Electric vehicles

The growth of the EV market has slowed significantly in Europe and the US in the first half of 2024. A key route to reinvigorating growth will be the release of models in a more affordable price range. To this end, there are many avenues to reduce the cost of an EV. While the battery rightly takes focus, other components throughout the vehicle, such as the electric motor, can contribute to cost reduction too.

While China may be the market leader in 2024, IDTechEx's latest article predicts that the US will replace China as the world leader in unit sales by 2044.

Does the hydrogen combustion engine offer a viable route to continuing ICE car production? According to IDTechEx's latest article the answer is, at least for cars, no. But why?

Thursday 26 September 2024 - Insights on the Li-ion Battery Market: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead. Recent trends and developments in the Li-ion market; Discussion on various chemistry choices being made; Key technology innovations and developments; Cost and price trends

Semiconductor manufacturing processes require many chemicals and specialty gases. Owing to its cryogenic properties, exceptional thermal conductivity, chemical inertness, and high diffusivity, helium is used throughout the semiconductor manufacturing line, particularly for wafer cooling where there are no viable alternatives.

Underlying the hype for SiC (silicon carbide) and the future potential of GaN (gallium nitride) for EV power electronics, challenges remain for both technologies. While OEMs, tier-one suppliers, and market analysts generally agree that SiC and GaN will eventually share the market with incumbent Si technologies, the exact roadmap and time scale remain uncertain. A development in its relative infancy that IDTechEx expects to boost overall performance, volume capabilities, and cost, are engineered substrates.

Tuesday 24 September 2024 - How Chronic Supply Challenges Are Reshaping Helium Use in Key Industries. An overview of global helium production and supply; Impact of supply challenges on different industries e.g. semiconductors and fiber optics manufacturing, cryogenics, and several others; Technological advances to reduce helium consumption (e.g. MRI and NMR); Trends in the adoption of substitutes or reclamation systems; Outlook for global helium production capacity and demand

The autonomous truck industry is experiencing a significant revival, with vehicle delivery numbers continuously breaking records. Companies across Asia, Europe, and the United States are eagerly advancing into the commercialization testing phase. Autonomous trucks are addressing critical real-world issues by reducing transportation costs and optimizing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through meticulous, practical calculations.

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is one of the most important ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) features a vehicle can have. Studies have shown that pedestrian crash risk is reduced by 25-27% and pedestrian injury crash risk by 29-30% through the implementation of AEB.

Thursday 5 September 2024 - An overview of the construction machine industry; Drivers for electrification and current government legislation; Comparisons of electric and diesel machine performance; Analysis of total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits of electric machines; Batteries for the construction machine industry