Harbin Institute of Technology

Plug-in Hybrids Experience a Boom, but the Future Is All Electric

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?

The Story of Cruise and How Its Loss Impacts the Robotaxi Industry

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.

Magnetic Materials That Could Replace Rare Earths in EV Motors

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.

Xavveo: A Photonics-Based Paradigm Shift for Radar

Radar is a well-established sensor used across the automotive industry. Its major drawback has been resolution, with tier-ones and startups creating new technologies to improve performance. But, efforts so far have mostly been expanding on the same premise. Xavveo has come to the party with a ground-up rethinking of what automotive radar can be.

Autonomous Vehicle Industries Now and in 10 Years

Over the past couple of years, IDTechEx has reported on the emergence of commercial robotaxi services but has always needed to caveat this with the fact that they have been heavily restricted. Well, in 2024, the shackles are coming off, and the industry is getting ready for take-off.

Arbe: 4D Imaging Radar Leader

Arbe is one of the leading players in the development of next-generation radar technologies. It has pioneered high-channel-count solutions with its in-house designed radar chipset. In this update profile, IDTechEx covers Arbe's core technologies, its perspective on what the next generation will bring, and how OEMs are now realizing that high-channel-count radars are the inevitable future.

Automotive Haptics to Be a Multibillion-Dollar Market by 2035

In 2024, the largest market for haptics is in smartphones, but as the smartphone market stagnates, the industry is looking towards automotive interiors as the major opportunity for the next decade.

Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota was the largest car manufacturer by sales in 2023, with over 10 million vehicles sold. It was an early leader in hybrid technology, however it has been more cautious in its adoption of fully electric technologies. This IDTechEx profile focuses on Toyota's latest plans to decarbonize its vehicles.

Coolbrook

Finland-based Coolbrook has developed rotodynamic heating technology for fully electric, high temperature heat generation. IDTechEx Technology Analysts Eve Pope and Thomas Bithell spoke with Chief Commercial Officer Lauri Peltola.

McLaren Automotive

McLaren Automotive is the production car division of the McLaren Group. One of the most successful and iconic racing and motorsports brands, recent years have brought significant financial challenges as the company looks to adapt in an increasingly electrified world. IDTechEx explores the latest developments and challenges for the British brand.

Boréas Technologies

Boréas Technologies is a fabless Canadian semiconductor company supplying low-power drivers for piezoelectric actuation and sensing. Haptics are the primary commercial use-case to date, with micro-pumps for applications including mobile device cooling expected to be important in the near-future.

Subaru

Through 2023 and 2024 Subaru has been through a series of management changes. A key part of the change is a new focus and more ambitious plan for electric vehicles. This profile looks at Subaru's current product portfolio and technologies and evaluates its renewed electrification plans.

Ayar Labs: AI Accelerator Interconnect

Ayar Labs is a San Jose-based startup working on an optical I/O connectivity solution that offers high bandwidth, low-power, low-latency connections, using photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and electrical integrated circuits (EICs) on a monolithic chiplet. IDTechEx Technology Analyst James Falkiner spoke with Terry Thorn, Vice President of Commercial Operations at Ayar Labs, discussing Ayar Labs' current and future solutions for high-speed in-package optical communications.

eVTOL Vehicles and Zero Emission Travel

eVTOL air-taxis could be the new efficient means of intercity travel with zero-emissions short flights. Whilst they may resemble helicopters, they could be far more cost effective and more environmentally friendly in the long run and are similar to aeroplanes in their rotor-enabled forward flight. With their electric propellors powered by batteries, new designs and innovations are broadening the market.

PIC-Based Transceivers Roadmap

Innovation map for photonic integrated circuits-based (PIC-based) transceivers.

Photonic Integrated Circuits Market to Be Worth Over US$22B by 2034

The Silicon Photonics and PICs market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the surge in AI and datacom transceiver demand. Key players in the industry, such as Intel, Coherent, and Infinera, are actively using PICs within their transceivers.

HiT Nano

HiT Nano are a US company that are developing an alternative process for the production of cathode active material.

Mixed Messages on MaaS Market Readiness

Over the last three to four years, the driverless robotaxi industry has begun to flourish. Driverless services are coming online in multiple cities across the US and China. IDTechEx's recent report, "Future Automotive Technologies 2024-2034: Applications, Megatrends, Forecasts", predicts that the driverless robotaxi industry will be generating over US$470 billion annually through services in 2034.

Moxtek: Metasurface Foundry

Moxtek is a Utah-based developer and manufacturer of X-ray and optical components. IDTechEx spoke to the Nippon Kayaku Group company about its custom metalens foundry business, which is based around nanoimprint lithography.