A while ago, back in the 80s, the car was the only way to travel. Big advertising convinced many that you need 2 ton of belching steel, a flatbed and roll cage to survive the Max Max commute to a beige cubicle. Roll forward 40 years and car focused infrastructure is wearing it like Rambo’s bad Botox.
The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
Socrates
Here’s a forward-looking exploration of where the industry might go, grounded in practicality, but exploring more cutting edge options:
Beyond CAN: Next-Generation Communication
The limitations of CAN bus technology in handling the data-rich environments of modern and future vehicles have paved the way for alternatives:
- Ethernet-based Networks: Automotive Ethernet is increasingly adopted for its higher bandwidth, scalability, and ability to support advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), in-vehicle infotainment, and over-the-air updates.
- Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN): Aimed at real-time, safety-critical applications, TSN extends Ethernet capabilities to ensure deterministic communication, crucial for autonomous vehicles.
- Automotive Open System Architecture (AUTOSAR): Standardization efforts like AUTOSAR pave the way for interoperability and modular development, making it easier for automakers to integrate new technologies.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Energy Management
The transition to EVs introduces new demands on communication and control systems:
- 🟧 Battery Management Systems (BMS): Advanced BMS technologies will rely on high-speed communication to optimize battery life, charging efficiency, and thermal management.
- 🟧 Wireless Charging: Standardized communication protocols will streamline inductive and resonant charging solutions, reducing dependency on wired infrastructure.
- 🟧 Battery swap shops for micro mobility: Smaller battery, easier to simply switch batteries – *standardization issues
The potential for integrated mobility systems
A shift from vehicle ownership to mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) may redefine urban transportation:
- Maglev and High-Speed shuttle: Urban planners are willing to consider maglev and high-speed rail to reduce congestion and environmental impact. at street level. Advances in AI and IoT can ensure seamless integration with citywide transport systems.
- Air Mobility: Companies like Joby Aviation and Volocopter are testing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. While significant infrastructure challenges remain, vertical is a corridor with fewer physical obstructions.
- Mixed mobility public transport: Nordic countries already work on card based payments and incentives for multi modal journeys using “clean” transport. This is pricing out car ownership for urban and suburban dwellers.
AI and Autonomous Systems
Automation is not limited to cars; the broader transport ecosystem is in flux:
- Autonomous Freight: AI-driven trucks and drones could transform logistics, reducing costs and enhancing delivery speed.
- Connected Traffic Systems: Smart traffic lights and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication will optimize traffic flow and safety.
- High Speed Rail: Renewed interest in rail corridors for heavy goods and cold chain intermodal shipments.
Infrastructure and Interoperability
- Global Charging Networks: Standardized charging connectors and payment systems are critical for scaling EV adoption. Efforts like Tesla’s adoption of NACS (North American Charging Standard) push standardization.
- Renewable Energy Integration: Solar roads, wind-powered charging stations, and grid-tied EVs are emerging trends.
Broader Implications for Society
- Reimagined Urban Spaces: Urban planners are already moving cities toward green spaces, pedestrian-friendly zones, and compact, mixed-use developments. Within this construct the gasoline powered inter city vehicle is out of context.
Final Thoughts
Cars are a kind of religion. Once you are inside you are in a bubble. And like religion, many of the assumptions that car owners make to build buying decisions; like private ownership, free public highways, and “freedom” are placeholders for assumptions. Assumptions become dogma, building the opposite of mobility: Gridlock. This struggle is most obvious in highly contested city centers, where “space” is at a premium.
The future of automotive electronics is not confined to cars but intersects with broader societal shifts towards efficient, and connected mobility solutions. Whether it is smarter trains, reimagined urban infrastructure, or the practical integration of different modes of transport, the route ahead is dynamic.
*Standardization is a current issue being addressed by major manufacturers and Government agencies within the motorcycle industry which filters into larger sustainability and recycling agenda.
