Li-ion batteries are starting to near their performance ceiling. Delving into the trends being seen in patent applications and filings can provide insight into the key areas of innovation in Li-ion batteries and the areas of development favored by key players.

Autonomous shuttles could be a key element that connects the public transportation systems to reduce private car ownership in the future. The autonomous shuttle total market size will be over $18 million by 2040, according to IDTechEx's report Robot Shuttles and Autonomous Buses 2020-2040.

IDTechEx estimates the global plug-in electric vehicle (BEV + PHEV) population reached 8.1 million units (including light commercial vehicles) by the end of 2019, supported by roughly five million charging outlets. There will be over 111 million plug-in EVs in-use globally by 2031: a massive driver for the wide-spread deployment of charging infrastructure.

Surprises abound in the new IDTechEx Research report, "Supercapacitor Markets, Technology Roadmap, Opportunities 2021-2041"

Thursday 24 September - Electric vehicle growth and expansion; introduction to key trends in EV power electronics and the link to die attach technology; technology evolution of die and substrate attach paste; and power modules in EVs.

Join the webinar 23rd September - Introduction to changes in telecommunications infrastructure; choice of semiconductor technology for sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G; case studies of sub-6 GHz and mmWave antenna and more.

3D printed electronics, here explored in detail, is an emerging technology that enables a new manufacturing paradigm.

Despite the impact of Covid-19, substantial volumes of Li-ion batteries will soon be reaching their end-of-life. IDTechEx highlight the importance of Li-ion recycling and discuss what will drive growth in the market.

Electric vehicles are expected to include solid-state batteries as an innovative approach, according to IDTechEx's research report "Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2020-2030: Technology, Patents, Forecasts, Players".

As IDTechEx predicted in its report, "Robot Shuttles and Autonomous Buses 2020-2040", robot shuttles are converging with robotaxis.

Traction batteries and motors in electric vehicles (EVs) are very different to the powertrain components of the internal-combustion engine vehicles they replace.

What do you now purchase by the kilowatt hour? The new supercapacitors replacing batteries. The new IDTechEx report, "Supercapacitor Markets, Technology Roadmap, Opportunities 2021-2041", shows how supercapacitors have started to replace 10% of lithium-ion batteries and help kill lead-acid.

IDTechEx currently have a number of electric vehicle related webinars available to watch on-demand. These include presentations on electric cars; electric boats and ships; thermal management; autonomous driving; and EV charging.

Thursday 10 September - Join the webinar "Do Patents Highlight the Way Forward for Li-ion Batteries?", presented by IDTechEx Technology Analyst, Dr Alex Holland. There are 3 sessions to choose from (2am, 10am and 5pm BST).

Supercapacitors Turn the Corner - Supercapacitors and their variants have recently seen customer commitment to multibillion-dollar opportunities that were previously beyond their reach. Consider large peak-shaving ones for hybrid cars where the Geely orders will soon be followed by others.

Growth in the Li-ion market means significant investments are now being made into building out capacity for manufacturing Li-ion batteries and their components and as the demand for Li-ion batteries grow, so too does the importance of performance and cost improvements.

Electric ships have some of the largest individual batteries of any electric vehicle sector; below is a list of the largest projects IDTechEx have been tracking.

Mention an electronic circuit and you are likely to picture a printed circuit board (PCB): a rigid rectangle in a characteristic green color with copper lines and a bewildering array of components soldered onto it. But does adding electronic functionality means using a PCB and thus requires shoehorning a rigid rectangle into the product?

The new IDTechEx report, "Sensors 2021-2041" uniquely analyses the whole subject in the light of such seismic changes as the COVID-19 virus. The sensor business is in turmoil. The industries that spend most on sensors are changing as are the sensors.

In the past two decades, the car market has declined twice: first due to the 2008 economic crisis, and then due to falling sales in China. Most recently, the lockdowns implemented to combat the coronavirus pandemic, causing auto-production plants to close globally and a loss of consumer spending will lead to an unprecedented 23% decline in 2020 (IDTechEx prediction).