Issue #200 - electrification & software

This is the 200th issue of this automotive trends newsletter. The first one was published on July 25th, 2020. That is almost 3 years back, when newsletter was introduced as a feature on LinkedIn on a limited basis. So that is one newsletter every 5 days, on an average! The auto industry has been such a happening industry, no wonder. It is apt that this milestone issue is on electrification and onboard software in vehicles, two major trends in the industry. Below are some interesting updates on both. A big thanks to all subscribers and those actively engaging in these newsletters - reading, liking, commenting, sharing. Please continue to support.

Robotaxis are to be announced through most of Phoenix city for the first time. Smart tyres with build-in sensors will play a key role for such autonomous cars. Game engines or computer graphics-based technology is a growing area in electric vehicles (EVs). Motion sickness is aggravated in EVs and autonomous driving, needing attention from car makers. Off-grid fuel cell based charging stations are an option to charge EVs. Sky is the limit for electric mobility, literally, as dedicated sky lanes are planned in the US for air taxis. Below are the detailed updates.

Robotaxis in Phoenix

Waymo announced recently that its robotaxis will be able to carry passengers through most of the Phoenix area for the first time. The company's cars will also start to pick up more volunteers for testing the autonomous vehicles traversing the more challenging conditions in San Francisco. The expansion marks the next leg in an ambitious journey aimed at creating a safer and cheaper alternative to ride-hailing services that depend on humans - ET Auto

Tyres for autonomous cars

A tire that could track road conditions in real time would be a ‘holy grail’ of vehicle control in self-driving cars, says Goodyear’s CTO. But the technical difficulties of creating one are high. Tire manufacturers hope to play a critical role in feeding real-time information to self-driving vehicles. Sensors can gather and relay data on friction and road conditions, helping the vehicles decide, for instance, how fast to take a turn or how soon to start braking. - WSJ

A game engine for EVs

Izumi Kawanishi, president and COO of Sony Honda Mobility, which plans to launch an automotive business, said EVs will "have an engine, and the engine will be a game engine." A game engine refers to computer graphics technology that instantly recreates a representation of the real world in a virtual space without using video or manually drawn animation. A game engine will allow an EV to become a fusion of real space and the metaverse. The auto industry may split into tangible and intangible asset companies. - Nikkei Asia

Autonomy and motion sickness

As road vehicles continue to undergo technological metamorphosis such as electrification, digitalisation and automation of vehicles, along with the benefits come issues. Some technological advances may create or worsen the feeling of imbalance and prevent vehicle occupants from anticipating the itinerary. As a result, they increase the risk of undergoing sickness symptoms more frequently. Quiet electric motors, regenerative braking, and increasing number of screens inside a car are some factors. - ET Auto

Fuel cells for EV charging

Fuel and and green hydrogen maker Plug Power says it's developed an off-the-grid hydrogen-fueled charging station to power up battery-electric trucks. Its station combines an 18,000-gallon liquid hydrogen tank with a stationary fuel cell system which produces more than 60-megawatt-hours of electricity. That’s enough to charge more than 600 EVs before needing to be refueled. - Forbes

Sky lanes for air taxis

EVs under development could initially move about cities similarly to helicopters , says acting FAA chief Billy Nolen. Nolen expects a widespread rollout of air taxis that will transform transportation, if regulators get it right. US air-safety regulators are planning for new traffic lanes in the sky, intended to accommodate flying taxis being developed by startups and backed by major airlines. FAA expects the planned air taxis — EVs designed to fly quietly—to initially buzz around American cities as soon as next year much as helicopters do today, said Nolen. - WSJ