Latest news with #Poon
RTHK
28-05-2025
- General
- RTHK
Federation urges engaging youths in rural conservation
Federation urges engaging youths in rural conservation The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups says more than 90 percent of young respondents view countryside conservation as vital for sustainable urban-rural development. Photo: RTHK The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups called on Wednesday for authorities to launch rural festivals and cultural exchange programmes aimed at deepening young people's engagement with countryside conservation efforts. This push follows a survey conducted by the federation that took in 534 residents aged 15 to 34. Its findings revealed support for preserving rural areas, with more than 90 percent of respondents agreeing that countryside conservation is vital for sustainable urban-rural development. "We can really feature the distinctive cultural and landscape features of Hong Kong countryside with a big event and these big events would boost diverse participation by the general public and they would see how countryside conservation has been happening,' said John Poon, deputy convener of youth development and engagement group. "No matter [whether it's] on the cultural side, economic side or environmental side, we hope that could really boost and raise public awareness and build a broad base of community engagement." He also suggested the government create a blueprint for sustainable urban-rural development and provide opportunities for young people to join the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis, enabling them to share their insights on the city's future development. The study also found that approximately two thirds of the respondents think that countryside conservation is vital to local economic development. 'There are people who have been doing countryside conservation and cultural development," Poon said. "They can make use of the cultural heritage as well as some of the economic projects, which can be small and micro, but in the meantime, it can allow the village, the countryside to sustain itself with a little bit of economic development." "We also see that a lot of you believe this could be one of ... their employment options. "They can go back to the countryside and they could see some employment opportunities and avenues for them to contribute and they can have a stable job." Poon added that promoting awareness of countryside conservation not only addresses environmental concerns but also opens a window of opportunity for youths to explore Hong Kong's history and heritage.
Los Angeles Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
LMU Welcomes Thomas Poon, Ph.D., as its 17th University President
Loyola Marymount University, the West Coast's largest Catholic university and one of the top private universities in California and the U.S., is set to welcome its 17th president, Thomas Poon, Ph.D., effective June 1, 2025. 'I've been deeply inspired by the university's mission, students and place in the world since I was lucky enough to join as provost in 2017,' said Poon. 'Since then that inspiration and appreciation for LMU has only grown.' The transition comes at a time of increasing opportunity. Even in a city accustomed to a huge spotlight, Los Angeles is preparing for a series of outsize and international events: the 2026 World Cup; the return of the Super Bowl in 2026; and the 2028 Olympics – all opportunities for LMU to demonstrate its large impact and mission on a global stage. Poon succeeds President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., and he seeks to continue building on a decade of growth and increased visibility for the school under Snyder's leadership. The appointment underscores Poon's deep understanding of LMU and his commitment to its mission. He began his career as a science educator and has served as LMU's executive vice president and provost since 2017. His extensive involvement across LMU's programs – including business analytics, educational leadership and computer science, while also helping to increase research and creative work support by more than 80% – positions him to lead a university already deeply woven into Los Angeles' position as the world's creative capital. The university generates $1.4 billion in economic impact nationwide and supports over 10,000 jobs, including $462 million annually in L.A. County. Poon has served alongside 16 university presidents throughout his academic career, giving him an innate understanding of collegiate leadership. These partnerships, combined with his tenure as provost and as interim president at LMU, create Poon's signature leadership style, which is based largely on collaboration. 'My time as provost has given me exposure to so many things. I rarely said 'no' to an assignment because it allowed me to expand my focus, understand what matters most to students, parents, and faculty, and how to better understand each of them,' said Poon. His approach reflects his Jesuit education, and the methodology of a leader profoundly committed to LMU's blend of Catholic, Jesuit and Marymount traditions. 'That mix is what makes us LMU,' he added. As Poon steps into the role of leader, he envisions LMU's future as an 'acceleration' rather than a departure, aiming to elevate the university from what he described as 'excellence to preeminence.' At a time of sociopolitical and economic uncertainty, Poon sees this moment as an opportunity. 'With higher education under pressure – from affordability to relevance – LMU stands out because we're values-driven, globally engaged and rooted in a community that supports one another,' he said. Poon hopes that nurturing students with a values-based education and a sense of global stewardship will create the next generation of thoughtful, empathetic leaders, a concept he termed 'transcendent education' – that is, one extending beyond a classroom to encompass global experiences, real-world engagement and ethical formation. 'Our students don't just leave informed; they leave transformed,' said Poon. He expresses admiration for LMU students' drive and multifaceted engagement, 'Their interests are so varied,' he noted. 'I've never been at a place where the students do so much.' LMU's future – especially its near future – is 'incredibly exciting for LMU,' said Poon. While the university is already embedded in the creative, cultural and economic sectors of the city, the president-elect emphasizes the importance of the university's role on the global stage, viewing Los Angeles' upcoming large-scale events as 'once-in-a-generation opportunities' for student engagement and university visibility. To that, Poon seeks to strengthen existing partnerships with organizations like the Los Angeles Rams, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and L.A.'s myriad tech and entertainment businesses – LMU's School of Film is a top-five program in a nationwide ranking. 'These are all global events that will spotlight our community,' he said. 'It's a perfect time for LMU to extend our reach beyond the bluff to tell our mission-driven story to a global audience.' This continued prominence is just one aspiration for Poon. The ultimate achievement for the president is creating meaningful stewards of society through a 'whole person education,' where the LMU graduate demonstrates both their values and societal impact. Guided by the Jesuit principle of cura apostolica – 'care for the work' – and ambition for empowerment, he seeks to ensure LMU's long-term success and ability to innovate. Ultimately, Poon says that the university's goals are to continue to offer respect and humanity to all. 'Our faith and shared values call us to uphold the dignity of every person. This is what we've always done and will continue to do – if we didn't, we wouldn't be LMU anymore.'
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Ford said it's made a breakthrough in battery tech to make cheaper EVs with longer range
Ford said it's made a breakthrough in battery tech to make cheaper EVs with longer range Show Caption Hide Caption When will replacing EV battery be cheaper than cost of gas car engine? Experts predict that by 2030, the cost of replacing an electric vehicle battery could be cheaper than a new gas-powered car engine. Straight Arrow News Ford Motor said it has made a breakthrough in electric vehicle battery technology. Ford expects to be able to offer more affordable EVs with longer range by the end of the decade. Ford Motor Co. said it is getting closer to offering car buyers more affordable and longer-range electric vehicles thanks to a breakthrough it made in battery technology, though the announcement lacked details, leaving some experts underwhelmed. Charles Poon, Ford's director of electrified propulsion engineering, on April 23 announced that the Dearborn-based automaker plans, by the end of the decade, to offer lower-priced EVs that can travel farther on a single charge thanks to its work on new battery cell chemistry. "Today marks a pivotal moment in Ford's electrification journey and for the future of electric vehicles," Poon wrote in his LinkedIn post. "After intense research and development at our state-of-the-art Battery Center of Excellence, Ion Park (in Romulus, Michigan), I'm thrilled to share that the Ford team is delivering a game-changing battery chemistry: Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR). This isn't just a lab experiment. We're actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade." Poon said the Ford team is already producing its second generation of LMR cells at its pilot line. But experts said lithium manganese batteries aren't new. The first-generation Chevrolet Volt used cells with manganese spinel cathodes, said Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry Insights. He said spinel refers to a specific type of 3D molecular structure. Tariffs shake the auto industry: Ford stops shipping Michigan-built vehicles to China due to soaring tariffs There are other battery formulations as well, Abuelsamid said, explaining that Our Next Energy, a battery startup based in Novi, is developing manganese cells and the Gemini hybrid battery pack. Gemini as an architecture designed to double the range of EVs by using two cells: a lithium iron phosphate cell for daily driving and an anode-free cell for longer trips. "The big advantage of manganese is that it's plentiful, cheap and very stable (it doesn't readily experience thermal runaway the way nickel chemistries do)," Abuelsamid told the Free Press in an email. "At least some varieties of manganese cells don't last as long, though." LMR is an answer Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg clarified to the Free Press that while LMR has been researched by many companies, the technology poses challenges with voltage decay and gas generation. What is unique about the Ford LMR development is that the automaker is directly addressing these issues while "not sacrificing energy density," Bergg wrote in an email. Abuelsamid said manganese cells have had a short charge cycle life, and Ford's comments imply that they may have found a way to address this, but Ford did not provide details on how. Sam Fiorani thought the clarification suggested progress more than a breakthrough. "'Directly addressing' does not sound like they've 'found a solution,' but rather getting better and working toward an eventual produceable solution," Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, told the Free Press. In his post, Poon said Ford's LMR battery technology has the potential to make a "step change," by giving its EVs enhanced safety and stability comparable to lithium iron phosphate batteries as well as a higher energy density than even high-nickel batteries, which provide longer range on a single charge. Poon said Ford is also targeting a significantly lower cost than current mid-nickel batteries, which would bring down the prices of EVs. Batteries represent at least a third of the cost of an EV, and Ford believes lowering prices on EVs is key to achieving true cost parity with gasoline-powered vehicles. "Ford started by offering nickel cobalt manganese batteries and later added lithium iron phosphate batteries in 2023," Poon wrote. "LMR is the answer to 'what next?'' But battery technology for EVs is in its infancy compared with the development of internal combustion engines, said Fiorani. "There will be many improvements over the coming years and decades as the automotive industry is finally focusing on this technology," Fiorani said. He said efforts such as LMR batteries, however, cannot be overlooked because they show promise in getting EVs positioned as a practical replacement for gasoline-powered vehicles, ultimately leading to broad EV adoption. But he exercises caution without further details from Ford. "Like all of the reported breakthroughs over the last few years, LMR has its shortcomings and isn't likely the panacea we're looking for at this point," Fiorani said. "Getting over the problems with voltage decay and short charge-cycle life are huge hurdles to jump." Losing cobalt cuts costs, child labor Ford's current all-electric lineup includes: Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning pickup and the E-Transit van. In the first quarter, Ford reported it sold 22,550 all-electric vehicles, an 11.5% increase from the year-ago period. Ford Chair Bill Ford has long advocated for greater EV affordability. At the Detroit Auto Show in January, Bill Ford said that the company is working hard on making EVs more affordable because EV affordability will be "the catalyst for much wider adoption." Ford's news comes after the New York Times reported on Monday that China's CATL — the biggest supplier of batteries for the world's EVs — said it had made technological advances that would allow it to make batteries that are cheaper, lighter, faster to recharge and more resistant to cold — all while providing greater driving range. CATL said most of the changes will not be widely available in new EVs for a couple of years, but its new system would allow a driver to charge an EV in five minutes with enough juice to drive 320 miles. Wall Street autos analyst David Whiston with Morningstar told the Free Press that Ford's announced battery cell technology advancements might eliminate or reduce the need for cobalt, an expensive mineral often mined with child labor, making it a human rights concern. Whiston admitted he is not an expert on battery chemistry, but said LMR batteries use more abundant elements rather than cobalt for the cathode, so sourcing LMR is easier and cheaper. Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong retail tycoon offers to privatise Dickson Concepts in US$141 million deal
Hong Kong tycoon Dickson Poon is seeking to take his flagship company Dickson Concepts (International) private as he delivered a dire assessment of the city's ailing retail industry. Advertisement The businessman, who controls 60.5 per cent of the company, offered HK$7.20 a share in cash to buy the remaining 39.5 per cent stake for a total of HK$1.1 billion (US$141.6 million), according to a Hong Kong stock exchange filing on Tuesday. The offer price is 51 per cent higher than its price of HK$4.78 on April 23, and above any level over the past 10 years. Poon made the bid through the trustee of his family trust and would not raise his offer, according to the filing. The offer values the entire company at HK$2.8 billion. The stock was halted on April 24 and will resume trading on Wednesday, the company said. Dickson Concepts, founded in 1980, operates the Harvey Nichols multi-brand luxury department stores in Hong Kong and mainland China. The company decided to close its outlet at the Landmark in Central in 2023 after almost two decades amid an industry slump, while retaining its space in Pacific Place in Admiralty. Executive chairman Dickson Poon and Chief Operating Officer Pearson Poon during a media briefing on the company earnings. Photo: K. Y. Cheng The offer is 'a proposal to mitigate declining profits and facilitate flexibility in formulating new business and growth strategies', the company said. '[This] will require significant investments and result in likely initial losses to be incurred in those new businesses'.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford said it's made a breakthrough in battery tech to make cheaper EVs with longer range
Ford Motor Co. said it is getting closer to offering car buyers more affordable and longer-range electric vehicles thanks to a breakthrough it made in battery technology, though the announcement lacked details, leaving some experts underwhelmed. Charles Poon, Ford's director of electrified propulsion engineering, on April 23 announced that the Dearborn-based automaker plans, by the end of the decade, to offer lower-priced EVs that can travel farther on a single charge thanks to its work on new battery cell chemistry. "Today marks a pivotal moment in Ford's electrification journey and for the future of electric vehicles," Poon wrote in his LinkedIn post. "After intense research and development at our state-of-the-art Battery Center of Excellence, Ion Park (in Romulus), I'm thrilled to share that the Ford team is delivering a game-changing battery chemistry: Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR). This isn't just a lab experiment. We're actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade." Poon said the Ford team is already producing its second generation of LMR cells at its pilot line. But experts said lithium manganese batteries aren't new. The first-generation Chevrolet Volt used cells with manganese spinel cathodes, said Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry Insights. He said spinel refers to a specific type of 3D molecular structure. There are other battery formulations as well, Abuelsamid said, explaining that Next Energy, a nonprofit that is researching alternative energy technology, has also been working on lithium manganese cells as part of its Gemini hybrid battery design. Next Energy describes Gemini as an architecture designed to double the range of EVs by using two cells: a lithium iron phosphate cell for daily driving and an anode-free cell for longer trips. "The big advantage of manganese is that it's plentiful, cheap and very stable (it doesn't readily experience thermal runaway the way nickel chemistries do)," Abuelsamid told the Free Press in an email. "At least some varieties of manganese cells don't last as long, though." Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg clarified to the Free Press that while LMR has been researched by many companies, the technology poses challenges with voltage decay and gas generation. What is unique about the Ford LMR development is that the automaker is directly addressing these issues while "not sacrificing energy density," Bergg wrote in an email. Abuelsamid said manganese cells have had a short charge cycle life, and Ford's comments imply that they may have found a way to address this, but Ford did not provide details on how. Sam Fiorani thought the clarification suggested progress more than a breakthrough. "'Directly addressing' does not sound like they've 'found a solution,' but rather getting better and working toward an eventual produceable solution," Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, told the Free Press. In his post, Poon said Ford's LMR battery technology has the potential to make a "step change," by giving its EVs enhanced safety and stability comparable to lithium iron phosphate batteries as well as a higher energy density than even high-nickel batteries, which provide longer range on a single charge. Poon said Ford is also targeting a significantly lower cost than current mid-nickel batteries, which would bring down the prices of EVs. Batteries represent at least a third of the cost of an EV, and Ford believes lowering prices on EVs is key to achieving true cost parity with gasoline-powered vehicles. "Ford started by offering nickel cobalt manganese batteries and later added lithium iron phosphate batteries in 2023," Poon wrote. "LMR is the answer to 'what next?'' But battery technology for EVs is in its infancy compared with the development of internal combustion engines, said Fiorani. "There will be many improvements over the coming years and decades as the automotive industry is finally focusing on this technology," Fiorani said. He said efforts such as LMR batteries, however, cannot be overlooked because they show promise in getting EVs positioned as a practical replacement for gasoline-powered vehicles, ultimately leading to broad EV adoption. But he exercises caution without further details from Ford. "Like all of the reported breakthroughs over the last few years, LMR has its shortcomings and isn't likely the panacea we're looking for at this point," Fiorani said. "Getting over the problems with voltage decay and short charge-cycle life are huge hurdles to jump." Ford's current all-electric lineup includes: Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning pickup and the E-Transit van. In the first quarter, Ford reported it sold 22,550 all-electric vehicles, an 11.5% increase from the year-ago period. Ford Chair Bill Ford has long advocated for greater EV affordability. At the Detroit Auto Show in January, Bill Ford said that the company is working hard on making EVs more affordable because EV affordability will be "the catalyst for much wider adoption." Ford's news comes after the New York Times reported on Monday that China's CATL — the biggest supplier of batteries for the world's EVs — said it had made technological advances that would allow it to make batteries that are cheaper, lighter, faster to recharge and more resistant to cold — all while providing greater driving range. CATL said most of the changes will not be widely available in new EVs for a couple of years, but its new system would allow a driver to charge an EV in five minutes with enough juice to drive 320 miles. Wall Street autos analyst David Whiston with Morningstar told the Free Press that Ford's announced battery cell technology advancements might eliminate or reduce the need for cobalt, an expensive mineral often mined with child labor, making it a human rights concern. Whiston admited he is not an expert on battery chemistry, but said LMR batteries use more abundant elements rather than cobalt for the cathode, so sourcing LMR is easier and cheaper. Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford says it has breakthrough Lithium Manganese Rich battery for EVs
