Do micro EVs help or hinder mainstream e-car sales?

22nd August 2014

IDTechEx Ltd

Nat Bowers

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According to a recent report from IDTechEx, 'Hybrid and Pure Electric Cars 2014-2024: Technologies, Markets, Forecasts', those making or intending to make electric cars or their components have big strategy decisions ahead. The report also indicates that these decisions must be made in the context of all car-like vehicles, whether homologated as cars or as something else.

One example of this is on-road micro EVs (or quadricycles): do they increase your mainstream e-car sales or decrease them? Renault produces the Twizy and Toyota the iRoad, a pure electric three wheel motorcycle. However, automotive manufacturers can argue that micro EVs are dangerous and require legal restrictions of both driver and vehicle, protecting conventional e-car sales. Others welcome micro EVs as a useful transition vehicle between e-bikes and cars.

Statistics from the report indicate that the overall micro EV business will be large, due in part to e-rickshaws in India and e-tuk tuks in the Philippines (where more than three million tuk tuk taxis need to be replaced in the face of severe local pollution). The forecast $188bn global market in homologated hybrid and pure electric cars in 2025 is boosted by the increased uptake pure electric mainstream e-cars. However, micro EVs are expected to deliver at least an additional $10bn in sales.

IDTechEx suggests that strategy must address vertical vs. horizontal integration and a quick response to market changes. Key enabling technologies of e-cars have historically been batteries, electrics/electronics and electric motors. Now, however, range extenders including fuel cells, energy harvesters and supercapacitors must be considered as key enabling technologies.