One example of this is on-road micro EVs (or quadricycles): do they increase your mainstream e-car sales or decrease them? Renault produces the Twizy and Toyota the iRoad, a pure electric three wheel motorcycle. However, automotive manufacturers can argue that micro EVs are dangerous and require legal restrictions of both driver and vehicle, protecting conventional e-car sales. Others welcome micro EVs as a useful transition vehicle between e-bikes and cars.
Statistics from the report indicate that the overall micro EV business will be large, due in part to e-rickshaws in India and e-tuk tuks in the Philippines (where more than three million tuk tuk taxis need to be replaced in the face of severe local pollution). The forecast $188bn global market in homologated hybrid and pure electric cars in 2025 is boosted by the increased uptake pure electric mainstream e-cars. However, micro EVs are expected to deliver at least an additional $10bn in sales.
IDTechEx suggests that strategy must address vertical vs. horizontal integration and a quick response to market changes. Key enabling technologies of e-cars have historically been batteries, electrics/electronics and electric motors. Now, however, range extenders including fuel cells, energy harvesters and supercapacitors must be considered as key enabling technologies.