Congested roads, polluted air, insufficient parking. To avoid being suffocated in our cities, here are the alternatives: connectivity and zero-emission engines.
Automation, electrification and connectivity. These appear to be the technological solutions being developed to reduce traffic and pollution in the world's major cities. Bosch is convinced of this, having long directed its efforts towards developing systems for what will be the future of mobility in large cities.
To reduce urban traffic and consequently improve air quality, it will be essential to limit, if not ban outright, the entry and transit of the most polluting vehicles. In a scenario where, by 2025, road congestion and accidents in major European cities will generate annual costs of around 208 billion euros (source: INRIX Roadway Analytics), access restrictions appear to be one of the solutions. Traffic jams, as well as road accidents, cause delays, stress, loss of productivity and increased air pollution. Germany already uses "environmental stickers", while London and Milan have had congestion charges in place for years, and Paris has introduced circulation bans for the most polluting vehicles. "For city dwellers, it's always the same old story. There's no sign of progress. The time has come for all the opportunities offered by connectivity to be used to make urban traffic intelligent," commented Rolf Bulander, member of the Bosch group and president of the Mobility Solutions business sector, in a statement. "In the future, no megalopolis will ever be able to function without intelligent traffic management and an effective mobility model."
Zero-emission, connected mobility, capable of offering a range of solutions for commuters and city dwellers. Bosch, like many other companies, is also betting on electric mobility. Not only for cars, but also for e-bikes, electric scooters and other small vehicles (the so-called kei cars) with three or four wheels. "Deliveries in large cities are progressively becoming more and more electric. Deutsche Post DHL is already leading this transformation with its Streetscooter equipped with Bosch propulsion system components," the company explains in the same statement.
It has been talked about for some time, and systems that we will use tomorrow are already being developed in a great many research centres. "Our efforts to help create an urban environment free of emissions, stress and accidents are linked to three technological developments: automation, electrification and connectivity," Bulander stressed. Connectivity will serve to reduce traffic, the parking problem and consequently also the stress of those on the move. "To achieve this goal – Bosch writes – even in a busy metropolis, public transport, private transport, autonomous car sharing and delivery vehicles will need to be perfectly connected to one another."
Knowing in advance where the nearest available parking space is. Knowing the least congested route before even entering the city. Being able to choose the most suitable means of transport. All of this will be possible via an app, in an environment where vehicles, roads and users communicate with one another in real time. The car will soon be transformed, experts are convinced: from a simple means of transport into a new living space, where people will shop, read their emails, or book the most convenient parking spot. All of this in cities that are willing to change and invest in new technological solutions.
