Cambridge, UK
Cleaner Construction, Eco-EVs, and The Importance of Electrification
The electrification of transport has been a huge revolution in recent years, with the number of electric vehicles on the road increasing, alongside ramped up regulations for carbon emission reductions. IDTechEx’s portfolio of Electric Vehicles Research Reports and Subscriptions covers the electrification of a number of different vehicle types past just regular passenger cars, including construction vehicles, micro EVs, and drones.
The move to less polluted construction sites
Quieter construction, reduced pollution, and increased working hours are some of the main benefits of electrifying off-highway vehicles. On building sites, electric construction vehicles could provide peace in the place of noisy combustion engines, making sites safer for workers to hear one another. The electrification of these vehicles will also allow for cleaner air around cities and neighbourhoods, as the emissions associated with engines will no longer be an issue. The switch from relying on diesel to electricity will also result in energy cost savings that will benefit machine operators and companies, with large investments made from global machine manufacturers, such as Caterpillar and John Deere, into the production of electric machinery.
IDTechEx predicts the total battery demand for off-highway machines to reach 44.7 GWh by 2036, with the total battery revenue expected to grow to US$6.54 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 21.6% during the same time period. IDTechEx’s report, “Batteries for Construction, Agriculture, & Mining Machines 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts“, covers different battery technologies, players, and the wider market for electric machinery, including for mines, farming, and construction.
The micro EV market at a glance
Handy within cities where they can travel between traffic and fit in smaller spaces, micro-EVs are increasingly popular, with uses for last-mile deliveries and short distance travel. Micro EVs are already supported by governments, according to IDTechEx, where purchase grants or subsidies exist to incentivize customers to purchase electric over combustion engines. Where battery chemistries are concerned, the market is moving away from Pb-acid and towards Li-ion, as a result of falling Li-ion costs and their superior cycle life, energy density, and charging time, when compared with Pb-acid. As micro EVs require smaller batteries and motors, they are easier to electrify than larger vehicles, and more feasible to do so. IDTechEx’s report, “Micro EVs 2026-2046: Electric Two-Wheelers, Three-Wheelers, and Microcars“, provides information on benefits and drawbacks to different chemistries, along with in-depth analysis of the latest trends and forecasts, and coverage of key players within the market.
The report details that over a quarter of all two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and microcars sold are electric, highlighting an already huge established market for micro EVs. Sales are high in India, China, and Southeast Asia, while Europe and the USA remain small markets with slower growth. IDTechEx expects the total market for micro EVs to reach US$90 billion and sales of micro EVs to surpass 68 million units by 2046.
Inspection and surveillance with drones
Drones are a fast-growing technology that are becoming increasingly useful for applications such as inspection and agricultural quality assurance, deliveries, and far-afield operations. Their ability to carry out tasks that would be more difficult for humans to achieve make them sought after across many markets. They are resultantly becoming increasingly commercialized and scalable in many sectors, with developments in batteries and lightweight materials also helping to make this possible.
Rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and hybrid systems are some of the types covered in IDTechEx’s report, “Drones Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Opportunities“, with information on their varied capabilities and qualities. Rotary-wing are affordable, easy to deploy, and are best suited to urban applications and shorter-range requirements, with IDTechEx predicting approximately 4.5 million commercial drones to be shipped. Fixed-wing drones, however, are only expected to see 100,000 units shipped this year. In the lead up to 2036, fixed-wing drones are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of almost 30%, as a result of their higher endurance qualities that will prove to be beneficial to surveillance, logistics, and high-endurance missions.
Cambridgeshire, CB2 1GE
United Kingdom
