The current iteration of Li-ion batteries, which are based on graphite anodes, liquid electrolytes, and cathode materials such as NMC and LFP, are generally considered to be reaching their performance limits. However, from cell materials to battery designs, there are still several routes that can lead to further improvements in performance and cost.

With increasing scrutiny of the environmental impact of current building practices, the electrification of mobile construction machinery offers construction companies a relatively near-term opportunity to demonstrate their environmental credentials.

While 2022 continues to add to the challenges electric vehicle (EV) makers face, markets are still growing. Indeed, electric car sales for the first half of 2022 reached ~3.5 million, according to IDTechEx research.

Thursday 11 August 2022 - The 2021 sales of zero-emission trucks and the addressable market; What zero-emission trucks need to deliver for commercial rollout; Key enabling technologies: batteries/motors/charging; The role of battery and fuel cell trucks; IDTechEx's outlook for zero-emission truck deployment

2022 continues to present great challenges for electric vehicle makers, but despite these challenges electric vehicle markets have continued to grow. However, in an era of shortages, disruption is inevitable. IDTechEx believes improvements to drive cycle efficiency and vehicle design, minimizing battery capacity and other material requirements per vehicle, must come to the forefront.

To date, the commercialization of graphene has been more of a "material push" rather than a "market pull"; a solution looking for a problem. In this first phase, there were numerous technical and commercial barriers to overcome, which in materials science does not happen overnight. IDTechEx believes that this is changing, with graphene entering the next stage, the growth phase, of its commercial journey.

The vast majority of new trucks sold today are powered by diesel engines, but like other on-road vehicle segments, this is set to change.

The conductive fast-charging system as we know it today has drawbacks such as long dwell times, high power demand from the grid, availability and reliability issues, and the need for end-users to deal with heavy cables, dirty connectors, and buggy user interfaces. Battery-swapping is an emerging technology that aims to address all of these shortcomings.

One of the major environmental issues facing the planet today is the rising levels of plastic consumption and waste. As carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions also soar, the emerging carbon capture and utilization (CCU) industry propose a solution for both issues: creating lower-carbon, degradable polymers using CO2 emissions as the feedstock.

Nanomaterials remain a significant growth area with the potential to enable a wide range of next-generation technologies. This article will focus on CNT yarns and sheets before expanding on to high-aspect-ratio and hybrid materials; these are all at an earlier commercial stage than the main MWCNT market.

Thursday 16 June 2022 - This webinar presented by Shazan Siddiqi, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, will address the benefits and scepticism brought about by battery swapping. Webinar attendees can expect to learn about the window of opportunity for swapping.

Commercializing a new material is not easy. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are the higher-performance variants of the carbon nanotube family, but unlike their multi-walled counterpart, they are still hunting for their killer application.

Thursday 9 June 2022 - What is CO2 utilization and how is CO2 converted into useful products? What is the current state of the CO2U market? What are the key drivers and hurdles for CO2U market growth? What is the CO2U market outlook for the next 20 years?

Traditional cable-based charging of electric vehicles (EVs) is now being complemented by another solution: battery swapping. Various swap-enabled vehicles across different segments are now entering the market.

Thursday 19 May 2022 - The Targets, the Sales and the Shortages. This webinar will provide a snapshot of electric car, electric two-wheeler, electric bus, electric truck, electric boat and electric air taxi (aka eVTOL) markets in 2021, with discussion around short-term outlooks.

Elon Musk once made a prediction that every form of transport, with the exception of space-faring rockets, will become electric. This prediction is starting to materialize as markets for electric cars, trucks, buses, boats, two-wheelers and air taxis reached new heights in 2021.

As mitigating the effects of climate change becomes one of the world's top priorities, carbon dioxide utilization (CO2U) technologies have been set forth as part of the solution.

It is impossible to avoid headlines about the "graphene battery"; the concept of this Nobel Prize winning nanomaterial revolutionizing the energy storage market is naturally very enticing, but it is graphene's older sibling carbon nanotubes that have progressed beyond the hype and disillusionment phases of their commercial journey by finding a value-add high volume energy storage adoption.

Thursday 21 April 2022 - Entering the Next Stage in Their Commercial Journey. This webinar will give a comprehensive overview of the carbon nanotube industry including: 10-year market outlook for CNTs; deep dive into the energy storage market; assessment of other key applications; and more.

Electrification will undoubtedly play an important role in enabling construction firms to deliver on their environmental targets and IDTechEx's new report "Electric Vehicles in Construction 2022-2042" provides a comprehensive assessment of current progress in this emerging sector, with case study detail and background on key enabling technologies.