What are the main sections in EVI²?

The EVI²has over 650 pages of content comprising intelligence, data and insights on EV and e-mobility innovations. Some of the prominent sections in the intelligence dossier include: See end of page for detailed listings

How was EVI² developed?

• A team of 6 dedicated researchers, working for over 2 years
• Utilizing data, knowledge and insights that our consulting team had gathered in the e-mobility sector since 2016 through consulting assignments, reports and through organizing focussed events and workshops.
• Leveraging the significant strategic and sustainability consulting expertise and perspectives of the parent company, EAI which had assisted over 250 companies - including 25 Fortune 500 companies - in their sustainability efforts.
• Over 10,000 innovations analysed to shortlist the 1000+ impactful innovations identified along the entire e-mobility value chain.

Who is the team behind EVI²?

• The core research team behind this expert guide is from EVNext, a firm focussed on providing strategic insights on emerging innovations and trends in electric vehicles
• EVNext is the e-mobility division of EAI, a leading cleantech consulting firm that has been providing sustainability consulting to Indian and global firms since 2008.
• Since 2016, the e-mobility division has undertaken multiple efforts - through consulting and industry research - to add value to the e-mobility ecosystem

What is the geographical scope of EVI²?

The EVNext team has been researching technology and business trends in the global e-mobility sector since 2016. In addition, the team had organized many expert conferences and workshops in e-mobility during this period, some of these with international expert participation. All these activities have enabled our team to better understand global trends, challenges, drivers and innovations.

The EVI² expert guide has been prepared with the global business stakeholders in mind and covers e-mobility innovations from over 50 countries including USA, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, China, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, South Africa, India, Singapore, Australia, Israel and more.

Key takeaways

Based on the extensive research the EVI2 team undertook to study and analyse EV innovations - which are presented in this comprehensive guide - following are the key takeaways for the e-mobility innovation spectrum:

• Across value chain -Innovations are happening across the EV value chain, in every possible component. Even components that are considered commodities (electric cables and connectors, for instance) are seeing significant innovations that are aligned to relevant value propositions.
• Across products - In just the past few years (since 2017), electric vehicles have grown to far beyond just electric cars, bikes and scooters - and today , you have electric buses, electric vans, electric trucks and even electric aircraft. As of early 2021, our research counted no less than 30 different types of vehicles that have been electrified. Almost all these product categories - and their powertrain components such as batteries, BMS, motors - are seeing significant innovations. Going beyond batteries, hydrogen and fuel cells have also attracted innovator and investor interest. And going beyond just the use phase, innovations are also spurring progress in the end of life of both electric vehicles and batteries - especially in battery recycling, life extension, and in its second use as stationary storage devices.
• Use in multiple industries - In addition to the B2C sector, the more visible in the electric vehicle domain, the B2B sector too has started playing an increasingly important role. Electric vehicles are already finding use in over 20 different industries. So high is the interest for EVs in the B2B sector that this sector (rather than B2C) could be the real growth story for electric vehicles during the 2020-2030 period. Diverse innovations are taking place in the B2B EV space, many of which are being supported through large corporate investments in addition to funding from venture capital firms.
• Different genres of innovations - Innovations happening in the e-mobility sector are not just technology-oriented. Innovations in strategy, in business models and in financing are seeing exceptional activity as well. For instance, in parallel to technology advances are taking place in battery charging (both AC slow charging & DC fast charging), many startups are also offering unique EV battery swapping solutions, some of which are accompanied by impressive automation through the use of robotics.
• By different stakeholders - Transportation touches a wide variety of stakeholders, so it should not be any surprise that EV innovations are being driven by a large and diverse set of stakeholders. In addition to the obvious stakeholder sectors such as the OEMs and auto ancillary companies, our research has identified at least 10 other stakeholder segments significantly driving EV innovations (fleet owners, IT & software firms, solar power companies, venture capital firms etc.), and an additional 10 stakeholder segments who could be providing support for EV innovations in the near future - some of these stakeholders are unique in their diversification efforts and some could be quite surprising - national security and defense organizations, for instance.
• In different stages - The e-mobility phenomenon is quite new and is just beginning (EVs still have less than 1% penetration in most product categories), and innovations and inventions driving this sector are in their beginning stages too. A large portion of these innovations - some of which could prove disruptive - are in the pilot and even pre-pilot stages. In the context of EV innovations, one can confidently say that what the commercial world is seeing today is the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
• Strategic intent - While some innovations are taking place with specific end applications or unique value propositions in mind, some - especially those by large firms - are driven by long term strategies, and these innovations and their characteristics are quite nuanced.
• Different approaches - Depending on the stakeholder segments and their objectives, innovations in the EV space are witnessing different approaches. For instance, while there are hundreds of new startups putting in solo efforts to come up with innovative products, stakeholders such as governments or large auto OEMs are forming a web of diverse partnerships in their innovation efforts. While some of these approaches - OEM partnerships with EV charging networks or acquisition of innovative startups by large firms - are unsurprising, some are innovative and perhaps unique to the e-mobility sector.
• Across countries -Most EV innovations that come under the limelight are high-tech ones those developed countries that are auto majors - USA, Germany, Italy, South Korea, China etc. Innovations in the e-mobility spectrum are becoming increasingly commonplace even in underdeveloped countries in Africa. Interestingly, the nature of innovation is significantly different when one compares developed (USA. Germany etc.), developing (India, Kenya, Philippines etc.) and underdeveloped (many African nations) countries. While developed countries have a dominant focus on technology as the key component in their innovation, many underdeveloped countries are in fact deliberately using low-tech.to drive innovations.
• Order in chaos - If one were to look at the overall innovation spectrum in e-mobility across the globe, it appears chaotic. Large firms seem to be doing everything - acquisitions, partnerships and diversification into seemingly unrelated components of e-mobility. Startups of course are relatively more focussed but there are too many of them seemingly doing too many different things. Seen together, the overall picture appears like a complex maze. But if one looks closely, one will see logical strategies and clearly emerging trends in various stakeholder categories.
• Winning through innovation -For companies investing in electric vehicles - whether as a logical extension of their current business or as a diversification - innovation has to be a necessary component of their strategy. But innovation alone is not sufficient. What is also important is a robust approach to innovation. Such an approach will require the firm to review the above aspects and weave the relevant ones into their innovation strategy to create a sustainable competitive advantage.

How can you know more about EVI²?

Who have we assisted?

Since 2008, EAI has been at the forefront of cleantech and sustainability consulting and research. Our management consulting and industry research has spanned the entire cleantech spectrum but with higher emphasis on solar power, e-mobility and the bio-energy sectors.

Our consulting and research reports have benefitted over 3000 clients globally, including 10 of the top Fortune 25 companies and 40 of the top Fortune 100 companies. Our consulting team has had the privilege of assisting some of the globally prominent companies and organizations such as GE, GSK, Exxon Mobil, Toyota, World Bank, Bill & Melinda Foundation, among others.

More about EVNext from www.evnext.in . More about EAI from www.eai.in

Some of our Clients