2022 | ces report
Thinking out of the box Mark Bursa
A
s the traditional motor show fades into
folk memory, the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has become the number one showcase for the latest automotive technology.
Even with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic forcing some manufacturers to “go virtual” with their product launches, the event is still the best place
to identify future trends in mobility. Technology companies are increasingly eyeing the auto industry as the next frontier for communications, infotainment and connectivity – all of which are crucial to the industry’s enduring ‘holy grail’ – self-driving cars. The focus is, as always, on urban areas, as that is where autonomous vehicles are likely to play the most significant role. Taxis, ride-sharing and, especially, deliveries appear to be the main focus of AV activity. The AV as “box on wheels” is always a feature of CES, and there were several cube-shaped debutants at the 2022 event.
Ree Leopard Israeli-based Ree Automotive revealed an autonomous urban delivery concept vehicle based on a new modular EV platform. The concept is aimed at last-mile delivery companies, delivery fleet operators and e-retailers. The 2-tonne concept vehicle is 3,400mm long with front-wheel steer and rear-wheel drive. It has a 50kWh battery capacity. All steering, braking, suspension, powertrain and control components are placed into a compact module in each corner of the vehicle between the chassis and the wheel. Drive-by-wire technology controls all aspects of the drive, and as a result the vehicle has a completely flat floor. It’s narrow, too – just 1,400mm wide – for enhanced manoeuvrability.
Udelv Transporter California-based start-up Udelv also showed its take on an autonomous delivery vehicle. The Udelv Transporter is designed to handle multiple deliveries – up to 80 stops per cycle. Goods such as parcels can be placed in separate partitions, and the vehicle can autonomously travel over a set route of up to 300 miles depending on battery pack. Udelv claims it has 1,000 orders for the Transporter, which uses Intel’s Mobileye self-driving systems. Udelv said it aimed to start production in 2023 and have 50,000 Transporters operating on public roads by 2028.
LG Omnipod LG is the one Korean industrial giant that has steered clear of the automotive sector as anything other than a tech supplier – but at CES it revealed the Omnipod, a vehicle it has designed itself. The concept is basically a mobile personal living space, designed to function as a home office, entertainment centre or lounge. The concept showcases in-car infotainment systems that can be controlled via smartphone or voice command through the LG ThinQ app, a smart home solution service. “Adding cars to the LG ThinQ ecosystem, will continue to lay out new customer experiences and blur boundaries between spaces, so that user experiences at home can be seamlessly extended to cars,” LG Electronics Chief Executive Officer William Cho said.
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FEBRUARY 2022
