Research Articles

Consumer gaming and professional uses of VR headsets, from pilot training and machinery operation to entertainment in VR arcades, all count towards the unmatched lucrativeness of VR today. AR devices have grown more in recent years; however, they remain a niche market home to tough competition, especially for consumer devices.

Historically, heavy-duty trucks have proven difficult to electrify, with the average annual mileage of a truck approximately ten times that of a passenger vehicle, regularly driving hundreds of km a day. 2024 has seen further growth in the global electric truck market, with progressive emissions reductions mandated by governments projected to propel further uptake.

The demand for human wellbeing brings great value to the wearables market and creates a greater need for access to personalized healthcare and remote monitoring. Beginning with fitness trackers, the wearables industry now incorporates skin patches, smart mouthguards, smart glasses, and headsets, with devices being used in both personal and work environments.

While the fully battery electric vehicle (BEV) has struggled in several key markets, its plug-in hybrid alternative (PHEV) has been experiencing a stellar year. On the surface, PHEVs may appear to be an ideal compromise: zero emissions travel but without the same extent of reliance on expensive Li-ion batteries and backup ICE power to quell range anxiety. So, have BEVs had their moment in the sun, and is the future hybrid?

IDTechEx predicts the brain computer interface market to exceed US$ 1.6billion in 2045, highlighting the large scope for growth and development within the sector, and the potential of BCI technology to improve accessible communication.

In the last week Google's latest quantum breakthrough has been splashed across the headlines. This has created a surge of interest in quantum and the revolutionary potential of this technology. IDTechEx has been following key trends in the quantum technology market for many years, and this article picks out key takeaways you should know that go beyond the buzz.

IDTechEx forecasts the second-life EV battery market to grow to US$4.2B in value by 2035, given the increasing availability of retired EV batteries over the coming decade. Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles may be used for 6-15 years, depending on the application and their degradation over time. Once these batteries reach a capacity, or State-of-Health (SOH), that is too low to facilitate the driving range requirements of the EV, these are retired. These batteries could be recycled to reclaim critical and valuable raw materials, which could be reintroduced into new EV battery manufacturing.

Thursday 19 December 2024 - What is quantum computing, and what is the state of the industry?; How is the industry evolving as commercialisation ramps up?; How do scalability challenges vary between quantum computing modalities?; What are some key updates from major players in the eco-system from 2024?; Which trends can be expected in the quantum computing market in 2025 and beyond?

Ensuring that a suitable diagnostic service is provided for insured battery deployments can be advantageous. Already, the market has seen arrangements whereby an insurer will offer better premiums for fleet and BESS owners should they use machine-learning-assisted diagnostics services.

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

The e-fuels sector stands at a critical juncture in its evolution from laboratory innovation and demonstration projects to industrial-scale production. While significant progress has been made in technology development and market interest, evidenced by substantial corporate investments and supportive policy frameworks, considerable challenges remain.

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.

With so many PFAS in use worldwide, it is unsurprising that PFAS contamination has become a global issue impacting human and environmental health. Extensive remediation efforts will need to be conducted to deal with such widespread PFAS contamination, which will cost a significant amount of money. IDTechEx estimates that global expenditure on PFAS treatment for municipal drinking water alone will reach US$2.3 billion in 2035.

Due to the need for higher energy density and faster charging battery technologies, the battery electric car market will be the primary driver behind silicon anode material adoption. Numerous companies, from start-ups to established materials companies and industrials are expanding their capabilities to meet the growing demand for silicon anode material. IDTechEx estimates that silicon anode material production capacity is due to expand 6.5x from 2024 to 2030.

As quantum computing capabilities are becoming more sophisticated, so has engagement from research institutions and supercomputing centers who are investing tens of millions for on-premises installations of the latest machines. So, as pressure mounts on quantum computing to continue showing it is on track to provide a return on investment from governments and private ventures alike - what are the crucial next steps?

IDTechEx predicts the stationary fuel cell market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 16.7% between now and 2035, with targets in place in countries worldwide to help achieve maximum growth and deployment of fuel cell technology. Despite the hype of low carbon benefits attached to fuel cells, this is only applicable when green hydrogen is used, with other gases producing carbon as a by-product of their sourcing, or reaction process within the fuel cell.

Industrial Internet of Things sensor technology (IIoT) seeks to enable greater industrial automation, improved worker safety, and streamlined maintenance planning. From cameras, LiDAR, and radar for machine vision in robotics, to skin patches and miniaturized gas sensors in smart personal protection equipment, emerging IIoT applications present growth opportunities for a variety of sensor technologies.

Tuesday 17 December 2024 - Introduction into the Li-ion market and silicon anode technology; Discussion of key silicon anode technologies and developments; Overview of the silicon anode market; Key conclusions and takeaways

IDTechEx projects that the annual water electrolyzer market will exceed US$70 billion by 2034. However, access to more low-cost renewable electricity and stronger policy support for green hydrogen is needed to make it more competitive in various applications.

Monday 16 December 2024 - Introduction to the state of the wearable sensor market in 2024; Global meta-trends and their impact on the wearable sensor industry; Sensor innovations for HMI: o Neural interface wristbands for AR o Wearable brain computer interfaces o Ear computing and facial gesture recognition; Conclusions and Market Outlook

IDTechEx predicts that the annual demand for stationary fuel cells in the commercial market will surpass 1.9GW by 2035, with the main applications being in residential, industrial, utilities, commercial, and data sectors. Currently, over 80% of power worldwide is still obtained from fossil fuels, meaning there is lots of opportunity for growth and expansion of sustainable energy sourcing, with large demand and potential for fuel cells.

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.

Friday 13 December 2024 - Building Towards Net-Zero: Which Technologies Can Decarbonize Cement? Discussion of key drivers and barriers for cement sector decarbonization, including stimulating public sector and private sector demand; Benchmarking the most impactful cement decarbonization technologies over the coming decade (leading supplementary cementitious materials, biomass-based fuels, waste-derived fuels, and CCUS), alongside emerging cement decarbonization technologies (new cement production processes and materials, kiln electrification, concentrated solar power, hydrogen); Contextualizing the impact of cement decarbonization technologies in 2035 within global progress towards net-zero by 2050

Achieving net zero by 2050 will require approximately 30 gigatonnes less CO2 to be emitted each year, alongside 2-10 gigatonnes of CO2 removal per year. CCUS has been recognized by many global bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency, as a great decarbonization tool to help achieve these goals.

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.

As a reliable and well-performing technology for battery energy storage systems (BESS), its demand in the global ES market has continued to grow at an impressive pace. This is expected to continue, and as found in their new market report, "Batteries for Stationary Energy Storage 2025-2035", IDTechEx estimates that the global Li-ion BESS market will be valued at US$109B in 2035.

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.

Conductivity is a hot topic within the conductive inks sector, with a wide variation of requirements for it differing by application. The low current of capacitive touch sensors and the need for resistance in PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heaters means the conductivity requirement for these applications is low. On the other hand, power electronics stand at the far end of the spectrum, with high conductivity required for high efficiency and optimum results.

Thursday 12 December 2024 - Machine Learning Methods for Battery Development, Manufacturing and Management; An introduction to challenges in the battery industry; An overview of machine learning and how it can be applied for batteries; Use-case analysis for five different market sectors Business model analysis for the overall market; Qualitative conclusions on how and where machine learning will see use over the next few years

As global populations rise and more regions urbanize, cutting back on construction isn't a viable decarbonization strategy. Leading cement decarbonization technologies, including supplementary cementitious materials, alternative fuels, and carbon capture, will avoid an additional 422 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, in the cement sector over the coming decade.

Thursday 19 December 2024 - What is quantum computing, and what is the state of the industry?; How is the industry evolving as commercialisation ramps up?; How do scalability challenges vary between quantum computing modalities?; What are some key updates from major players in the eco-system from 2024?; Which trends can be expected in the quantum computing market in 2025 and beyond?

Wednesday 11 December 2024 - The Future Trajectory of the Additive Manufacturing Market in 2025; Recent news, including entries and exits into the market; Financial summary for the 3D printing industry in 2024; Technology trends; Future outlook for 2025

Traditionally, hard rock mining and evaporation ponds have been the primary methods for lithium extraction. This article offers an overview of established techniques for mining lithium from natural resources. It focuses particularly on a collection of technologies known as direct lithium extraction (DLE), which have the potential to unlock lithium from brine more efficiently, with improved recovery rates and additional environmental, social, and governance (ESG) benefits.

Tuesday 17 December 2024 - Introduction into the Li-ion market and silicon anode technology; Discussion of key silicon anode technologies and developments; Overview of the silicon anode market; Key conclusions and takeaways