The automotive industry is currently engaged in what can be described as the most significant transformation since its inception in the late nineteenthcentury. The transition away from fossil-fuel-run combustion engines towards alternative drivetrains marks a pivotal step towards achieving a future free of carbon dioxide emissions.
Reflecting on the historical progression of engineering internal combustion engines (ICE), this transition signifies a revolutionary shift in both the manufacturing of automobiles and the operation of their associated supply chains. Nearly every component of powertrain construction is anticipated to undergo a transition (Figure 1).