Why did electric vehicles suddenly hit markets in the 2000s?
Transcription
. By examining the interplay of scientific, technological, and trade capabilities, policymakers and stakeholders can identify these latent potentials and craft strategies to harness them effectively.
Why did electric vehicles suddenly hit markets in the 2000s? Electric vehicle technology dates back decades. For a long time, EVs were limited to prototypes, expensive, niche and slow to spread. Diffusion accelerated only in the late 2010s.The interconnected dimensions of innovation
Scientific capabilities, technological advancements, and trade competencies do not always develop in tandem. While scientific research can enhance a country’s ability to absorb and adapt new technologies, not all scientific outputs directly translate into innovations like patents. Studies have shown that
patenting activity often correlates with scientific publications
. However, the connection is nuanced—some fields are more likely to produce patents based on existing scientific capabilities, while others may lag behind despite robust academic output.
For instance, research indicates that regional expertise in specific scientific domains can spur the development of related technologies. This phenomenon highlights a key aspect of innovation: relatedness. Relatedness between scientific and technological capabilities increases the likelihood of breakthroughs, allowing countries to diversify into new technological fields more effectively.
Identifying latent potential: a comparative look
has hinted on the untapped innovation potential of countries. By analyzing the proximity connections between productive, scientific and technological capabilities, experts could-
estimate the number of patents a country might produce if it performed like an average developed economy
- .Strong patenting in batteries and related tech
- Policy support in key markets
- Manufacturing efficiencies such as falling battery costs up to
- Rapidly expanding charging infrastructure.
Also, skilled engineers and local technical capacity supported integration.
Why did electric vehicles suddenly hit markets in the 2000s? Electric vehicle technology dates back decades. For a long time, EVs were limited to prototypes, expensive, niche and slow to spread. Diffusion accelerated only in the late 2010s.
Why do some technologies suddenly spread? WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Report shows that scaling occurs when multiple conditions align, like with EVs:
- Strong patenting in batteries and related tech
- Policy support in key markets
- Manufacturing efficiencies such as falling battery costs up to
- Rapidly expanding charging infrastructure.
Also, skilled engineers and local technical capacity supported integration.
Discover how technologies diffuse and what enables faster, broader scaling.
16 février 2026