Electric vehicles

1. Metals become the new oil

   Battery supply chains are struggling to keep up with EV demand while facing growing scrutiny over the environmental cost of extracting battery metals.

   With demand only going one way, manufacturers are coming under pressure to future-proof their supply chains or support alternative chemistries not reliant on raw materials such as lithium and cobalt.

2. EV software plays

   With software essential to all modern cars, expect to see new tech emerge to support EV design, maintenance and monitoring — as well as unexpected areas like cybersecurity for vehicle data.

   Since the technology for autonomous vehicles integrates more easily with electric engines, the shift towards EVs should also further advance autonomous driving.

3. Will lack of charging facilities pull plug on EVs?

   Fear of drained batteries holds many people back from buying an EV. An extensive network of charging stations, then, will be crucial to drive the industry, and it’s little wonder that many startups are focused on this side of the tech equation.

   Their efforts here range from developing ever-faster and better-managed charging to ease pressure on grids during peak hours, to improving the digital customer experience.

4. 3D-printed cars

   Manufacturing EVs is really hard for incumbents and newbies alike, but they’re increasingly being helped by startups working in “additive manufacturing”.

   Using 3D printing, these new players develop components on-site, leading to lower prices and less pressure on supply chains.

Who early stage startups are up against