IDTechEx forecast electric motors for electric vehicles will reach $42.7 billion in 2023

CAMBRIDGE, England--The market for electric motors for electric vehicles will grow slightly faster than the market for the vehicles themselves to reach $42.7 billion in 2023. The unique report Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2013-2023: Forecasts, Technologies, Players (IDTechEx) written by technology analysts IDTechEx, helps the industry to refocus from cash traps to prosperity and looks at the very different needs and profits per applicational sector.

Industrial and commercial electric vehicles on land are now particularly attractive to motor manufacturers. Analysts IDTechEx advises that they should be a priority for traction motor manufacturers because of robust margins in a secure, large and growing market. These vehicles are rarely bought by private individuals and they rarely depend on government subsidies and tax breaks that can disappear. Like the vehicles in this sector, the motors here are rarely bought on up-front price, the criteria being cost-over-life, reliability and performance. Motor suppliers can enjoy improved margins provided they supply what is needed – not the oversupplied commutator DC motors for example.

Almost all EVs in the industrial and commercial sector will have one traction motor per vehicle. There will be 706,000 pure electric forklifts sold in 2020, almost all for indoor use where internal combustion is usually illegal. There will be 750,000 other heavy industrial vehicles and 110,000 electric buses. 377,000 light industrial and commercial electric vehicles - delivery vehicles and off-road versions such as airport ground support equipment.

IDTechEx Chairman, Dr Peter Harrop comments, “The industrial and commercial sector, that now drives such a high percentage of profits of traction motor manufacturers, consists of heavy industrial vehicles which are mainly forklifts but with other sectors coming up fast - earthmoving, mining, agricultural and outdoor self-propelled electric cranes. Add to that buses and light electric vehicles including trucks and custom made taxis. Industrial companies buy the heavy electric vehicles, meaning heavy lifting or pushing, but government (including local government), often purchases light electric commercial vehicles. Buses are boosted by the plan of the Chinese government to use and export them in huge numbers.