Recharge Wrap-up: LG to power 200-mile EV, Formula E Buenos Aires track revealed

Formula E has revealed the circuit layout for the Buenos Aires ePrix, which will take place on January 10, 2015. The 1.5-mile track designed by Santiago Garcia Remohi features 12 turns of varying speeds. Bruno Senna, driver for Mahindra Racing, says, “Looking at the track, you have to say it’s got a good combination of corners. There’s a chicane, some high-speed turns with a change of direction and slow-speed as well.” The third race of the all-electric series’ inaugural season will take place in the city’s Puerto Madero district. It is the fifth of 10 tracks that Formula E has revealed so far. Read more at Formula E’s website and check out the interactive track map here.

LG Chem says its batteries will power electric cars with driving ranges greater than 200 miles in 2016. The company’s CFO, Cho Suk-jeh, didn’t specify which cars when making the statement, but LG Chem currently supplies batteries for General Motors, Renault, Hyundai, Kia, Ford and Volvo. Last year, former GM CEO Dan Akerson said that the automaker was working on a 200-mile EV. LG is also officially working with Renault on long-range EVs. Reuters has more.

In Brazil, where ethanol is generally made from sugarcane, a glut of corn has lead to lower prices, causing at least one ethanol producer to favor the grain over the cane. Based in a remote part of the country where corn is grown, Usimat plans to increase corn-based ethanol output from 67,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons this year, while some sugarcane-based mills are closing. “We are living in a cane hell and corn heaven,” says Usimat manager Sergio Barbieri, who pays $6.73 per bag of corn, as opposed to $8.07 for sugarcane. More corn-based ethanol projects are being considered in the corn-producing region of Mato Grosso. Head over to Reuters for more.

Volvo is partnering with Swiss engineering group ABB to bring fast-charging electric and hybrid buses to commuters around in other countries. The two groups are kicking off the partnership with a project putting 12 of Volvo’s Electric Hybrid buses, along with automatic chargers provided by ABB, to use in Luxembourg’s public transit system. As public transportation needs increase, the two companies hope to offer an affordable and sustainable option for urban mobility. Read more at Reuters.