Increased collaboration between automotive OEMs and Tier 1 or 2 suppliers together with greater investments in research and development and capital will drive advances and innovation in electrification, according to a survey of automotive stakeholders. But it’s also going to take the development of breakthrough technologies in power control and battery management. The global survey, commissioned by Molex, looks to identify the top trends and roadblocks impacting innovation in electric vehicles (EVs).
The report, Innovation in Automotive Electrification survey, conducted by Dimensional Research in October 2021, polled 204 participants at automotive companies, Tier 1 or 2 suppliers, as well as charging station providers in North America, EMEA and APAC. Roles ranged across R&D, engineering, product, innovation, strategy, manufacturing, and supply chain. They were asked questions related to electric vehicles and electric systems inside vehicles (e.g., power electronics, wiring, sensors, battery management systems, etc.) and outside-the-vehicle electrification solutions (e.g., charging stations).
Automotive electrification involves much more than transitioning from internal combustion to electric engines, said Kevin Alberts, senior vice president and general manager, Power & Signal Business Unit (PSBU), at Molex. “The quickening pace of innovation across all aspects of electrification is being propelled by highly sophisticated engineering and fully integrated manufacturing that leverages ultrasonic welding, sustainable production and automation to speed delivery of next-generation electrification solutions.”
Click for a larger image. (Source: Molex)
Key findings include:
- 94% of respondents agree that electrification goes well beyond a move to electric motors
- 93% believe electrification is on the cusp of a huge breakthrough
- Top three growth factors include the increase in pro-electrification government policies, improved battery technology, and a wider selection of electric/hybrid cars
- Focus on electrification among automakers and their suppliers has increased dramatically over the past two years in relation to customer experience (55%), business results (51%), executive attention (50%), and expected speed of market delivery (48%)
- 92% report their design teams face difficulties with electrification while 91% report challenges finding expertise
A majority of respondents believe that electrification will deliver improvements to several vehicle features including autonomous and driver assistance (53%), safety (43%), total cost of ownership (41%), vehicle charging time (39%), and vehicle range (37%). Still, challenges persist in improving vehicle charging time (31%), vehicle range (29%) as well as autonomous and driver assistance (29%).
Click for a larger image. (Source: Molex)
In terms of innovation wins, companies report the most success with battery cells, modules or packs (51%), electric motors (47%), and powertrain electronics (45%). But they also report challenges in innovating for controller units (37%), wiring, connectors and busbars (34%), cameras and sensors (33%), and powertrain electronics (26%).
Click for a larger image. (Source: Molex)
Click for a larger image. (Source: Molex)
Designers also face other roadblocks. Ninety-two percent of respondents report that design teams face additional challenges because of increasing electrification. These include a greater need to manage risk of shock and vibration (37%), safety risks due to thermal management, high electrical currents, etc. (32%), management of battery pack lifecycle including disposal (28%), and weight factors associated with increased wiring, batteries, electronic control units (ECUs), etc. (27%).
When asked if zonal architecture will help address challenges with vehicle electrification, 84% of respondents believe it will become standard over the next five years or more. Zonal wiring reduces the web of wires associated with traditional vehicle architectures, reducing wire length, weight, and cost as well as dramatically decrease the number of ECUs in the vehicle, said Molex.
Compounding the challenges is a lack of expertise. Ninety-one percent of respondents report a range of issues finding expertise for vehicle electrification innovation, including competition with technology companies makes it extremely difficult to hire internally and traditional automotive tier suppliers don’t have enough expertise with electrification.
Respondents were also asked how the electrification initiatives will impact their supply base. Ninety-four percent expect major changes to their suppliers over the next five years.
This isn’t surprising as many believe that collaboration is critical to electrification success. According to 33% of respondents, greater collaboration between OEMs and Tier suppliers is most likely to drive innovation for their company’s vehicle electrification initiatives, followed by greater investment in R&D (20%), greater investment in capital such as tools, machinery, and plants (19%), and breakthrough technologies (17%).
However, respondents don’t have an overwhelming consensus on the type of innovation that will have the most impact on the future of the automotive industry. Forty-two percent of respondents agree that innovations in specific vehicle systems (batteries, motors, inverters, converters, power distribution units, etc.) will have the greatest impact, followed by innovations for outside-the-vehicle systems such as EV charging stations, 5G networks, etc. (31%), and innovations between vehicle systems such as wiring/cable, controllers, zonal architecture, etc. (27%). Visit here to download the complete report.
Molex previously commissioned a survey on the future of cars and the future of mobile devices.
Advertisement
Learn more about Molex
