Electric vehicles

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

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.

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.

If H2ICE offers significant emissions reductions, can be done quickly, and does not compromise on performance and range (essential metrics for commercial vehicles), then what is holding it back?

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.

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