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Autonomous vehicles
…particularly for automated driving and integrated vehicle control. Sensors and chips integrate well with the stable, high-voltage power supply of EV batteries. Electric vehicles lead in automation and advanced driver assistance Driving automation is at the forefront of software developments for cars today. While fully autonomous cars (Level 5 automation)) are not currently in sight, electric driverless taxis (Level 4) are already operating commercially in more than 20 cities worldwide. Moreover, automated driving systems are not limited to self-driving cars – they are also rapidly gaining importance in the form of ADAS for private vehicles.EVs are more frequently equipped…
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Vehicle software and software-defined vehicles
…determines an increasing share of vehicle functionality. This shift is not based on software alone, but also on a re-imagining of the electronic and electrical architecture of vehicles over the past decade, pioneered by pure-play EV makers. In conventional distributed architectures, each function – such as lighting, braking or climate control – is managed by its own dedicated controller, or electronic control unit (ECU). This is now giving way to domain or “zonal” architectures, with a smaller number of ECUs controlled by central computers. This shift reduces wiring complexity and enables a greater share of vehicle functionality to be defined…
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Overview graphic: key technology trends for EVs
…8 Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly at the centre of innovation in the automotive sector, bringing advances that extend far beyond developments in batteries and power electronics, thanks to several mutually reinforcing factors. Key technology trends are aligning in favour of EVs Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are mechanically simpler than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) or hybrids, making them more compatible with digitalisation and automation. The relative simplicity of electric drivetrains enables shorter development cycles for new vehicles, allowing emerging technologies to reach BEVs sooner than vehicles with other powertrains.While the transition from mechanical to software-based vehicle control…
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Global EV Outlook 2026
The Global EV Outlook is an annual publication that identifies and assesses recent developments in electric mobility across the globe.Combining analysis of historical data with projections, the report examines key areas of interest, such as the deployment of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, battery demand, and key policy developments in major and emerging markets. It also considers the implications of growing EV adoption for electricity and oil consumption, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.Amid the ongoing energy crisis sparked by the conflict in the Middle East, this edition includes early monthly data for 2026 and considers potential implications…
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Battery Circularity
…in the world and the technology categories receiving the most innovation attention.More than one in four cars sold globally in 2025 was an electric vehicle, reliant on lithium-ion or other modern batteries. But around 1.2 million electric vehicle batteries could reach the end of their lives in 2030 and 14 million in 2040, and today’s supply chains for battery minerals and components are highly concentrated. Battery circularity technologies - including recycling, reuse of batteries in vehicles and repurposing of batteries for new applications – can help solve these challenges and there is rising interest in the topic from…
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Artificial intelligence and EVs
…making it possible to train neural networks which can handle very complex tasks such as autonomous driving today.Autonomous vehicles typically employ a variety of sensors, such as cameras, radars and lidars, providing a 360° view of the surrounding environment. AI‑powered perception allows for accurate processing of large amounts of sensor data. AI algorithms are used to detect objects, as well as to create a coherent model of the environment using all available sensor data, and to make predictions about where objects will move next. Compared to humans, this allows for a more exhaustive view of the vehicle’s surroundings…
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Ultra-fast charging batteries
…reduces them by 75%.An electric vehicle battery pack is composed of hundreds or thousands of battery cells, each typically operating at a voltage of around 3-4 volts (V). These cells can be connected in series or in parallel, with series configurations increasing the overall pack voltage to the required level. Most battery electric cars on the market today operate with battery systems of around 400 V, which has long been considered a suitable compromise between charging performance and battery pack complexity, cost and reliability. However, the increasing availability of ultra‑fast charging infrastructure, alongside improvements in battery and vehicle technologies…
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Vehicle-to-grid technology
…charging, EV owners can reduce charging costs and, in some cases, generate revenue by participating in grid services, such as frequency regulation. Load shifting and vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) capabilities provide substantial electricity system benefits, helping reduce peak demand and potentially limiting the need for future grid investment – benefits for which EV owners can be compensated. Vehicle-to-grid charging holds the promise of alleviating grid constraints but barriers remain The rollout of EVs is a major driver of global electricity demand growth. Residential EV charging can draw more power than any other single household load, including heating, cooling, lighting and appliances…
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Electricity 2026
Global power demand growth continues to rise rapidly as the Age of Electricity gathers pace, supported by the increasing electrification of industry, transportation, and the buildings sectors. Growing consumption is also coming from some of the most dynamic segments of global economies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, and evolving technological innovations.Against this backdrop, Electricity 2026 – the IEA’s annual report on global electricity systems and markets – provides in-depth analysis of the recent trends and policy developments underpinning this new era. It includes forecasts for electricity demand, supply and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for select countries, by…
- Executive summary
- Demand
- Supply
- Grids
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+ 4 pages
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Manufacturing and Trade Model
The IEA’s Manufacturing and Trade (MaT) Model was first developed for the 2024 edition of Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) to produce scenario projections of manufacturing and trade across six key energy technology supply chains. These cover solar photovoltaics (PV), wind turbines, electric cars, batteries, electrolysers and heat pumps. This model is now used to generate detailed sector-by-sector and region-by-region long-term scenarios in IEA publications such as the World Energy Outlook and Global EV Outlook.The MaT model is part of the IEA’s broader modelling framework and is closely linked to the Global Energy…
