Germany
Volocopter will receive investments of up to one billion US dollars
Traffic Technology Today, 01.02.2022
Urban air mobility pioneer (UAM) Volocopter has announced that Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG) is investing up to US$ 1 billion in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Volocopter aircraft.
It is expected that deliveries will begin after the aircraft is certified for commercial use by the relevant civil aviation authorities. These include the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
It is expected that by 2035, the total UAM market will be 241 billion euros (275 billion US dollars). The market in which Volocopter operates is focused exclusively on flights over and near densely populated megacities. Volocopter eVTOL aircraft do not generate emissions in flight and provide both passenger transportation (VoloCity and VoloConnect) and cargo transportation (VoloDrone). Moreover, all aircraft are designed taking into account the requirements of the market and customers, as well as the highest level of aviation safety standards and low noise, which makes them ideal for moving around the city.
By building strong partnerships with governments and businesses, Volocopter aims to deploy UAM systems in cities around the world while meeting the highest standards of physical and environmental safety.
USA
The US Department of Transportation has released a new version of the road works data exchange platform
Traffic Technology Today, 01.02.2022
The U.S. Department of Transportation has released version 4.0 of its Road Work Zone Data Exchange Platform (WZDx), which helps automated driving systems and drivers navigate more safely.
Among other improvements, version 4.0 defines standards for two new data channels: one transmits to drivers and automated driving systems information about traffic control devices used in road work zones, and the other transmits information about lane closures and restrictions in a specific zone.
WZDx allows infrastructure owners and operators to provide data on road work areas for use by third parties. Transmitting this data to vehicles will help drivers and automated driving systems choose detour routes or a safer driving manner.
The US is facing a road safety crisis
World Highways Magazine, 07.02.2022
There is a sharp decline in road safety in the USA. According to preliminary data from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of deaths as a result of road accidents in the first nine months of 2021, from January 2021 to September 2021, amounted to 31,720 people. This is approximately 12% compared to 28,325 deaths in the first nine months of 2020.
The figures are worrisome because it is the highest death rate from road accidents and the highest percentage increase since 2006.
The new estimates came a few days after the U.S. Department of Transportation published the National Road Safety Strategy.
"The National Road Safety Strategy is the first comprehensive national plan in American history aimed at significantly reducing deaths and injuries on our roads," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigic.
An early assessment report published recently also provides a first look at state-level estimates of traffic fatalities during the pandemic. According to NHTSA forecasts, compared to 2020, during the first nine months of 2021, deaths increased in 38 states, remained unchanged in two states and decreased in 10 states and the District of Columbia.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, vehicle mileage in the first nine months of 2021 increased by about 390 billion km, which is 11.7% more than in the same period in 2020.
https://www.worldhighways.com/wh12/news/us-faces-road-safety-crisis
World
SmartDrivingLabs launches a V2X cloud platform compatible with any hardware
Traffic Technology Today, 09.02.2022
Smart Driving Labs (SDL) has released SDL Tools, a set of ready-to-use modular elements for deploying connected transport infrastructure. Using this solution will allow any company to take advantage of the car-to-everything (V2X) technology in a short time and with minimal investment.
SDL solutions are based on a secure cloud infrastructure and special software that allows you to collect, process, analyze and transmit data to customers about hundreds of thousands of "connected" cars. SDL has also developed its own telematics module, theft prevention solutions, a mapping service, scoring systems, a professional fleet management portal and customizable mobile applications for car owners and drivers.
SDL Tools are ready—made solutions that can be used on a modular basis: combine, configure and customize to the specific goals of partner companies. If necessary, the SDL cloud infrastructure can be adapted to various specific requirements and integrated with almost any hardware and software solutions used in business processes.
SDL partner companies can use these ready-made solutions to create applications for car owners, car manufacturers, car dealers, leasing companies, car rental companies, carsharing, insurance companies and corporate fleets.
To enable SDL partners to launch their Connected Car services as soon as possible, SDL Tools includes access to the knowledge base, comprehensive technical and marketing support, staff training programs and certification assistance. SDL studies business models taking into account the specifics of each partner and offers an individual solution that meets the requirements of customers and a specific market. Support extends to the localization of the product, including detailing and updating cartography, geoinformation data, translation of interfaces and verification of compliance with the security policy.
More than 100 thousand cars in different countries of the world have already been connected to the SDL cloud platform. SDL solutions are used in their services by Renault Groupe, BMW Group, Mitsubishi, Carlsberg Group, as well as all the leaders of the Russian leasing and insurance market.
EU
New mobility trends in Europe and Ireland
Intelligent Transport Magazine, 09.02.2022
The European mobile application FREE NOW has published a report revealing new transport trends in Europe and changing consumer preferences by 2022. It collects passenger travel data and analytical data for 54 million users from 16 countries of the European Union.
The report highlights the growing popularity of alternative modes of transport in Europe, which passengers use as part of a multimodal approach to everyday transportation, including scooters, mopeds and electric bicycles, taxis, car sharing, etc.
The data show that in 2021, compared to 2020, the number of trips on electronic means of individual mobility increased by 483%, and the number of carsharing bookings in the FREE NOW app across Europe increased by 931%.
While interest in new modes of transport in Europe is growing, consumer demand for taxis as a key form of public transport also remains high. FREE NOW data shows that the number of taxi rides in Ireland in 2021 increased by 45% compared to 2020.
Across Europe, the average annual increase in electric taxi orders in 2021 doubled compared to 2020. In 2021, in Ireland, FREE NOW recorded a growing national demand for electric taxis (ECO): 48% more passengers made ECO orders than in 2020. The ECO fleet currently accounts for 30 percent of the nationwide FREE NOW taxi offer in Ireland.
FREE NOW plans to expand the use of micro mobility for passengers in Ireland in 2022, and has already confirmed partnerships with mobile service providers, including TIER Mobility, Dott and Zipp Mobility.
https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-news/132905/free-now-mobility-trends-europe-ireland