Sustainable mobility makes its show at CES 2022: Key takeaways
For some people, sustainable e-mobility is just a trend, but for others, it’s now a fundamental movement that has been underway for several years.
The 2022 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which took place from January 5 to 7 in Las Vegas, demonstrated that many actors are interested in this sectort with more and more vehicles powered by electricity.
Mobility Makers had the chance to be in the center of sustainable e-mobility at CES 2022, the global stage for innovation and product launch.
The automotive industry steps forward
Looking at car makers, Korea’s Hyundai is part of the most active manufacturers. In its vision of the mobility of the future, Hyundai fully integrates the metaverse in its developments by using the term metability. Hyundai Motor expects that mobilities, such as cars and aerial vehicles (UAM), will serve as smart devices to access virtual spaces, while robotics will act as a medium to connect the virtual and real worlds.
For example, an autonomous vehicle that connects to virtual spaces can allow users to enjoy various in-car virtual reality experiences. Depending on the user’s needs, this autonomous car can be transformed into an entertainment space, a meeting room for work or even a 3D video game platform.
Increase the EV range and reduce consumption
Among other brands, BWM stood out with the iX Flow electric model which changes color (with a gray gradient) depending on the outside temperature.
BMW is using the E Ink and the same principle as e-readers, as the surface of the car responds to electrical signals. Selective color changes can help to cut the amount of cooling and heating required from the vehicle’s air conditioning. This reduces the amount of energy the vehicle electrical system needs and also the vehicle’s electricity consumption. It can therefore also help to increase the range.
Mercedes unveiled the EQXX, an EV which has been designed to maximize its range. According to the brand, it should be the first ever EV to break the 1,000 km barrier.
The mainstream US car markers like General Motors are also pushing the EV industry. Chevrolet has unveiled the first Silverado truck with a range of almost 650 km. Very common in the US, this model could appeal to many American pick-up enthusiasts.
For the trucks market, the CES has allowed several manufacturers to show some interesting concepts for cities. The manufacturer Evocargo has developed an autonomous transporter with a range of 250 km that can carry up to 1.5 tonnes. The manufacturer indicates that the Evocargo is compatible with V2X infrastructure and it can communicate with other vehicles around it.
Regarding the electric chargers, many companies have unveiled some new products more efficient and less energivorous. With dozens of electric passenger cars and commercial fleets expected to hit the market in just a few years, consumers expect less charge times. The global EV chargers market is expecting to grow from 3.23 billion dollars in 2020 to nearly 11 billion dollars in 2025.
Some companies as Power Electronics, Chaevi, Blink Charging with its 4G and Wi-Fi connected chargers, E-Lift (four plugs in one charger), Wallbox (for home purpose) or Meredot have unveiled a lot of new products to follow the increase of the market. For instance, Meredot has presented its first wireless charger designed for e-scooters. The US based company claims its tech can charge 50% more e-scooters on the same surface compared to traditional cable charging systems, which can lead to serious savings for charging sites.
The e-bike segment is pushing in the US
A lot of brands have exhibited at the CES to unveil their new e-bikes range, like Fiil e-Motion who has presented an e-cargo bike with an automatic or semi-automatic gearbox. This model will be used by delivery companies like Deliveroo or Uber, and a special model should be developed for Amazon.
Moreover, the French start-up Wise-Integration attracted many visitors to its booth thanks to its SmartBat battery with an embedded charger.
Maritime electric cargo concept
Finally, the CES also allowed to discover the maritime craft of the future with Hyundai and its concept of electric cargo powered by a liquid hydrogen fuel.
The French company NepTech has unveiled NepShuttle, the first smart maritime shuttle powered by a new generation zero-emission propulsion system using hydrogen. This shuttle, which can welcome 170 passengers, will be seen in Paris for the Olympics in 2024. NepTech will deliver the first boats in 2023.
It is clear that our habits will be turned upside down in view of a more sustainable mobility and thanks to the new technologies that we have seen during the show. This year’s CES convention unveiled cutting-edge technologies that are poised to revolutionize the future of maritime, land and perhaps later space mobility.
Mobility Makers Team
