In the past decade, progress continues in the development and deployment of autonomous driving technologies, as we see market leaders like Google’s Waymo have achieved the milestones in on-road testing of their self-driving fleets, and companies like Tesla announced ambitious plans to commercialise robotaxi services in geo-fenced areas by 2020.

Autonomous driving technologies are disrupting the business models for the traditional auto industry. In the past decade, we have seen tech giants like Google and Baidu, as well as mobility service companies such as Uber and Didi joining the race with car companies to shape the future mobility system. Autonomous mobility can become a $1.4tn market by 2040 in terms of car sales.

Autonomous driving is shifting the existing automotive supply chain from the traditional system of OEMs and suppliers to a collaborative ecosystem comprising OEMs, mobility service providers, software and hardware solution providers, and infrastructure providers. We have recently seen competitors joining hands and forming some unlikely-sounding alliances to reduce the cost of autonomous driving development, as well as to share resources and capab...

Only a 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack is in the luxury Vision EQS concept car of Mercedes yet it will deliver increased 700km range, partly because low drag factor is now going to be taken seriously, learning from Tesla. Range sells electric cars. Long range ones sell in 100 times the numbers and have three times the resale value.  By IDTechEx Chairman, Dr Peter Harrop

‘RFID Forecasts, Players and Opportunities 2019-2029’, the global annual survey of the RFID industry by analysts IDTechEx, has revealed that in 2019 the number of passive RFID tags sold will increase by 13% over 2018. That includes passive RFID tags across the three main frequencies used (RAIN, HF and LF). Of those three frequencies RAIN RFID will see the highest growth from 2018 to 2019 at 20% with HF RFID (including NFC) at fiv...

Solar vehicle bodywork has just progressed from curiosity to key enabling technology. The new 180-page IDTechEx report, ‘Solar Cars, Buses, Trucks, Trains 2020-2030’ explains why and forecasts the next ten years with solar cars set to reach $15bn by 2030, which will just be the beginning. The focus is mainly road vehicles - solar already provides significant car traction power. 

Since the inception of electronic devices there have been radical improvements in performance and miniaturisation. However, the form of electronics has barely changed – typically discrete components are mounted on circuit boards which are put in a box.  By Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx

Here, Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, Research Director at IDTechEx, has discussed the global graphene market, more information on the topic can be found in his report ‘Graphene, 2D Materials and Carbon Nanotubes: Markets, Technologies and Opportunities 2019 to 2029’. 

Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian recently announced a project to use its second-life batteries as energy storage units in a microgrid initiative in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and has been struggling with power since then. 

With accelerating uptake of lithium-ion batteries in stationary and mobile applications, today's shortages will reoccur in the years to come for many reasons beyond too few battery factories. For more, see the IDTechEx reports, "48V Mild Hybrid and 48V Full Hybrid Vehicles 2020-2030" and "Batteries for Stationary Energy Storage 2019-2029".

Recent IDTechEx research in their report: Electronic Skin Patches 2019-2029, has revealed significant opportunities in the development and use of electronic skin patches, with over $7.5bn in revenue made from the technology in 2018 and a growth forecast of over $20bn per year over the next decade. However, it also shows that reimbursement and regulatory consideration aren’t necessarily keeping pace. James Hayward, Principal Analyst at ...

Recent IDTechEx research in their report ‘Electronic Skin Patches 2019-2029’, has revealed significant opportunities in the development and use of electronic skin patches, with over $7.5bn in revenue made from the technology in 2018 and a growth forecast of over $20bn per year over the next decade.

This is the second of a three-part series of articles on haptics. Haptics involves the use of technology to stimulate the sense of touch. IDTechEx has been covering the technology behind this important market sector for the last five years, and have just released their latest report: ‘Haptics 2020-2030: Technologies, Markets and Players’. 

The 48V mild-hybrid powertrains from 25 car brands will extend factory and platform life. They rise to a flood in 2020. Most use belt-driven alternator replacements for starter, torque-assist for downsized engine, and primitive regenerative braking. The reduction in carbon dioxide emission keeps things legal as emissions laws tighten. It is quieter and uses less fuel.  By Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman at IDTechEx

Stretchable Electronics (SC) is already commercial and comes in many shapes and forms. The panel of images below showcases a number of prototypes and products which utilise a stretchable component and/or material. These pictures have been mainly (not entirely) taken by IDTechEx analysts at events around the world during the past five years.

The rapid penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to questions on its most expensive component, the battery. What happens to the batteries after eight to ten years of service when they retire from EVs due to capacity fade? Volkswagen announced their ambitious target to build a million EVs by 2025 and has already got a plan for their used EV batteries.

IDTechEx has announced that their new research report, ‘Remote Patient Monitoring 2019-2029’, forecasts that the medical wearables market will be worth nearly $20bn by 2024. This exponential growth will be driven by demand for continuous health monitoring and point-of-care diagnostics for the management of chronic diseases.

The new Hyundai Tucson switches off the engine when coasting or braking at under 30kph. This is a bridge to the 48V full hybrids that IDTechEx foresaw some time ago. IDTechEx correctly predicted that they would come sooner rather than later and not just as cars - thus the title of the new IDTechEx report embracing it all, ‘48V Mild Hybrid and 48V Full Hybrid Vehicles 2020-2030’.

Electric motor drive is key to all electric vehicles (EV) and it is taking new forms. In-wheel motors are successful in two-wheel EVs but they have rarely been seen in larger vehicles due to safety and cost concerns and a fear that unsprung weight gives a rougher ride. Near-wheel motors are a compromise.

Finding ways to halt our dependence on fossil fuels and plastics is proving extremely difficult. One possible solution is to shift away from petrochemicals towards a biobased feedstock to make plastics, but how realistic is this proposal? IDTechEx uncovers the factors influencing adoption of biobased polymers in their report, ‘Biobased Polymers 2018-2023: A Technology and Market Perspective’.