Knowledge Base

 

We challenge the industry to accelerate its transition and develop the technology that will help us deliver the vehicles needed to meet 2030 (2035) ambitions and net-zero targets by 2050.

To help equip you with all the information you need on the road to zero, we’ve developed foresights and insights. Our foresights, such as the Automotive Council Roadmaps, give predictions of the future of the automotive industry using consensus across industry, academia and government. Our insights, such as our reports, provide additional context behind the challenges and opportunities as we transition to net zero.

Roadmaps

Our Roadmaps provide an insight into the technology trends and forecasts for automotive propulsion systems to 2040. They are an essential tool in identifying the path to a net-zero future, highlighting key milestones that present opportunities and also challenges that must be overcome. Our Roadmaps are currently being updated ready for launch in September 2024. If you’re an expert in these areas and would like to be involved, please get in touch.

Fuel Cell

A brand-new roadmap in 2020, providing a comprehensive outlook on fuel cell stacks, balance of system and fuel management towards industrialisation. A promising chemical to mechanical powertrain solution for the future.

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Download Roadmap Industry Challenges

*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Lightweight Vehicle & Powertrain Structure

A well-established topic, taking new approaches on vehicle platform architecture, mixed materials and future LCA-capable materials to delivering future vehicle weight reductions.

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Download Roadmap Industry Challenges

*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Thermal Propulsion Systems

A bedrock technology that is driving improvement in engine efficiency and adopting net-zero fuels on the backdrop of increasingly stringent decarbonisation legislation.

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*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Power Electronics

A rapidly evolving and dynamic sector for automotive propulsion technologies with inverters, DC-DC converters and on-board charger applications driving cost and performance improvements.

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Download Roadmap Industry Challenges

*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Bus and Coach

The transport of passengers in urban and long-range environments results in important considerations for powertrain selection to match scheduling, operation characteristics and commercial viability.

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*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Light Duty Vehicle <3.5t

Previously titled passenger cars, we have included light commercial vehicles into a new-look LDV roadmap. With significant platform sharing and common regulation drivers, the roadmap charts the progress of urban, long range and high-performance vehicles through to 2050.

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*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Electric Machines

This roadmap provides key trends, themes and technologies on electric machine architectures, integration, thermal management, materials and manufacturing driving innovation in the future.

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Download Roadmap Industry Challenges

*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Electrical Energy Storage

An in-depth look into battery technologies split into Cells and Packs, provides insights into chemistries, construction and industrialisation for mass-market adoption.

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Download Roadmap Industry Challenges

*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Heavy Goods >3.5t & Off-Highway Vehicle

This provides a new focus to the roadmaps in 2020. Heavy goods vehicles cover a rich array of power & energy, tailpipe emissions and infrastructure demand. A specific focus on off-highway vehicles shows the unique considerations for remote and specialised-operation vehicles.

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Download Roadmap Report*

*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Roadmap Report: Towards 2040

The Roadmap Report: Towards 2040 is a guide to automotive propulsion technologies which explores the Automotive Council roadmaps in more detail. It identifies the key trends that will determine future powertrain development.

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*Report available in the following languages: English, 日本語 (Japanese), Deutsche (German), 한국어 (Korean) and 普通话 (Mandarin).

Quarterly Demand Reports

Each quarter, we provide analysis on factors and trends affecting the automotive industry via Quarterly Demand Forecast reports. If you would like to receive exclusive access to these demand reports before their release, please contact us using the form below.

Q3 2023 Automotive industry demand forecast

Our Q3 2023 Quarterly Automotive Demand Forecast report details opportunities for the UK in the lithium extraction supply chain and the impact investments and announcements are having on the UK…

Q2 2023 Automotive industry demand forecast

Our Q2 2023 Quarterly Automotive Demand Forecast report highlights the exciting emerging trends and opportunities for the UK to lead the way in materials demand, and motor design.

Q1 2023 Automotive industry demand forecast

Our Q1 2023 Quarterly Automotive Demand Forecast report looks at the impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act and explores how a potential increase in fuel cell electric vehicles will…

Q4 2022 Automotive industry demand forecast

The Q4 2022 automotive industry demand forecast shows supply chain pressures beginning to ease and takes a first look at lithium demand for 2035.

Q3 2022 Automotive industry demand forecast

Analysis from the latest Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) quarterly demand report.

Q2 2022 Automotive industry demand forecast

The latest APC Quarterly Demand Forecast highlights that the potential 2030 lithium deficit could be reduced if both the supply and demand sides of the lithium market work together and…

Q1 2022 Automotive industry demand forecast

The latest forecast from the Advanced Propulsion Centre predicts 25% of all installed battery capacity in European-manufactured vehicles will be Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP).

Q4 2021 Automotive industry demand forecast

Advanced Propulsion Centre quarterly demand data shows South Korean companies have moved to fill Johnson Matthey’s ‘gap’ and Brexit is driving the right outcome for anodes and cathodes.

Automotive industry demand forecast – Q4 2021 update

Advanced Propulsion Centre quarterly demand data shows South Korean companies have moved to fill Johnson Matthey’s ‘gap’ and Brexit is driving the right outcome for anodes and cathodes.

Insight Reports

Our insight reports help to identify key opportunities in the UK for different technologies in the automotive industry and support the industry in understanding where they can provide value and grow.

Business Critical: Understanding the material life cycle

This report provides insights into how the automotive sector needs to transition its product lifecycle thinking if the industry is going to deliver on its net-zero targets.

Battery and fuel cell future cost comparison

This report takes an in-depth look into the use of the future of batteries and fuel cells for large premium SUVs and vans, with the aim of establishing which technology…

Battery Insight Report – 2025 and Beyond: Promising battery cell innovations for the UK automotive sector

Our latest report - 2025 and beyond: Promising battery cell innovations for the UK automotive sector - provides a qualitative assessment of the UK’s existing capability in automotive battery developments…

Report – Reducing the cost of fuel cells: how can it be done?

This report offers a like-for-like $/kWh comparison of fuel cells and battery powertrains, and explores the cost reduction potential of a light-duty hydrogen fuel cell system.

UK’s biggest opportunity from battery waste is to feed its cathode manufacturing industry

Recovering battery materials is critical to making new batteries and can be produced at a lower carbon footprint than mined materials.

Automotive Transformation Fund Accelerating Progress – Japanese

Language: Japanese. Find out about the Automotive Transformation Fund from the Advanced Propulsion Centre.

Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) Accelerating Progress – Korean

Language: Korean. Find out about the Automotive Transformation Fund from the Advanced Propulsion Centre.

Opportunities in passenger car electrification

In this report we’ve identified 12 key opportunities that the UK is particularly well placed to address. If the UK organisations seize these opportunities, the UK could secure a forecasted…

Collaboration is essential for our zero-carbon future

This article gives a global perspective on the opportunities for the automotive industry and highlights the importance of greater Japanese-British collaboration to achieve net-zero goals.

‘Collaboration is essential for our zero-carbon future’ article

This article gives a global perspective on the opportunities for the automotive industry and highlights the importance of greater Japanese-British collaboration to achieve net-zero goals.

Value Chains

Our value chains provide an end-to-end view of the entire chains of different technologies and cover all the critical steps required to support UK industry to create or strengthen supply chains.

Automotive Battery Value Chains

This battery value chains report takes a deeper look into what the future may hold for battery chemistries in the UK EV industry.

Automotive Battery End of Life Value Chain

This value chain report takes an in-depth look at the UK’s preparedness for the growing demand for managing critical materials supply.

Automotive power electronics value chain

Developed alongside experts and stakeholders from industry, academia and funding and support bodies, this first-of-its-kind power electronics value chain shows an end-to-end supply chain view.

Automotive fuel cell system and hydrogen tank value chains

Fuel cells and hydrogen propulsion systems are maturing at a rapid pace, addressing difficult-to-decarbonise vehicle segments. The UK has a strong footprint in critical elements of fuel cell stack and…

Automotive Batteries Report Summary

This report summarises the £4.8 billion per year automotive battery supply chain opportunity for UK chemical and material companies that is expected by 2030.

Our impact documents include government consultations, impact reports and presentation documents.

Government consultation on the phase out of new non-zero emission HGVs

Decarbonising heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) presents a bigger challenge than the light duty sector when moving away from fossil fuels. The fuels we use, vehicle duty cycles and distance travelled…

Opportunities within the UK Electrified Supply Chain Webinar

‘Opportunities within the UK Electrified Supply Chain’ Webinar Presentation

Catch up on presentations from our ‘Opportunities within the UK Electrified Supply Chain’ event. Slides are taken from presentations by Julian Hetherington – Automotive Transformation Director, APC and Anna Ritchley…

Roadmap to Net-Zero Webinar

Transport Energy Network Workshop: FPT – Routes to Decarbonisation

Look at the slides from the Transport Energy Network workship on Thursday 4th February 2021. This presentation focused on alternative fuels to enable transport decarbonisation, and was delivered by  Stefano…

Transport Energy Network Workshop: The Marine Decarbonisation Challenge

Look at the ‘The Marine Decarbonisation Challenge’ presentation slides, by Ben Rogers – Head of Large Engines, Ricardo.   This presentation was taken from the Transport Energy Network workshop on…

Transport Energy Network: Workshop Presentation

Look over the slides from the introductory presentation at the Transport Energy Network (TEN) workshop on Thursday 4th February 2021. This presentation gave a brief overview of the Transport Energy…

LCV 2020: Pathways to Net Zero Mobility – Automotive Council Roadmaps 2020

Welsh Automotive Forum 2020 – Future sector opportunities for the traditional Supply Chain

LCV 2020: Transport Energy Network – Cross-sector Energy and Propulsion Roadmaps

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