Trends in EV Propulsion Components and Systems [About This Issue]

Today, there are more than 1.5 million plug-in-hybrid and (battery) electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads worldwide, a number you’ll find cited in a few of the articles in this issue. For comparison, in 2005, EV volumes were still measured in hundreds. The steep rise in the number of EVs is the result of the joint efforts, over the past decade, of governments and the automotive industry worldwide. Now, Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that, by 2040, EVs will take 35% of the market share of new car sales globally. This is an exciting time for engineers in the EV industry; EV engineering veterans can finally witness their long-term efforts come to fruition, and newcomers are getting a chance to join an industry that is taking off.