.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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