SAE Update - March 2022 - 21

Finding pockets of value and opportunity
TECH FOCUS:
AUTOMATED VEHICLES
For most of the past century, the
automobile was the de facto center for all
that was transportation. And while there
were also other modes (trucks, rail, air, and
sea), the car still dominated the landscape.
As new technologies rolled in, much of the
focus was on making the experience more
comfortable and safer for the vehicles'
occupants. New
technologies still occur, of
course, but there is much
happening outside of and,
more importantly,
between vehicles and the
environment in which
transportation operates.
All of the vehicle " The
vehicle-be it a car, SUV,
light-duty truck, or fleet-operated
heavy equipment-has become a
moving computer, or a least part of
a larger vehicle network. "
related sessions and booths that I visited
devoted a significant component to data
and " vehicle intelligence. " In many cases,
vehicles are no longer primarily a means to
get from one place to another. Vehicles -
and more broadly, transportation - are
becoming more about generating,
capturing, sharing, and acting on data
about the trip and the environment in
which one is operating. These data can
then inform how traffic flow can be
optimized and how systems can
communicate information about
impending road closures and accidents
between vehicles. Trip data can help
predict where drivers might plug in their
vehicles, help balance the electrical grid,
and much more.
The vehicle-be it a car, SUV, light-duty
UPDATE
truck, or fleet-operated heavy equipment
-has become a moving computer, or a
least part of a larger transportation
network.
But vehicles on four wheels were not the
only means of transportation featured at
the show; the two-wheeled variety also
made its presence known. Ebikes and
cargo bikes had a
significant percentage of
floor space and mind
share. While COVID had a
negative impact on
certain transportation
options, especially air and
public transit, other
modes benefitted.
Lisa Spellman
According to market numbers from across
the globe, the sale of two-wheeled
transportation modes, pedal bikes,
scooters, and especially ebikes continue to
set new sales records. According to market
research firm NPD, year-over-year sales of
bicycles (pedal and ebike) for the 12
months ending April 2021 were up over
55%, and revenue for ebikes grew at 47%
in the 12 months ending October 2021.
There were many CES sessions that
focused on the micromobility explosion
and the many opportunities and
challenges that come with rapid sector
growth. In one session, there was an
interesting conversation between Lime, a
provider of electric scooters, and Haas
Alerts about the common challenges that
micromobility and emergency vehicles
March 2022
21
https://www.npd.com/news/blog/2021/switching-gears-are-we-finally-seeing-a-decline-in-bicycle-sales https://www.li.me/en-US/home https://www.haasalert.com/ https://www.haasalert.com/
SAE Update - March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAE Update - March 2022
