BOSTON, May 10, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Electrification, autonomy, and vehicle ownership
saturation are causing a technological revolution in the automotive
sector. These automotive meta-trends are driving drastic changes in
electronic component requirements and present a high-volume
opportunity for printed electronics to capitalize on.
Historically, printed electronics technologies have nurtured a
close relationship with the automotive sector, with printed force
sensors pioneering passenger safety through seat occupancy and
seatbelt detection. As such, the automotive sector continues to
represent the lion's share of the global printed and flexible
sensor market, which IDTechEx's report on the topic evaluates as
worth US$421M in 2024. However, if
the automotive sector is to continue to be a reliable revenue
stream, printed electronics technology providers must adapt to
address the emerging technical challenges facing future
mobility.
Augmenting autonomous vehicles with printed
electronics
As vehicle autonomy levels advance, the increasing number and
distribution of spatial mapping sensors required will need
continuous performance improvements to ensure passenger safety.
Emerging printed electronics technologies can augment these
sensors, extending detection bandwidth and maximizing reliability
during operation.
Transparent conductive films (TCFs) are being developed to heat
and defog LiDAR sensor panels, ensuring the function is unperturbed
by external environmental conditions. Properties such as high
transparency and low haze are important for defogging. These
properties can be easily tuned using the wide variety of material
options available for TCFs, including carbon nanotubes and silver
nanowires.
IDTechEx identifies printed heating as a leading application of
transparent conductive films. This is attributed to diminishing
growth prospects in capacitive touch sensing applications.
Innovations in thin film coating techniques have enabled indium tin
oxide (ITO) to dominate touch sensing applications, all but
displacing TCFs completely.
Looking towards the future, printed electronics technologies
could play a more active role in advanced autonomous driving.
Emerging semiconductive materials, such as quantum dots, printed
directly onto conventional silicon image sensor arrays can extend
detection range and sensitivity deeper into the infrared region.
Augmenting existing image sensor technology with enhanced spectral
range could facilitate the competition of hybrid silicon sensors
with established InGaAs detectors.
Printed sensors promise granularized battery health
monitoring
Vehicle electrification is driving the sustained development and
evolution of electronic management systems, particularly in the
battery and electric drivetrain. A strong market pull exists for
technologies that increase vehicle efficiency, range, and lifetime
while reducing recharge times.
Printed pressure and temperature sensors measure battery cell
swelling and thermal profiles, providing granularized physical data
that can be used to optimize battery deployment and recharging.
Moreover, hybrid printed sensors that combine integrated printed
heating elements promise a solution to actively address battery
temperature. IDTechEx estimates that printed sensor-enabled battery
deployment and charging optimizations could be worth up to
US$3000 in savings per vehicle.
There remains uncertainty about whether electrification trends
will correspond to increased demand for physical sensors in
electric vehicle batteries, owing to the utility of existing
electronic readouts for managing deployment. Virtual sensors also
pose a threat, where AI-enabled software models interpret data to
predict and emulate physical sensor functions without the need for
discreet components. However, emerging regulations regarding safety
and sensor redundancy will likely favor measurable metrics and see
automotive makers continue to adopt physical sensors. IDTechEx
predicts that virtual sensors are unlikely to displace their
physical counterparts – so long as low-cost sensors remain widely
available.
Embedding printed electronics in the car of the
future
IDTechEx predicts that global car sales will saturate over the
next decade, with automakers increasingly looking for premium
features and technical innovations to differentiate themselves from
the competition. In-cabin technologies will be highly desirable –
as the location where passengers reside and interact with the
vehicle the most.
Lighting elements are emerging as a prominent differentiator,
described as "the new chrome" by Volkswagen's chief designer. The
use of in-mold structural electronics (IMSE) enables the
integration of embedded lighting elements using existing
manufacturing processes. 3D electronics technologies are
intrinsically attractive for automotive integration, as functional
layers are conformable and lightweight while easily embedded within
existing aesthetic elements.
Despite strong tailwinds, the adoption of in-mold electronics
within automotive interiors has been sluggish. This is attributed
to the challenges of meeting automotive qualification requirements,
as well as stiff competition with less sophisticated alternatives
such as applying functional films to thermoformed parts.
Nevertheless, momentum is building, with technology providers like
Tactotek partnering with Mercedes-Benz and Stallantis to progress
the automotive validation of IMSE to TRL5.
Outlook for printed electronics in automotive
applications
Just as printed force sensors heralded early passenger safety
systems, printed electronics technology is poised to underpin
next-generation innovations for the car of the future. But this
time, the competition will be stiff. Critical cost requirements
must be met, while desirable new functionality must address
existing challenges faced by manufacturers. Printed electronics can
play a role in supporting emerging electrified and autonomous
mobility, such as augmenting LiDAR sensors or optimizing electric
battery deployment. Demand for technologies that enhance passenger
experience and vehicle aesthetics will continue to grow, and
printed electronics can supply low-power, lightweight lighting
solutions for these.
Sustained engagement from tier suppliers and manufacturers
continues to make the automotive sector key to printed sensor
market growth opportunities – a total market IDTechEx predicts will
reach US$960M by 2034. Strong
partnerships between material providers and printed electronics
technology providers are complementary to those of the highly
vertically integrated automotive value chains between tier
suppliers and OEMs. Leveraging printing techniques to provide
solutions that slot into existing manufacturing processes and
designs will be crucial. In the medium term, the printed
electronics technologies most likely to realize revenue potential
are those that can adapt to service emerging challenges already
known to the automotive industry.
For more information on IDTechEx's research on this topic,
please see their report, "Printed and Flexible Sensors 2024-2034:
Technologies, Players, Markets". Downloadable sample pages are
available for this report.
For the full portfolio of printed and flexible electronics
market research from IDTechEx, please visit
www.IDTechEx.com/Research/PE.
About IDTechEx:
IDTechEx provides trusted independent research on emerging
technologies and their markets. Since 1999, we have been
helping our clients to understand new technologies, their supply
chains, market requirements, opportunities and forecasts. For more
information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or
visit www.IDTechEx.com.
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SOURCE IDTechEx