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Increased Adoption of Electric Vehicles to Surge the Demand for Liquid Silicone Rubber

EV emission silicone

Increased Adoption of Electric Vehicles to Surge the Demand for Liquid Silicone Rubber

The liquid silicone rubber market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period. The market is expected to hold a valuation of US$ 6.9 billion in 2023. By 2033, the value is expected to cross US$ 10.1 billion.

Surging application in the construction and automotive industry.

The ability to withstand extremely high and low temperatures makes it highly flexible for many applications.

Enduring long-term exposure to UV rays, thereby providing resistance from weathering.

Expansion of production capacity at both local and global levels is one of the key industry trends currently being observed. In addition to this, key players aim to launch new & advanced products to expand their product portfolio.

Medical manufacturers are currently having a massive demand for liquid silicone rubber. This can be attributed to its ability to function efficiently at extreme temperatures and display chemical resistance. As per the sources, the liquid silicone rubber is capable of meeting FDA, ISO, and Class VI medical-compliant grades, which makes it reliable. Within the medical sector, it is used in general surgery, cardiology, neurosurgery, ENT, etc.

Why is the USA liquid silicone rubber market registering robust growth?

Rising number of body implantation surgeries to elevate the sales of liquid silicone

FMI states that the USA is anticipated to remain a lucrative liquid silicone rubber market in North America.

A substantial rise in the number of body implantation surgical procedures has been witnessed owing to the growing emphasis on enhancing body aesthetics across the country. According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 193,073 breast augmentation and 1,179 buttock implantation surgeries were conducted across the USA in 2022.

As liquid silicone is used in the production of body implants due to its high biocompatibility, the rise in implantation surgeries is estimated to bolster the growth in the USA market. An increase in the sales of liquid silicone rubber in the USA assisted North America, accounting for nearly 25% of the revenue share in 2022.

The United Kingdom: Driven by the automotive market

Growing applications in the automotive industry to fuel the demand for liquid silicone rubber

The United Kingdom is home to a few famous automotive manufacturers. Liquid silicone rubber is finding applications in the automotive industry owing to its high thermal stability, superior compression set, and excellent chemical resistance. It is increasingly being used in sensor cover assembly, sealing covers, vehicle interiors, and others during the production of automotive vehicles.

Increasing production and sales of automobiles in the United Kingdom is anticipated to create strong demand for LSR in the forthcoming years.

What are the factors augmenting the sales of liquid silicone rubber in China market?

Growing popularity in the consumer electronics industry to bolster the liquid silicone rubber sales

China had a dominant market share of more than 34.9% in the Asia Pacific excluding the Japan region in 2022.

Liquid silicone rubber has become one of the prime manufacturing materials owing to its chemical inertness, electrical resistance, and ability to withstand extreme temperatures. It is extensively gaining popularity across the consumer electronics industry for manufacturing the components such as remote buttons, phone covers, wristbands, smartwatch belts, and others. Hence, the growing penetration of innovative devices, such as wearable technologies, across the country is estimated to favor the growth of the liquid silicone rubber market in China.

Japan market: Backed by the surging sales of electronic vehicles

The electric vehicle market in Japan is expected to witness a massive CAGR of nearly 23% during the forecast period. The market is projected to reach US$ 5.67 billion in 2023. The manufacturing of electric vehicles involves extensive usage of liquid silicone rubber. The seat covers, coatings, spark plug wires, and a lot of other components are manufactured by the application of liquid silicone rubber.

The construction sector in Japan has always displayed positive sentiments. Being prone to a number of natural disasters, the nation’s construction sector has always been creating innovative alternatives. Liquid silicone rubber is used in sealants and adhesives, which are very crucial for all kinds of buildings.

India: Home to a mammoth consumer electronics market

India is one of the largest buyers of consumer electronics. As of 2021, the valuation of the Indian consumer electronics market stood at US$ 75 billion. During the pandemic, the sales were even significant due to the imposition of the lockdown. The massive demand for consumer electronics might boost the sales of liquid silicone rubber. These are mainly used as Integrated Circuits for miniaturizing the size of the device and improving the speed as well.

Apart from that, there are a number of overseas electronics companies which are investing huge funds in India. This creates massive opportunities for the Indian liquid silicone rubber market.

EV emission silicone

The Acceleration to Zero Coalition: Is an ideal way for delivering a Paris-Aligned Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Transition Globally

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) recently announced the launch of the Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) Coalition, the next stage in gaining more ambitious goals to a zero-emission vehicle transition compatible with the Paris Agreement. More than 200 signatories from national as well as subnational governments, NGOs, vehicle manufacturers, fleet owners, enterprises, and others pledged to have all new car and van sales become zero emission by 2035 in major markets and so by 2040 globally. This commitment was made public on Solutions Day at COP27.

The A2Z Coalition aims to provide a forum for communication amongst the top zero-emission transportation groups worldwide to aid in the understanding, creation, and execution of ambitious zero-emission mobility policies and strategies. The organization wants to hasten the uptake of zero-emission cars by offering a public platform where signees may coordinate their initiatives and exchange resources with other participants.

Although there is a positive trend towards e-mobility in the road transport industry, this movement must promptly and sharply accelerate to reach the COP27 global climate targets. As a result, the A2Z Coalition represents a potent new strategy for building the momentum as well as implementation support required to make the transition to zero-emission mobility.

Various nations are hence urging the manufacturers to make immediate changes in their present systems of production, manufacturing, and operations of Electric Vehicles to make it a ‘carbon-free’ cycle. Additionally, nations have been focused on implementing new policies and investment plans to beef up the transition towards zero emissions and meet the A2Z goals. In this blog, we will discuss how various industries in the EU are urging for ZEV transitions for a better future, how Canada will push the usage of ZEVs in the coming years and how the maritime industry is also shifting towards ZEVs to reduce carbon emissions. 

Various Cross-Industry Coalitions in the EU urge for a Robust Policy

In order to hasten the shift to zero-emission as well as CO2-neutral mobility, the automotive, electrical, charging infrastructure, and energy generating industries have banded together to push the European Parliament and Council to enact robust, linked legislation. At a cross-industry roundtable in Brussels, the sectors—all major actors in the decarbonization of road transportation—launched their first-ever joint plea to policymakers.

According to this industry coalition, there is an urgent need for greater investment in infrastructure for various automobiles, trucks, vans, and buses powered with alternative energy.  Therefore, in order to achieve its goals, the EU will need to set higher benchmarks for both public and private infrastructure than any of those suggested by the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) as well as Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) recommendations from the European Commission.

To enable charging and hydrogen refueling stations financially feasible throughout the ramp-up stage of electric cars, public assistance, financial incentives, co-funding, and mandated objectives are required. According to the co-signatories, this is essential to ensuring that a basic infrastructure network is quickly made accessible throughout the EU. For a brief time, public involvement is required, particularly in places where its roll-out is slower.

Infrastructure development should coincide with the shift to zero-emission energy. In fact, making the shift to climate-neutral transportation and mobility will only make sense if done concurrently with the switch to zero-emission energy. The signatories contend that incentives should be provided to promote the use of zero-emission energy within the transportation industry. The aim is to expedite the regulatory processes in order to deploy the required renewable energy producing capacity.

Furthermore, the end user ought to not be neglected, with regulations that provide a customer-centric charging ecology that is reasonable and provides EU-wide roaming, without jeopardizing the contractual flexibility of this market’s operators.

Canada proposes a ZEV sales quota by 2026

The Canadian government has established enforceable sales targets for zero-emission vehicles in line with the objectives of the Zero Coalition. By 2026, a quarter of all brand-new passenger cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs sold in the nation must be zero-emission versions, including electric as well as hydrogen fuel cell automobiles.

They are pursuing a regulated sales goal that calls for at least 20 percent of all new vehicles sold by 2026 to have zero emissions, with that number rising to 60 percent by 2030, and then to 100 percent by 2035. The quotas are expected to result in Canadians saving close to CAD 34 billion in energy bills between 2026 and 2050. For three years, the emissions of greenhouse gasses reduction will be equal to all of Ontario’s emissions. Approximately 10% of Canada’s overall greenhouse emissions are now attributed to emissions from passenger vehicles. The Canadian Press reports that the Canadian Environmental Protection Act may impose penalties on importers and producers who don’t satisfy the quotas. Those credits will be used by the nation to monitor automobile sales.

Infrastructure upgrades and incentives should both contribute to a rise in EV adoption. There will be 85,000 public chargers built across the country by 2027 thanks to federal funding. Canada has traditionally provided incentives of up to $5,000 for private persons and up to $10,000 for company purchases of new zero-emission vehicles. Several manufacturers have committed to exclusively producing electric cars (EVs) and/or vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells. GM, as well as Honda, have set 2035 and 2040 as their targets, respectively, for completing the transition. By 2035, certain nations, including New York, California, and the UK, will no longer sell gas-powered cars.

The mandated sales objectives for zero-emission cars will cut emissions by encouraging more drivers to choose electric vehicles. At the moment, more than 50% of Canadians want an EV to be their next automobile, but there are huge waitlists and a limited supply that is going to provinces with established sales requirements like British Quebec and Columbia.  The federal laws will increase supply across all provinces and territories, reducing wait periods for electric and plug-in hybrid automobiles.

Getting to Zero Coalition initiative

Global trade is fueled by shipping, which is essential for the flow of products throughout the globe. Despite being one of the least polluting modes of transportation, the sector is responsible for 2-3% of the world’s emissions. By the year 2050, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) wants to cut shipping emissions by 50% compared to 2008 levels. The maritime sector must take the required actions to decrease its carbon footprint and scale up green production, transportation, and commerce as governments and industry actors work to meet ambitious climate goals.

The Getting to Zero Coalition is a forum that brings together roughly 200 stakeholders from the transportation and energy value chains. Following the announcement of a Call to Action in 2018 by a group of 34 important stakeholders committed to decarbonizing shipping, the Global Maritime Forum, the World Economic Forum, and Friends of Ocean Action established the Coalition in 2019.

By 2030, the Coalition hopes to commercialize low-emission ships traveling on deep-sea shipping routes, backed by the infrastructure required for scalable low-carbon energy sources, including those for generation, storage, distribution, and bunkering. The Coalition has increased its intention to completely decarbonize the industry by 2050, following science-based environmental targets, through a 2022 industry-led Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization and a recent statement at the Getting to Zero Coalition 2022 Working Group Session. Key goals for 2022–2023 include:

  • Catalyze industrial activity, including the creation of deep-sea green corridors with the help of Getting to Zero member firms, as well as the creation of projects that connect demand and supply.

 

  • Increase the pace of policy making at the IMO and watch as a revised GHG strategy is adopted with a zero-emission objective for 2050 along with the consensus on the steps required to guarantee a fair and equitable sector transformation.

 

Conclusion

With the degrading climatic conditions and their adverse effects, various nations globally are moving towards reducing overall emissions and gaining an alternative power transition at the earliest. This is what has propelled the emergence of COP27. The execution of the Paris Agreement is the primary focus of COP27, and there are high hopes for COP26’s results in terms of the completion of the Paris Rulebook, especially concerning the global carbon market. India has committed to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 and to cut its carbon intensity by 45% by 2030 when compared to 2005 at the COP26 meeting.

India would need USD 160 billion annually to reach the 2030 clean energy objectives, according to projections from the International Energy Agency, while no other country’s energy consumption will rise as much as India’s in the future years. The advantages of advancing zero-emission transportation were stressed at the COP26 summit. Over 100 parties who endorsed the transition signed the Glasgow Declaration on Zero-Emission Cars and Vans (ZEVs). The COP26 statement on the quick transition to 100% ZEVs was also signed by India, which was represented by the NITI Aayog initiative. 

To advance low-carbon infrastructures, the NITI Aayog initiative has been collaborating with the UK government on several projects, including charging infrastructure, e-vehicles, and battery storage. India is the fifth-largest as well as fastest-growing automotive market in the world, offering tremendous opportunities for the adoption of electric vehicles. The transition to ZEVs is well underway, bringing down technological prices and lowering our dependency on foreign fuels. However, as public transportation is the most accessible and necessary form of transportation in India, it might have been wise to first concentrate on lowering its carbon footprint in addition to that of automobiles and vans.

Hence, such a transition requires more investment in the country. The main focus of COP27 would be climate finance and particularly how it ought to be distributed, given the amount of money needed and the difficulty in raising money. India has also requested that the USD 100 billion-a-year guarantee of climate assistance for developing nations be reconsidered, even though the deadline has passed. Since the bulk of CO2 emissions is produced in the US and the European region, wealthier nations would be expected to support climate spending and ensure a seamless transition to ZEVs.

Author Bio

Aditi is the Marketing Head at Future Market Insights (FMI), ESOMAR-certified market research and consulting Market Research Company. The award-winning firm is headquartered in Dubai, with offices in the US, UK, and India. The award-winning firm is headquartered in Dubai, with offices in the US, UK, and India. MarketNgage is the Market Research Subscription Platform from FMI that assists stakeholders in obtaining in-depth research across industries, markets, and niche segments. You can connect with Aditi on LinkedIn.

 

EV emission silicone

4 Reasons Electric Cars And Their Batteries Aren’t Environmentally Friendly

With the rapid expansion of the green-energy space, many consumers are considering environmentally friendly alternatives to the products they purchase. One of the leaders in the growing energy-conscious market is the electric vehicle, or EV, industry. EVs help reduce air pollution by eliminating CO2 emissions during travel and lowering the driver’s carbon footprint. But are they entirely environmentally friendly? Here are four ways EVs actually harm the environment.

1. Manufacturing

While the cars themselves produce zero emissions, the process of making EVs is far from carbon neutral. Electric vehicles are made in much the same way as internal combustion engine (or ICE) cars; raw materials are extracted and refined, followed by component assembly in a factory. Not only is the process similar, but some studies have even found that EV battery manufacturing creates higher emissions than manufacturing the vehicle itself. 

Lithium mining, a key part of manufacturing almost every kind of electric vehicle, is also harmful to the environment. There are a number of side effects of mining for lithium, including:

  • Ground Destabilization
  • Loss of Biodiversity
  • Rising Salinity in Fresh-Water Rivers
  • Soil Contamination
  • Toxic Waste
  • Loss of Potable Water

2. Charging

Electric energy is a great power source and, in theory, very eco-friendly. Unfortunately, many of the ways we produce this energy come from burning fossil fuels. Coal, gas, and oil are three of the primary ways we generate electricity, each having a distinctly negative impact on the environment. While EVs don’t pollute during travel, the power plants used to create their electricity do. 

Faulty chargers can also be a problem, which can destroy the protection circuit that keeps a battery secure. These subpar charges can also affect the housing of a battery, causing lithium to leak out into the vehicle’s surroundings. 

3. Lithium-Ion Batteries Production

One of the biggest issues with the carbon footprint of the EV industry is lithium-ion batteries. These rechargeable batteries are the foundation of your average electric vehicle, and their production involves harvesting raw materials like cobalt and lithium. This mining and refinement process both cause a significant amount of carbon emissions, in some cases outstripping even that of ICE vehicle production. In addition to wasteful manufacturing, lithium-ion batteries come with a distinct set of disadvantages. 

Lithium-Ion Batteries Pose a Fire Risk

Lithium-ion batteries have been known to catch fire and even explode in some circumstances. These incidents usually come as a result of factory defects or external damage, though they have been known to occur due to issues with the battery’s software. No matter what the cause, these batteries have the potential to be a hazard. Fortunately, some manufacturers perform a vehicle recall check and recall the cars with defective batteries before anyone gets hurt.

Lithium-Ion Batteries Have Voltage Limits

While lithium-ion batteries can be a powerful tool, providing enough energy to run a car for many miles, there is a distinct upper limit to their voltage. Depending on the type of battery, this is usually between 2.5 volts and 4.35 volts. Exceeding this voltage limit can damage the battery, eventually compromising its integrity. Overcharging can increase the pressure and cause thermal runaway, which has been known to make batteries catch on fire. 

Internal Short Circuits in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Depending on how the battery is handled and charged, lithium-ion can overfill the battery and cause internal short circuits. This stresses the battery’s structure, damaging the internal insulation and causing metal deposits to build up in between its electrodes. After enough time, this will stop the battery’s function, damaging your vehicle in the process. 

4. Challenges of Battery Recycling

Despite the high value of lithium, many lithium-ion batteries are not recycled. This is due to the complexity of the recycling process and how few processing centers have the equipment necessary to complete the task. Lithium is highly reactive, so using traditional recycling could cause an increased chance of fire or explosion. For lithium to be recycled properly, you need highly qualified professionals using specialized tools, something most areas can’t afford. Therefore, many batteries end up getting dumped where most recyclable material goes: a landfill. 

Despite Their Advantages, EVs Still Have Their Issues

There is no denying that EVs don’t emit CO2 during travel, and as technology advances, they will be an essential tool in the fight against climate change. Unfortunately, as they stand now, EVs’ manufacturing and batteries stop them from being true zero-emission vehicles. In some ways, particularly with their manufacturing, EVs can actually pollute more than your standard ICE vehicle. 

There is a significant danger posed by certain components of these vehicles, and not just to the environment; millions of EVs have been recalled since their debut due to various safety-related issues. If you own an EV, it’s always best to run a vehicle recall check. The advantage of performing a vehicle recall check is that you can see any defects your car may have and catch a problem before it becomes a disaster. 

Author Bio

Patrick Peterson is a content manager at GoodCar. Born and raised in the automotive world, he’s an enthusiastic expert who writes exquisite content pieces about everything related to cars and bikes.

 

 

alloy

Heat-Resistant Nickel Alloy to Witness Soaring Demand from Onshore Power Plants over 2021-2027

Nickel alloy has always been an important material for various industries, including some high-revenue sectors such as automotive, aerospace & defense, owing to its high solubility with iron, chromium, and other vital metals. The high versatility of the material, along with its exceptional heat and corrosion resistance properties enables its application in aircraft gas turbines, steam turbines in power plants, and other high-performance applications.

In onshore wind power plants, nickel-based alloys are primarily used in the gearing and generator components. On the other hand, in hydroelectric installations, nickel alloys are used in turbines owing to their exceptional erosion and corrosion resistance features.


A growing world government emphasis on scaling up power plant infrastructures, coupled with the soaring number of onshore power projects sanctioned to cater to the rapidly rising electricity demand, would foster the demand for nickel alloy to a large extent.

According to Global Market Insights, Inc., report, the global nickel alloy market size is expected to witness remunerative growth by 2027.

Nickel-based alloys and metals have wide-ranging applications in the automotive sector. Apart from its utilization in many automotive parts, nickel is extensively used in the batteries of electric vehicles. Nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery is witnessing significant adoption in EVs due to its extended power backup.

The rise in electric vehicle production globally is likely to drive the demand for nickel alloy in the coming years. As per the International Environment Agency, approximately 2.1 million electric vehicles were sold in 2019. Moreover, nickel and chromium plating are also used on numerous automotive components to enhance vehicles aesthetics.

The heat-resistant nickel alloy segment is forecast to hold considerable market share by the end of 2027, particularly owing to increasing demand in high-temperature applications. These applications include oil & gas production, and power plants, among others. There have been rising government initiatives to develop a large number of onshore and offshore power plants and oil & gas refineries mostly in developed nations.

From a regional frame of reference, the European nickel alloy industry share is anticipated to expand exponentially owing to the rising number of passenger jet fleets. As per the CAPA Fleet Database, the passenger jet fleet in Europe rose by 1.8% month-on-month in February 2021, to 3,400. The applications of nickel in aircraft engine turbines bring toughness, high-temperature strength, and durability.

Meanwhile, stringent environmental norms encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles and the establishment of renewable-energy power plants would positively influence nickel alloy business in Europe.

Leading companies involved in global nickel alloy business include Ametek Inc., Sandvik AB, Rolled Alloys, Inc., Aperam S.A., Voestalpine AG, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, Haynes International, Precision Castparts Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway), and ThyssenKrupp AG, among others. These industry players are focusing on strategic alliances and novel product development to strengthen their position in the global market.

Nickel alloy plays a vital role in the transportation sector, right from its utilization in EVs, aircraft, and traditional automotive. Nickel-based stainless steel is used in passenger trains and subways to offer strongness and durability to the outer body. Superior mechanical properties, along with the ability to dilute with other materials expected to foster applications of nickel and nickel-based materials in the forthcoming years.

vehicles

How Artificial Intelligence is Driving the Memory Market for Autonomous and Connected Vehicles

One of the important technologies that have emerged over the past few is that of artificial intelligence (AI). The technology is being utilized in various industries for making processes and operations simpler. Just like other industries, AI is also being widely utilized in the automotive industry for making vehicles safer and more secure. The technology is being utilized in infotainment systems that are now serving as personal assistants, aiding the driver by offering efficient navigational support, and responding to voice commands. This increasing utilization of AI is creating wide data storage capacity.

Autonomous and connected cars are generating large amounts of data, since they are extensively making use of electronic functions for providing greater efficiency, greater safety, driver assist capabilities, richer telemetric and entertainment functions, and communication between local networks and vehicles. Owing to these factors, the global memory market for autonomous and connected vehicles generated a revenue of $4,310.8 million in 2019 and is predicted to advance at a 23.9% CAGR during the forecast period (2020–2030), as per a report by P&S Intelligence. The major applications of the memory market in the automotive industry are telematics, navigation, and infotainment.

Out of these, the largest amount of data was generated by navigation features in the past, which can majorly be attributed to the surging adoption of these systems in vehicles. Navigation systems generate data related to alternative routes, shortest route, and traffic or checkpoints on the road, and need efficient storage mechanism. Apart from this, the telematics application is also predicted to make create demand for data storage capacity in the coming years, which is particularly because of the increasing preference for autonomous and connected vehicles. The system captures data via sensors, radars, and cameras.

Different types of memories in the automotive industry are NOT-AND (NAND) flash, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and static random-access memory (SRAM). Among all these, the demand for DRAM has been the highest up till now, owing to their effective storage of data and relatively low cost. Both commercial and passenger vehicles generate data, thereby creating a need for memory; however, the largest demand for memory was created by passenger cars in the past. This is because of the fact that passenger vehicles are produced more than commercial vehicles. Furthermore, new technologies are first implemented in passenger vehicles for testing purposes in the automotive industry.

In the past, North America emerged as the largest memory market for autonomous and connected vehicles, and the situation is predicted to be the same in the coming years as well. This can be ascribed to the presence of a large number of automotive technology companies and increasing sales of connected and autonomous vehicles in the region. Moreover, the disposable income in people in North America is high as well, owing to which, they are able to spend more on luxury vehicles that are equipped with advanced, connectivity, safety, and autonomous features.

Hence, the demand for memory in autonomous and connected vehicles is growing due to the increasing demand for safety features in vehicles.

Source: P&S Intelligence