Technologies that are now becoming more mainstream in the automotive industry are also finding their way into the off-highway sector, especially mining vehicles. In particular, IDTechEx's market research report, "Electric Vehicles in Mining 2024-2044: Technologies, Players, and Forecasts", highlights the role of large EV batteries and innovative fast charging methods in driving the adoption of electric mining vehicles, as well as the rise of autonomous mining vehicles.

The sourcing of materials and components is becoming an increasingly discussed topic across multiple industries. One huge growth sector is the electric vehicle (EV) market, with IDTechEx predicting 4 fold growth in electric car sales over the next 10 years. Much of the conversation is focused on battery materials, but the rare earths used in the magnets in electric motors are another key concern.

Thursday 6 June 2024 - Construction, Agriculture and Mining: Specialised Machines Require Specialised Batteries; Machine electrification in different CAM markets; Battery sizing and performance requirements across electric CAM machines; Cycle life requirements across different CAM machines; Upcoming battery technologies and how they fit in with the needs of electric CAM machines

IDTechEx, a trusted provider of independent market intelligence, have released a new market report, "Thermal Interface Materials 2024-2034: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts". The report forecasts the global TIM market size will reach around US$7bn by 2034.

Construction, agriculture, and mining (CAM) machine OEMs have recently started their electrification journey. Over the next 10 years, IDTechEx predicts strong growth in this market, driven by the falling price of batteries and the total cost of ownership benefits that electric machines provide. As such, a new battery market will be created, one that IDTechEx's new "Battery Markets in Construction, Agriculture & Mining Machines 2024-2034" report finds will grow to a value of US$7.8 billion at a 10-year CAGR of 27.1% and with an annual demand of more than 50GWh in 2034.

The inception of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) dates back to 2016 when Uber introduced their Elevate conference. The company that changed ground transportation triggered a huge wave of investment by supporting the future of Advanced Air Mobility. More than 300 new electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturing start-ups were established over the course of the following few years, each grabbing a piece of the US$8.5 billion in funding that has been poured into the industry as of the end of 2023.

Sodium-ion batteries are beginning to become increasingly relevant in 2024 after many mass production announcements were made in 2023. OEMs may look to alternative chemistries to reduce reliance on critical minerals with potentially volatile supply chains. NMC(A) batteries are currently the leading battery chemistry in Europe and the UK, while LFP dominates in China.

Electrification of cars, buses, and trucks drastically reduces CO2 emissions at the point of use compared to a diesel or petrol alternative. The adoption of EVs across all sectors, with IDTechEx predicting over 180 million electric vehicles to be sold annually by 2044. This will contribute to a drastic reduction in tailpipe emissions.

Sensors act as a middle ground between the physical and digital. They measure all sorts of variables from touch, temperature, and heart rate across many different sectors, which IDTechEx's report "Printed and Flexible Sensors 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets" explores in detail. As technology continues to become streamlined and autonomous, there is a great demand for multi-functionality and seamlessness, meaning a high demand for sensors that can be printed and applied to flexible surfaces. IDTechEx explores the main sectors where this technology is in most demand.

Fresh city air and guilt-free online shopping could be two benefits of electric and fuel cell trucks. With the growth of environmental awareness and the hydrogen economy, zero- and low-emission trucks could see larger-scale adoption over the next decade.

In-car payments and cars that communicate are becoming possible with software-defined vehicles (SDVs), enhancing experiences within the car. Cars are becoming not just a means to travel but a base that uses smart qualities to integrate work and lifestyle into the vehicle.

Over the last three to four years, the driverless robotaxi industry has begun to flourish. Driverless services are coming online in multiple cities across the US and China. IDTechEx's recent report, "Future Automotive Technologies 2024-2034: Applications, Megatrends, Forecasts", predicts that the driverless robotaxi industry will be generating over US$470 billion annually through services in 2034.

With the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and a focus on the importance of safety, EV fire protection brings a large opportunity for material suppliers. In this article by Dr James Edmondson, Research Director here at IDTechEx, we share some of these opportunities including those outside of the automotive market, along with some challenges for material suppliers in this space and findings from recent industry events.

IDTechEx, a trusted provider of independent market intelligence, announces the availability of a new market report, "Battery Markets in Construction, Agriculture & Mining Machines 2024-2034". The report forecasts battery demand for off-highway industries will be worth nearly US$8 billion in 2034.

Wednesday 8 May 2024 - Advanced Thermal Management in EV Power Electronics; A high-level examination of the conventional thermal framework in EV power electronics alongside projections for future structures; Analysis of trends of die-attach and substrate-attach materials; Trends in Thermal Interface Materials (TIM) and an assessment of commercially available TIMs tailored for power electronics; Comparison of single and double-sided cooling, alongside emerging trends and commercial applications

Trains that could travel to more tucked-away parts of the country with zero emissions are an example of the potential behind battery electric (BEV) and fuel cell (FC) trains. The benefits to the environment, alongside businesses removing long-term fuel costs, could make this advancement even more worthwhile.

The signing of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in 2001 marked a historic moment, as it was the first global treaty aimed at eliminating or restricting chemicals harmful to human and environmental health. The addition of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to the Convention in 2009 marked yet another milestone, as PFOS and its related substances became the first of the PFAS family to be regulated on an international level

Electric haul trucks will be key to achieving meaningful emissions reduction in the mining industry and assisting mining companies to meet their sustainability objectives. Haul trucks make up almost a quarter of the global mining vehicle population but are by far the largest and most emitting vehicles, contributing to over 90% of vehicular emissions in mining or over 174 megatonnes of CO2 annually

Thursday 2 May 2024 - Forever Chemicals: Insights into Regulations Affecting PFAS and Potential Alternatives; The definition and scope of PFAS; Concerns about the effects of PFAS exposure; Regulatory frameworks impacting PFAS worldwide; Emerging applications utilizing PFAS; Potential alternatives for PFAS in selected emerging applications

At the end of February 2024, the UK ran its second Hydrogen Week. During this week, Hyundai set two new records for the driving range of its fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). While certainly a significant achievement, will the ultimate range of FCEVs impact consumer opinions and adoption?