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Future trends of the new energy automobile industry
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Insight
Aug 9, 2022
Future trends of the new energy automobile industry
With the vigorous development of the new energy vehicle market, technological progress and model innovation are changing people's perception of automotive products, Clark Dai, our EV technology manager in China analyses the current status and future trend of the new energy automobile industry, and shared the overall solutions of automotive applications.
1. What are your thoughts about the EV market, implications, and challenges driving this transition?
The automotive industry has been impacted by a wide range of factors, including the global pandemic and conflict in Eastern Europe. These challenges are causing restrictions in the global supply chain, contributing to huge fluctuations in commodity prices. For example, under the requirements of the global carbon-neutral trend, it is imperative to reduce the use of carbon-based energy sources such as oil and coal. Most countries have set a timetable for the withdrawal of fossil fuel vehicles from the market, and new energy vehicles will inevitably become the first choice in the future. At the same time, fuel prices have remained high, accelerating the transition of new energy vehicles. In 2021, the electric vehicle market of China witnessed an explosion of electric vehicle sales.
An increase of 130%, accounting for 13% of China's overall car sales, China's electric vehicles have begun to be generally accepted by the public, according to professional institutions, it is expected that the annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of electric vehicles will exceed 35% in the future.
2. In your opinion, what is the future trend of the automotive industry?
The automotive sector is one of the largest industries in China. With the current development of electric vehicles, the industry recognizes the various technical challenges it faces, such as:
- Range; battery mileage is short, especially in winter, which can easily cause mileage anxiety
- Charging time; which is too long, and the charging station is not universal in rural areas and third- and fourth-tier cities
- Reliability; battery safety; fear of thermal runaway
- Power; excessive energy consumption of electric vehicles is considered a restriction on the adoption of new energy vehicles.
The solution (of these pain points) will accelerate the popularization of new energy vehicles.
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CASE factors
The trend of future automotive is electrification, intelligence, and network connectivity. First of all, electrification needs to improve the density of batteries and the efficiency of unit volume from the innovation of battery materials, technologies, and processes. The popularity and application of various new materials and processes such as third-generation semiconductor SiC chips can greatly improve the efficiency of the use of electric energy. Secondly, in terms of intelligence, the car will be installed with an advanced sensor, and the accompanying data processing system and algorithm will accelerate self-iteration and evolution.
Finally, the car will have to be integrated with the data of smart city management to form the digitization and intelligence of China's road traffic operation. In view of the popularity of new energy vehicles, the construction of related infrastructure will also be accelerated. For example, this includes charging stations, found everywhere now in China, and the infrastructure and cloud service construction of big data platforms.
3. What new requirements have been put forward by the rapid development of the industry for automotive semiconductor materials?
New energy vehicles will require even more electronic components used in vehicles. The working life of electrical components of new energy vehicles is significantly increased compared with that of traditional vehicles, meaning more strict requirements on the reliability of electronic components. The OEMs will require high energy density, lightweight, high reliability and low cost. The present performance of the IGBT module has met the technical bottleneck in cars on the EV application.
The third generation of semiconductor materials, represented by SiC, has a wide bandgap, high breakdown electric field, high heat conductivity, high electron saturation rate, and higher resistance to radiation ability. It is an ideal semiconductor material for high temperature, high frequency, and high-power applications. When SiC module mass production meets the high standard of vehicle grade materials, the market will put forward higher requirements for SiC packaging supporting materials at the same time.
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4. What product solutions do we offer in the face of challenges?
Through the innovation of specialty chemicals and materials, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions provides solutions that power electronics interconnections. We are an expert in integrated advanced circuitry, joining materials, integrated electronics, and hard coated films for the automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics markets.
Today, we have a large number of total solutions in the application of new energy vehicles.
For power modules, especially SiC module packaging and electric drive module assembly, ALPHA® Argomax® series silver sintering related products provide 5~8 times the heat translating performance of conventional solder, and more than 10 times the reliability of other materials. Tests show is the best solution for traction of power modules.
To overcome issues including high temperatures and vehicle vibration of joined assemblies for automotive electrical parts, we also have solder alloy Innolot® Compared with traditional solder alloys, it can greatly improve the working life and reliability of solder joints. For bus bars, heatsink modules, and connectors, we provide functional or decorative coatings for metal and plastic surfaces.
5. Focus on our strengths, how to support customers?
Through the innovation of specialty chemicals and materials, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions provides professional product solutions and services for the automotive industry. We are helping to shape and drive forward the development of electronics hardware in this sector.
We work directly with more than 40 OEM and Tier 1 suppliers globally. Incorporating component solution design, manufacturing implementation, and technical services, we work together with our supply chain partners to meet the highest standards of the automotive industry.
Our extensive experience in specialty chemical processing and joining materials at a system-level means that we deliver products to market quickly and efficiently, helping our customers achieve excellence in manufacture and extraordinary products. We will always maintain our own insight into the automotive industry, keep up with the pace of the industry, connect the entire supply chain, from OEMs to suppliers, and provide them with accurate and complete information and overall solutions.
