At the same time though, when we consider this idea with regard to the automotive industry, one interesting exception stands out. Vehicle sales have actually been on the rise. If we consider any new car to be a luxury purchase, then the automotive market is by and large performing as we might expect during such a severe international crisis: new car sales are down around the world. But EVs have proven to be an exception, with sales actually increasing in some major markets during the pandemic.

This would seem to be the strongest indication yet that we really are in the midst of a gradual EV takeover. But that also begs the question of what more EVs need to fully dominate the automotive market. As far as we can tell, there are a few key factors to watch.

More Efficient PCBs

Printed circuit boards are used in one way or another in all cars, but are especially vital in handling the electronic functions of EVs. And to work well in this role, PCBs in EVs need to be able to conduct heat well and adhere to good grounding design. The heat issue is easy enough to overcome, as we know that PCBs built with metal cores simply conduct heat more effectively. Grounding is a little bit more difficult though. In fact, as one of the industry leaders in design, Altium has referred to PCB grounding design as “one of the greatest challenges” in modern circuit boards. More complex circuit boards simply make it difficult to ground circuits properly, which makes it difficult for a board to handle multiple electrical signals.

These are not issues the average EV consumer is aware of. Nevertheless, as PCB design continues to improve, we’ll see better functionality from EVs in numerous ways that make the vehicles all the more appealing.

Better Battery Design

Battery is arguably the most important factor to consumers when they assess EVs. The main concern holding some people back from making the leap to electric vehicles is range. It is understandably difficult to commit to an EV if you’re not fully confident that it can get you where you need to go. Thus, better battery design is essential if EVs are to catch on in an even bigger way. This can be brought about through numerous advancements, though the main focus appears to be on binders — effectively the casing materials that hold battery components together. New materials in binders have been shown to improve capacity and lifespan, which is promising for improving battery performance in EVs.

More Charging Stations

Charging stations remain an issue as well. Last year, Wired took an in-depth look at EV charging infrastructure and found the some of the leading metro areas and biggest population centers in the U.S. are well behind where they need to be in terms of developing charging options for the growing EV market. This is true in some other parts of the world as well, and it contributes to the same concern some people have with regard to battery — that EVs might not get them where they need to go. Better charging infrastructure will go a long way toward boosting the market.

Full Automation

Last but not least is full automation. Whether or not it’s particularly fair or logical, there are many who equate EVs with autonomous vehicles. Some of the same consumers are likely to wait to purchase an EV until it has at least partial self-driving capability (as Teslas do — partially explaining their extraordinary popularity). Full autonomous vehicles allowed on public roads may not be here for several years, but it’s conceivable that progress toward them will lead to more EV sales in general.

Already it’s fairly remarkable that the EV market has grown even during a pandemic, when other car sales have stalled. But it’s when we see progress in these areas that the market may truly take off.