Editor's letter

The energy transition in automotive is happening. Electric cars and plug-in hybrids are becoming more visible on our roads. However, we’re at a stage in the take-up where the emerging technology faces major challenges – particularly in availability of the necessary charging infrastructure and higher costs versus fossil-fuel burning incumbent tech.

In this issue, we address fears of a slowdown in electric vehicle demand in Europe and North America. We also consider EV engineering architecture strategies – with a closer look at BMW’s approach in China. There’s also an interview with McLaren Applied that delves into the world of the silicon carbide inverter, a vital piece of hardware described as the ‘brain of an EV’.

As ADAS and robotaxi trials gather pace, we also asked: when will we have driverless vehicles? It depends how we define the term, but EVs are certainly the industry’s main priority right now. Happy reading!

David Leggett, editor