Emerging electric mobility trends meet the growing demand for charging infrastructure development, autonomous mobility, and sustainability. Large-scale electrification accelerates the development of charging infrastructure and innovative batteries while smart charging solutions, such as electrified roads and rapid direct current (DC) chargers, reduce range anxiety. This report provides an overview of electric mobility trends and innovations ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) to flexible designing and on-demand manufacturing. These advances allow mobility service providers and businesses to boost EV adoption and ensure sustainable operations. Read more to explore how they impact your business.
Innovation Map outlines the Top Electric Mobility Trends & 16 Promising Startups
For this in-depth research on the Top Electric Mobility Trends & Startups, we analyzed a sample of 3 018 global startups and scaleups. The result of this research is data-driven innovation intelligence that improves strategic decision-making by giving you an overview of emerging technologies & startups in the electric mobility industry. These insights are derived by working with our Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 2 500 000+ startups & scaleups globally. As the world’s largest resource for data on emerging companies, the SaaS platform enables you to identify relevant startups, emerging technologies & future industry trends quickly & exhaustively.
In the Innovation Map below, you get an overview of the Top 8 Electric Mobility Trends & Innovations that impact 3 018 companies worldwide. Moreover, the Electric Mobility Innovation Map reveals 16 hand-picked startups, all working on emerging technologies that advance their field.
Top 8 Electric Mobility Trends
- Charging Infrastructure
- Electric Mobility as a Service
- Artificial Intelligence
- Vehicle-to-Everything
- Internet of Things
- Micromobility
- Big Data & Analytics
- 3D Printing
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Tree Map reveals the Impact of the Top 8 Electric Mobility Trends
Based on the Electric Mobility Innovation Map, the Tree Map below illustrates the impact of the Top 8 Electric Mobility Trends in 2023. Startups and scaleups are developing EV charging infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of EVs, resulting in a large-scale rollout of charging points (CPs). Smart grid management solutions monitor and control power flows in real-time to prevent load unbalancing and source energy continuously. Additionally, bidirectional charging technologies like vehicle-to-grid (V2G) reduce operational electricity costs. AI, big data, analytics, and IoT enable efficient battery management and provide vehicle diagnostics insights, thereby enabling preventive maintenance. The e-mobility industry also promotes sustainable operations by leveraging micromobility and on-demand availability of electric fleets as well as through 3D printing for sustainable manufacturing.
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Global Startup Heat Map covers 3 018 Electric Mobility Startups & Scaleups
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the global distribution of the 3 018 exemplary startups & scaleups that we analyzed for this research. Created through the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, the Heat Map reveals that Western Europe sees the most startup activity, followed by India.
Below, you get to meet 16 out of these 3 018 promising startups & scaleups as well as the solutions they develop. These 16 startups are hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.
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Top 8 Electric Mobility Trends in 2023
1. Charging Infrastructure
The widespread adoption of EVs due to sustainability concerns demands rapid development of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), including all hardware, software, and charging stations. Moreover, unmanaged energy load due to varying EV power demand disrupts electric grids. To tackle this, charging point owners and grid operators share data connections using cloud-based platforms. They allow operators to remotely manage EV charging via smart chargers and efficiently distribute the available power across various consumers. This way, smart charging ensures the safe delivery of power to electric vehicles. Startups also provide electric road systems (ERS) to supply power on the go and DC charging to enable ultra-fast charging. Further, solar-powered EVs equipped with photovoltaic (PV) cells and wireless charging improves the convenience of owning electric vehicles.
Voltpost provides Lamp Post Charge Points
US-based startup Voltpost converts lamp posts into charging points for electric vehicles. The startup’s solution consists of a charging socket and an electricity-tracking meter embedded in the lamp posts. Its companion mobile app allows users to locate and book charging posts. This way, the startup increases access to EV charging ports while reducing the cost, time, and environmental footprint associated with charging infrastructure development.
EVIO offers a Smart Electric Socket
Portuguese startup EVIO develops a smart electric socket device for EV charging. The device, along with the startup’s platform, changes a regular socket into a virtual smart charging station. It allows users to charge their fleet based on energy tariffs and share charging services to a larger network. This enables charging stations and homes to increase revenue while the startup balances out peak loads on local and public grids.
2. Electric Mobility as a Service (eMaaS)
Electric mobility as a service enables on-demand provisioning of transport services for sustainable and convenient transportation. To achieve this, mobility companies leverage joint digital channels that allow users to plan and book rides. Moreover, eMaaS reduces cars on roads and therefore lowers emissions due to mobility. Shared e-mobility also discourages private ownership of vehicles, reducing pollution. Lastly, electric air taxis offer high-speed air mobility through electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology, which reduces road traffic congestion.
GO Sharing encourages EV Sharing
Dutch startup GO Sharing simplifies electric vehicle sharing. The startup allows users to book and rent e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-cars via its mobile app. It utilizes quick response (QR) codes to fetch the details of the ride and ensure passenger safety. Moreover, GO Sharing charges its EVs using solar panels to minimize the carbon footprint, eliminating vehicle emissions and traffic congestion.
Ugsei designs Electric Air Taxi
Canadian startup Ugsei manufactures SkyPod, an electric VTOL air taxi. The aircraft’s aluminum and carbon-fiber composite structure ensure improved strength and safety for passengers. Being electric, SkyPod eliminates emissions and pollution as well as provides a faster alternative to road transport.
3. Artificial Intelligence
The e-mobility industry leverages AI to enable process automation, optimize routes, and improve charging station utilization. Artificial intelligence predicts the best times for EV charging and discharging for V2G applications. On the other hand, AI-based battery management systems (BMS) use self-learning algorithms to obtain battery health status and promptly identify cell damage. Further, AI advances the development of autonomous electric vehicles using deep learning and computer vision. This enhances commute safety and independence. AI also improves driver and road safety through advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and driver monitoring.
EVE simplifies Electric Fleet Analysis
Irish startup EVE provides AI-based e-mobility analytics software to promote corporate carbon neutrality. It analyzes grid and company fleet data to offer associated charging costs and level two emissions. This allows businesses to better strategize operations to reduce their EV charging-related expenses and carbon footprint.
Coulomb AI aids Battery Optimization
Indian startup Coulomb AI develops Battery Observability Platform, an AI-based data analytics platform to optimize battery life. It provides a holistic view of electric vehicular data via electrothermal and data modeling as well as uses machine learning to predict battery parameters. The platform also alerts users in case of battery anomalies, preventing fire hazards. Moreover, it creates a digital twin of all batteries in the EV to provide battery degradation details and remaining useful life. This allows corrective actions to avoid battery malfunction.
4. Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)
V2X solutions allow EVs to transfer their excess energy to grids, buildings, houses, and other energy-consuming destinations. This facilitates a bidirectional flow of energy between the charger and the EV. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging, for instance, enables EVs to put energy back into the power grid when not in use. Startups thus develop solutions that ensure sufficient charge availability in EVs as per the travel requirements and discharge the vehicle back to the grid at night or when the EV is not operating. This improves the performance, stability, and reliability of the electric grid, especially during high power demand periods. More charging technologies like vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-building (V2B), and vehicle-to-farm (V2F) power domestic and commercial buildings through EVs. All these charging technologies ensure safe power delivery without grid overload and disruption.
The GreenWhale facilitates Vehicle-to-Grid Charging
German startup The GreenWhale provides a private and public V2G charging infrastructure. The startup installs V2G charging points for bidirectional energy flow, reducing concerns for grid overload. This allows EVs to charge during off-peak hours and supply power back to the grid during peak hours. The startup’s app also spots available EV chargers based on user location for convenient charging.
sun2wheel builds Vehicle-to-Home Charging Infrastructure
German startup sun2wheel offers V2H and V2B charging systems. Its smart charging system ensures the availability of sufficient energy in EVs during the day and feeds back the excess to households at night. This way, the smart charging system optimizes the self-consumption of electricity and reduces fuel costs. Additionally, the startup combines PV systems, battery storage, unidirectional and bidirectional charging solutions as well as a load management system to decouple EV charging from the grid.
5. Internet of Things
IoT plays a vital role in EV and battery data collection to improve their monitoring and management. Startups develop IoT-based fault alert systems that notify drivers about vehicle glitches, enabling proactive and in-time maintenance. IoT-enabled sensors also detect vehicle parameters such as speed, battery temperature, state of charge (SoC), state of health (SoH), and more. Such data aids maintenance planning as well as increases vehicle and battery life. Consequently, it eliminates range anxiety among drivers and reduces battery costs, accelerating EV adoption. Further, IoT allows drivers to reserve parking and charging spots using mobile apps.
Emuron advances Battery Management
Indian startup Emuron creates an IoT-enabled battery management system for fleet operators. The startup’s IoT telematics device tracks the performance of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. With global positioning system (GPS), the device offers real-time insights into battery health, location, and useful life. The startup’s solution also allows remote charging and immobilization during emergencies.
Hop Scooter facilitates Electric Vehicle Tracking
US-based startup Hop Scooter builds an IoT-powered e-scooter sharing platform. The startup’s scooters use its proprietary IoT device, Hop IoT, for real-time vehicle tracking. Hop Scooter’s IoT device, geofencing system, and fleet management platform together allow fleet owners to change the speed or behavior of the scooter when it surpasses a geofence. This provides fleet owners with improved control over the vehicles, even without cellular connectivity.
6. Micromobility
Electric bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, electric skateboards, and more offer affordable and personalized transport to commuters. They provide convenient methods of transportation for short trips. Moreover, micromobility solutions significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with urban mobility. Additionally, it eradicates traffic congestion by reducing the number of cars on roads, further improving sustainability.
Rabbit enables EV Sharing
Egyptian startup Rabbit creates an EV sharing platform. The startup uses the unlock & go and day rentals model to offer e-bikes, e-scooters, and other light vehicles to consumers. Users book a ride via its mobile app. The app deploys QR codes to unlock vehicles and ensure the safety of the vehicle and passengers. The startup’s solution reduces the number of cars on roads and provides convenient transportation methods for short trips.
Strictly Electric makes an Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit
Indian startup Strictly Electric offers EasyKit, an electric conversion kit that changes any regular bicycle into an electric one. The kit consists of controllers, a motorized front wheel, and pedal assist sensors, among others. The pedal assist sensors calculate the effort put by the rider and feed it to the controller, providing the rider ease of movement on roads. It also offers a removable battery box to facilitate charging from any location based on user convenience. By turning bicycles into e-bicycles, the startup reduces road congestion while providing a means of fast personal transport to consumers.
7. Big Data & Analytics
Electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, power grids, and other connected devices generate massive volumes of data. Big data and analytics solutions leverage this data to provide insights on charging stations and battery status, thus optimizing charging and battery life. Additionally, IoT sensors collect huge chunks of data on vehicle speed, usage, location, temperature, and maximum voltage. This data powers machine learning algorithms that enable intelligent vehicle maintenance. Moreover, it improves energy utilization by depicting energy usage under braking and waste heat generation, aiding energy-efficient electric engine designs. The analytics derived from big data also offers navigational aids for autonomous driving and parking.
Mobilyze offers EV Charger Locations
Slovak startup Mobilyze provides a location intelligence platform to identify EV charging hotspots. It combines big data and AI to offer insights into the traffic, population, and parking density of a location. This allows users to select viable areas to install EV chargers, enabling data-driven decisions for faster return on investment (ROI).
Plexflo advances EV Infrastructure Planning
US-based startup Plexflo develops a simulation platform for the energy and utility sectors. It identifies future EV users and offers insights into the necessary operational steps for EV charging station development. The platform also simulates the electric grid to provide energy data analytics. This allows project developers and managers to make infrastructures EV-ready.
8. 3D Printing
Traditional methods of manufacturing vehicles typically involve large, expensive, and complicated molds and machines. On the other hand, additive manufacturing offers a faster alternative using fewer components while minimizing material wastage. Manufacturers utilize advanced metal 3D printing for creating intricate parts such as side air vents, door handles, exhausts, and more. Apart from cost efficiency, 3D printing enables the production of customized EVs as per consumer preference. Startups also use 3D printing for product prototyping, accelerating design finalization.
XEV makes 3D Printed EV Parts
Italian startup XEV 3D prints electric car parts. The use of 3D printing eliminates the need for large and complex manufacturing tools, resulting in faster and cost-efficient part production. Once printed, these parts undergo an automated robotic milling process for quality enhancement. The startup’s technology thus enables EV personalization and ensures sustainable vehicle manufacturing.
Sakuu manufactures EV Batteries
US-based startup Sakuu makes Swift Print, battery cells for e-mobility. The startup’s manufacturing platform, Kavian, rapidly 3D prints solid-state batteries on a large scale. Its AI performs quality checks on the printed batteries, enabling faster production and lower associated costs. Moreover, the startup ensures sustainability by utilizing recycled materials as feedstock.
Discover all Electric Mobility Trends, Technologies & Startups
The electric mobility industry is seeing increased adoption of light-duty electric vehicles and consequently, the rapid development of EV charging infrastructure. The transition to fully autonomous electric vehicles will impact passenger vehicles, shared electric mobility, and on-demand transport. Integration of AI, IoT, and V2X charging will also improve the efficiency of e-mobility while reducing emissions. These technologies also address the range-anxiety issue that dominates the roadblocks of EV adoption. Further, advances in battery technologies will improve vehicle performance and passenger safety.
The Electric Mobility Trends & Startups outlined in this report only scratch the surface of trends that we identified during our data-driven innovation and startup scouting process. Among others, novel battery technologies, AI, and V2G will transform the sector as we know it today. Identifying new opportunities and emerging technologies to implement into your business goes a long way in gaining a competitive advantage. Get in touch to easily and exhaustively scout startups, technologies & trends that matter to you!
