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Copper has been used in cars for as long as vehicles have had electrically powered features. Its main use today is as the vehicle's central nervous system, connecting a network of sensors, actuators, displays, and more to the vehicle's ECU brains. As cars evolve and utilize more electronic components, the demand for wiring will inevitably increase.
Wednesday 22 January 2025 - An overview of materials used in battery cells and battery packs; Trends in cathode chemistry and anode materials; Battery pack designs: cell-to-pack and cell-to-body; The impact on pack materials including thermal management, composite/polymer enclosures, interconnects and insulation
A power module in DC fast chargers is a critical component that converts AC grid power into high-voltage DC power to charge EV batteries efficiently. It integrates rectifiers, inverters, and control systems to ensure precise power delivery while optimizing energy efficiency and minimizing heat loss. Power modules are essential for achieving rapid charging speeds and supporting high-power applications, meeting the demands of growing EV adoption.
Construction vehicles running on diesel can be a creator of constant costs and air pollution, with continuous negative impacts on the environment and communities. The goal for electric construction vehicles is to achieve maximum productivity, reliability, and efficiency, while keeping costs minimized. Finding the right battery chemistry for electric construction machines is, therefore, a necessary consideration so that costs can be low enough to ensure the total cost of ownership over the vehicle's lifetime is cheaper than diesel alternatives.
Thursday 9 January 2025 - Navigating Emerging Trends for the Economic Development of Second-Life EV Batteries; Applications of second-life electric vehicle batteries; Overview of the global second-life electric vehicle battery market, including commentary on key players, regional activity, and an introduction to policies; Discussion on cost bottlenecks identified by IDTechEx in the second-life battery repurposing process, informed by primary interviews with key repurposers; Emerging trends to impact repurposing costs and economic development of second-life EV batteries. This includes business-to-business (B2B) battery marketplaces, advanced battery testing / grading / diagnostics technologies, semi-automated EV battery disassembly technologies, EV battery trends, and revenue sharing business models; IDTechEx's outlook and conclusions on the global second-life EV battery market
Historically, heavy-duty trucks have proven difficult to electrify, with the average annual mileage of a truck approximately ten times that of a passenger vehicle, regularly driving hundreds of km a day. 2024 has seen further growth in the global electric truck market, with progressive emissions reductions mandated by governments projected to propel further uptake.
While the fully battery electric vehicle (BEV) has struggled in several key markets, its plug-in hybrid alternative (PHEV) has been experiencing a stellar year. On the surface, PHEVs may appear to be an ideal compromise: zero emissions travel but without the same extent of reliance on expensive Li-ion batteries and backup ICE power to quell range anxiety. So, have BEVs had their moment in the sun, and is the future hybrid?
IDTechEx forecasts the second-life EV battery market to grow to US$4.2B in value by 2035, given the increasing availability of retired EV batteries over the coming decade. Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles may be used for 6-15 years, depending on the application and their degradation over time. Once these batteries reach a capacity, or State-of-Health (SOH), that is too low to facilitate the driving range requirements of the EV, these are retired. These batteries could be recycled to reclaim critical and valuable raw materials, which could be reintroduced into new EV battery manufacturing.
IDTechEx predicts that 2024 and the coming couple of years will be seen as the hockey-stick moment for robotaxis. Companies across the US and China are preparing for a mass roll-out of services. Cruise was one of the early leaders in robotaxi development, getting off to a good start and attracting the attention of General Motors who acquired the company in 2016. However, in December 2024 it appears that GM and Cruise's robotaxi endeavour is coming to a premature end.
Wednesday 18 December 2024 - The current state of the zero-emission truck market; What zero-emission trucks need to deliver for commercial rollout; Key enabling technologies: batteries/motors/charging infrastructure; Battery vs fuel cell powertrains; IDTechEx's outlook for zero-emission truck deployment
Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) represent a combination of automotive features that provide new possibilities for passengers to engage with vehicles. IDTechEx depicts how the cellular connectivity within SDVs can provide access to IoT (Internet of Things) features including OTA (over-the-air) updates, personalization, and entertainment options.
As applications for wearable technology grow, there are increasing opportunities for sensors that can detect more advanced metrics, be integrated into novel form factors, offer enhanced performance, or demand less power and space. Innovations in wearable sensor technology are expanding the envelope of biometrics accessible through watches and skin patches, addressing the rising demand for remote patient monitoring and decentralized clinical trials but also increasing consumer expectations.
Many will be aware of the concerns around rare earth materials, such as price volatility and environmental impact. One way to alleviate concerns is by adopting magnetic materials that do not contain rare earths. Based on IDTechEx's latest research report on "Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2025-2035: Technologies, Materials, Markets, and Forecasts", this article will cover some of the most promising alternatives and their trade-offs.
Haptics might fly under the radar, but they form a major industry that offers serious user experience benefits to consumers. IDTechEx forecasts a US$7.1 billion market for haptic technology in 2035, with much of the growth in this market being fueled by the adoption of haptics in new classes of device.
Over a million cars today use long-wave infrared (LWIR) as an add-on within optional night driving systems. By 2027, IDTechEx predicts that these infrared cameras will be commonly installed as part of ADAS systems, providing night vision and abilities to either kickstart the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system or alert the driver.
Monday 9 December 2024 - Commercializing Autonomous Vehicles: Robotaxis, Robobuses and Robotrucks; Case studies of key robotaxi players and their deployments; Analysis of robotaxi testing, performance, and deployments; Outlook of how the robotaxi industry will grow and scale in coming years; Market outlook of key Roboshuttles, Autonomous Buses and Autonomous Truck players and their deployments; Analysis of Autonomous Truck TCO in different regions; Outlook of how the Roboshuttles, Autonomous Buses industry will grow and scale in coming years
Permanent magnet (PM) motors have dominated the BEV market for years and continue to do so, providing the best efficiency and power density for a variety of EV applications. Magnet-free wound rotor synchronous motors (WRSM) are a primary alternative to PM motors, with adoption seen from players like Renaut and BMW, while induction motors are useful for short acceleration bouts in dual motor vehicles as they are low cost and have no rolling drag when not in use.
As governments stretch to meet their Paris Agreement goals and other sustainability targets, global demand for light-duty road freight is set to more than double between 2020 and 2050. A growing global population, rising income levels, and a booming e-commerce industry all factor into this increase in demand.
The development of autonomous buses and roboshuttles is likely to continue somewhat slowly due to a lack of funding and regulatory challenges. However, IDTechEx highlights the next stages of developments within their report, and with the already commercialized examples of autonomous city buses and minibusses, success in the industry is increasingly likely.
Thursday 5 December 2024 - Electric Light Commercial Vehicles: The Present and Future of Cargo; An overview of the global LCV industry; The role of regulation in LCV electrification; Key sales trends and manufacturers across global markets; Total costs of ownership (TCO) for eLCVs; Hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrid LCVs
Utilizing alternatives to helium where possible could allow for a greater conservation of helium, which could prove to be necessary for the market going forward. IDTechEx reports that since 2005, there have been 4 supply shortages of helium, each resulting in high price volatility, with the price of helium having almost doubled since 2021.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have seen tremendous growth historically, but growth has slowed somewhat in 2024. The goal of automakers is to reduce the cost of making EVs, both to improve their profit margins on existing vehicles and to make lower-cost models more feasible.
The scale of the challenges faced by electric aviation, with weight, range, ownership costs, and even carbon footprint, all need consideration. Despite this, IDTechEx believes that current technical trends combined with achievable business use cases will generate significant electric plane uptake in the future.
Autonomous driving technologies have seemingly been on the horizon for the last decade, maybe more. Over the past four years, level 3 technologies have been certified for consumer use on public roads, hands-off/eyes-on driving has solidified as a market segment, and commercial driverless robotaxi services have become available to the public.
Over the past couple of years, IDTechEx has reported on the emergence of commercial robotaxi services but has always needed to caveat this with the fact that they have been heavily restricted. Well, in 2024, the shackles are coming off, and the industry is getting ready for take-off.
Communication between passengers and the vehicle is clearer with HUDs, which can make for a safer journey. Customization is also a highly desirable feature for drivers when choosing how they interact with their vehicle.
Thursday 21 November 2024 - Despite a Challenging Year, Regulations and Technologies Are Set to Transform the Electric Vehicle Market in 2025; Deep dive into global and regional sales figures up to H1 2024, including PHEV and BEV sales, and key OEMs; Overview of the Li-ion battery market by cathode and capacity (kWh); Breakdown of the EU CO2 regulations and positioning of OEMs in advance of 2025 rule changes; Growth of the electric pickup market in the US, and EPA/CARB regulation breakdown; Technology trends, 800V architectures, and evolving motor choices; Market outlook until 2045
The future of the automotive industry is heading towards the acceptance of automation and the enforcement of electrification. Despite the crossover of these two phenomena becoming increasingly present within the automotive industry, automation and electrification individually offer unique environmental and safety benefits to vehicles and their passengers.
Tuesday 19 November 2024 - Electric car sales and market growth analysis; Key charging trends, including cable-based conduction and other technologies; Charging beyond private cars, including MW charging for trucks and fleet charging, and DC fast charging; Market overview of the charging infrastructure industry, including key player performance; Off-grid charging solutions for rural, industrial, and grid constrained situations
On Tuesday, November 5th, millions of Americans went to the polls to vote for the 47th President of the United States. The results were emphatic: a second Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Senate. While this election will impact many aspects of the global economy, what do these results entail for one of the world's biggest automotive markets?
The Society of Automotive Engineers defines 6 levels (0 to 5) of autonomy available to vehicles, ranging from level 0 (no automation) to level 5 (full automation). To achieve level 4+, automotive OEMs and tier-one suppliers are required to expand their sensor suites beyond conventional cameras and radar, accompanied by reliable software to perceive the vehicle's surroundings.
Hydrogen and its derivatives (e.g. ammonia, methanol) will be crucial in decarbonizing diverse sectors and serving as energy carriers for global renewable energy transport. As a result, the market is seeing increased commercial interest from technology providers, engineering services, and project developers eager to capitalize on this expanding opportunity.
Decarbonizing aviation could be the next big step for the sustainable transportation industry, and with the popularity of both national and international travel, there is opportunity emerging for both electric and hydrogen-powered planes.
Wednesday 13 November 2024 - Enabling Emerging Industries Through Thermal Management in 2024 and Beyond; Thermal management fluids and greater component integration in EVs; EV power electronics and its emerging thermal management needs; Adoption of new thermal management systems in data centers; How the above trends impact thermal interface materials and their application
IDTechEx forecasts the global Li-ion market to reach over US$400 billion by 2035. This article explores the key material trends shaping the Li-ion battery market, particularly the rise of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and shifts in graphite material.
Chinese carmakers of all segments and sizes were the hottest talking points at The Paris Motor Show this year, as they hoped to sway potential customers who may never have even heard of them before the event. But why have Chinese carmakers decided that Europe is the next market to expand into?
Emerging advanced semiconductor packaging technologies, such as 2.5D and 3D hybrid bonding, are crucial for enhancing system performance across various applications such as AI and high-performance computing. This article explores the technology development trends in 2.5D and 3D packaging technologies and the key market growth drivers.
Monday 11 November 2024 - New lower cost battery chemistries (e.g. LFP, LMFP, etc.); More efficient and lower bill of materials motors (rare earth free, alternative magnet materials); The evolution of alternative power electronics technologies (SiC, GaN, etc.)