The landscape of transportation looks vastly different today than it did two decades ago. The introduction of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles is not only having positive environmental impacts as combustion engines gradually fade out, but passenger safety has never been such a high priority. IDTechEx's portfolios of Electric Vehicles Research Reports and Subscriptions and Robotics & Autonomy Research Reports and Subscriptions cover the realms of recent vehicle advancements.
The diversity of the EV landscape
Electric vehicles encompass multiple types of cars powered by electricity instead of traditional combustion engines which contribute towards harmful emissions. The fleet may include the classic battery-electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and more. These can also be categorized into plug-in and non-plug-in, with FCEVs, for example, running on hydrogen in a fuel cell which creates electricity.
In the passenger car market, IDTechEx's report, "Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea, and Air 2025-2045", predicts 70 million sales in 2045, compared with 14.4 million in 2023, highlighting strong growth to come within the biggest segment of electric vehicles. Light commercial vehicles are expected to see 11 million sales in 2045, and trucks 1.7 million, also contributing to the demand for electric vehicles across multiple sectors, including logistics and deliveries, where many companies may choose to opt for electric vehicles as a way to minimize carbon emissions and footprints. Construction vehicles becoming electrified is another trend expected to see increased uptake, for quieter and emission-free building sites.
However, it isn't just large vehicles becoming electric. Micro EVs are expected to see 66 million sales in 2045, following closely behind passenger cars, and will see the most uptake in regions such as Asia where they are common forms of transportation for getting around busy cities and built-up areas. The electrification of two and three-wheeler vehicles is also a more feasible and cheaper option, with smaller battery demands and less materials required overall. Micro vehicles also have many other benefits alongside affordability, including compact designs, light weight, low energy consumption, simple operation, and ease of parking. IDTechEx's report, "Micro EVs 2026-2046: Electric Two-Wheelers, Three-Wheelers, and Microcars", covers the developments and forecasts within this particular market, highlighting current trends across battery chemistries that are particularly sought-after for these applications.
Multifaceted autonomy
In parallel to electric vehicle technology advancing, autonomous vehicles are another trend that is sweeping the automotive industry. From in-cabin systems to external radar, cars manufactured today have many safety features included that make part of the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). In-cabin sensing is one phenomenon which encompasses a multitude of technologies such as capacitive sensors for hands-on detection, ECG sensors in the steering wheel to monitor the driver's heart rate, infrared cameras for gaze and head motion tracking, and radars for features such as gesture control and occupancy detection. IDTechEx's report, "In-Cabin Sensing 2025-2035: Technologies, Opportunities, and Markets", explores how in-cabin sensing systems can be split into the driver monitoring system (DMS) and the occupant monitoring system (OMS), with many technologies crossing over the two, achieving maximum safety coverage.
Distraction and drowsiness monitoring with infrared cameras can also work alongside artificial intelligence to decipher the driver's state of attention. This can allow the car to suggest ordering a coffee from the next service station and place an order using biometric authentication. IDTechEx's report, "Autonomous Driving Software and AI in Automotive 2026-2046: Technologies, Markets, Players", covers the avenues through which driving experiences can become as personalized as possible, with favourite radio stations and seating preferences of individuals also being remembered upon entry to the vehicle.
Radar technology in vehicles, some of the latest developments for which are covered in IDTechEx's report, "Automotive Radar Market 2025-2045: Robotaxis & Autonomous Cars", can allow for safer driving by enabling automatic features such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control (ACC), which 71% of new cars were fitted with in 2023. IDTechEx's research covers short-range and long-range radar systems, and the features specific to both.
Information gathered from radar can be fed back to intelligent software systems and allow vehicles to communicate with other vehicles on the road. They can then work together to make up a real time map and build an idea of where traffic jams or incidents may be occurring. IDTechEx's report, "Software-Defined Vehicles, Connected Cars, and AI in Cars 2026-2036: Markets, Trends, and Forecasts", covers communications between cars and the ways autonomous software is developing to make driving safer and more streamlined.
For more information on the diverse automotive sector, visit IDTechEx's portfolios of Electric Vehicles Research Reports and Subscriptions and Robotics & Autonomy Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest developments, players, and forecasts.
