Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1510154
mouser.com/te 29 Introduction: The Road to Electrification I n most city/urban environments, one cannot run a simple errand without seeing an electric car plugged into a public charging station. Whether at the mall, near a hotel, or in a public parking garage, it's easy to see that charging stations are proliferating. But what we are seeing today is clearly just the beginning. Only 2% of cars today are plug- in electric, and that is true of even fewer trucks and buses. Just a short 20 or so years ago, the new EV industry had a fast start and a seemingly faster stop. But a lot has changed since then, and it is safe to say that electric propulsion is here to stay. But what about vehicles meant for industrial and commercial transportation (ICT) applications? Trucks? Buses? Construction, farm, and mining equipment? These industries are on a fast track to reduce fuel consumption and emissions through electrification while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Experts predict that by 2040, most forms of transportation will leverage electric motors and/or cleaner sources of fuel to meet heightened standards. The reason for the 20-year runway is complicated. The landscape consists of diverse applications and use cases that may or may not be conducive to vehicle electrification given today's landscape. Dotting that landscape are regulations; legislations; and social, economic, and technical obstacles that seemingly undermine feasibility at every turn. Electric grid infrastructures aligned with transportation needs are just starting to emerge. Electrifying a Movement Accelerating E-Mobility in Commercial Transportation Society is demanding cleaner and quieter alternatives to gasoline and diesel-powered engines, and the transportation industry is responding. For years, scientists and engineers have been developing cleaner ways to run cars and trucks. Alternative fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, hydrogen, and propane have been developed and used to move people and goods from place to place. And although it will not be the sole form of clean fuel, the future of transportation will undoubtedly include electric propulsion. From a curiosity to a rarity to a reality, electric vehicles (EVs) are clearly on a path to becoming a necessity.