The electrification landscape is shifting.

EV adoption remains structurally strong, yet growth is becoming more uneven across regions. Policy changes, tariffs and supply chain pressures are reshaping investment decisions. OEMs and suppliers are recalibrating priorities. Cost, resilience and manufacturability now sit alongside performance and efficiency.

These were the defining themes explored in our recent webinar, “eMobility Tech Outlook 2026: The Technologies Powering the Next Generation”, where S&P Global Mobility analysts unpacked what lies ahead for batteries, electric motors, power electronics, charging infrastructure and thermal management.

Here’s what industry leaders need to know.
 

Battery outlook: cost and supply chain security take centre stage

Battery demand for light vehicles is still set to grow significantly through 2031. However, forecasts have been revised down compared to last year, reflecting slower-than-expected EV uptake in some markets.

The shift is clear:

• LFP continues to gain global share, driven by cost competitiveness and expanding Chinese supply chain influence.

• High-nickel chemistries remain critical for high energy density applications.

• Sodium-ion emerges in the 2030s, offering potential cost parity with LFP and reduced reliance on constrained supply chains.

• Solid-state remains limited in volume, with cost and manufacturing complexity pushing mass adoption further out.

The priority for OEMs is no longer chasing maximum energy density at any cost. It is building cost-effective, resilient battery strategies that can scale.

At CWIEME Berlin, these conversations continue on the E-Mobility Stage and across the exhibition floor, where battery component suppliers, insulation specialists, magnetic materials experts and power electronics innovators meet the engineers and procurement leaders shaping next-generation platforms.
 

Electric motors: efficiency meets material risk

Hybrid platforms are gaining share globally, while fully electric growth has flattened in several mature markets. That shift is directly influencing motor strategies.

Key developments include:

• Permanent magnet motors remain the baseline, but rare earth supply risk is driving alternatives.

• Europe is investing more heavily in externally excited synchronous motors.

• North America is accelerating domestic sourcing strategies.

• China continues to strengthen vertical integration across the motor value chain.

For motor OEMs, the challenge is balancing:

• IE4 and IE5 efficiency targets

• Raw material volatility

• Manufacturing throughput

• Margin protection

At CWIEME Berlin, this is not theory. It is factory-level reality. From winding automation and lamination technologies to insulation systems and magnetic materials, the entire motor value chain comes together under one roof.

With 83% of Engineering, Procurement and R&D attendees involved in purchasing decisions and 74% actively evaluating suppliers for live projects, the discussions move quickly from strategy to sourcing.

Power electronics: wideband gap moves mainstream

Silicon carbide adoption is accelerating. Prices have fallen sharply over the past year, narrowing the cost gap with silicon-based devices.

By the mid-2030s:

• Over half of high-voltage applications are expected to use silicon carbide.

• 1000V platforms are expanding, enabling faster charging and improved system efficiency.

• Higher levels of drivetrain and secondary integration are becoming standard in Greater China.

• OEMs are selectively internalising inverter development while maintaining semiconductor partnerships.

The result is a more strategic sourcing landscape, with tighter collaboration between Tier 1s, Tier 2s and OEMs.
These supply chain dynamics mirror what we see across transformers, motors and grid infrastructure. As outlined in our audience insights, manufacturing bottlenecks, testing capacity constraints and material security are no longer side issues. They are commercial risks.
 

Charging infrastructure: scaling speed and access

Charging deployment continues to accelerate, particularly in China, supported by coordinated national policy and strong incentives.

Key developments shaping 2026 and beyond:

• MW charging entering commercialisation.

• Higher voltage platforms reducing charging times.

• Wireless charging gaining traction in Western markets.

• Bidirectional charging unlocking system-level flexibility.

Yet infrastructure growth remains policy-dependent in Europe and North America. Incentives, grid capacity and permitting timelines continue to influence roll-out speed.

For grid operators and utilities, the challenges are equally clear:

• Transformer lead times

• Connection backlogs

• Voltage management

• Asset reliability

As highlighted in our grid operator insights, delivery risk reduction and standardised, manufacturable designs are critical priorities.

CWIEME Berlin’s expanding Transmission and Distribution focus brings grid operators, transformer OEMs and component suppliers together to address these bottlenecks head-on.

Thermal management: from reactive systems to predictive intelligence

Thermal management is evolving from hardware-driven cooling architectures to predictive, AI-supported control strategies.

We are seeing:

• Integrated coolant and refrigerant modules becoming standard.

• Heat pumps increasingly adopted across mature EV markets.

• Digital twins and predictive battery conditioning improving performance and longevity.

• AI-driven battery management systems adapting to real-world degradation.

Thermal performance now directly links to range, charging experience and lifetime reliability. It is no longer a secondary engineering concern. It is central to competitive EV design.

At CWIEME Berlin 2025, over 77 sessions packed with content from 92 speakers, demonstrating the appetite for deep technical insight across electrification technologies.

In 2026, these discussions will be even more integrated, reflecting how batteries, motors, power electronics and thermal systems must be engineered as one system.

2026: from technology trends to commercial reality

The webinar made one thing clear: electrification is not slowing. It is recalibrating.

OEMs are shifting focus:

• From maximum energy density to cost efficiency

• From single-source dependency to supply chain resilience

• From component optimisation to system-level integration

• From reactive hardware to predictive intelligence

CWIEME Berlin is where these strategic shifts translate into real partnerships, supplier agreements and technology roadmaps.

As the world’s largest coil winding and electrical manufacturing exhibition, it remains the global meeting place for transformer, motor and e-mobility innovators.

If you are working on:

• Next-generation battery platforms

• IE4 and IE5 motor strategies

• Silicon carbide integration

• Charging infrastructure expansion

• Grid-ready transformer design

• AI-enabled thermal management

Register for your CWIEME Berlin 2026 ticket and join the industry where power meets progress.

The next phase of electrification will not be defined by headlines.

It will be defined by engineering decisions, supply chain partnerships and manufacturing execution.

We look forward to continuing the conversation with you in Berlin.