The evolution towards sustainable and next-generation mobility, which was already underway before the pandemic, is gaining further momentum as sales of electric vehicles are poised to reach the highest level ever recorded in 2021. By 2040, the percentage of electric vehicles on the road in the United States is expected to rise from the current 3% to 58%. In Europe and China, electric vehicles will account for 72% of all passenger sales by 2030.
How is the demand changing?
In this rapidly changing scenario, consumers are developing a new mindset that increasingly confronts where to go versus how to get there. This mindset, coupled with considerations of safety, eco-friendliness and affordability, will be at the heart of how new and existing modes of transport emerge and thrive. Likewise, they will need to have all available mobility solutions in a single app. This is because the new generations will increasingly tend to combine different transport solutions during their travels. In fact, intermodality would not only improve the quality of life in cities by reducing traffic but would also optimize travel with a consequent reduction in fuel consumption. As a result, consumer demand for safer, intermodal and sustainable mobility options that meet their changing needs will drive innovation and growth in the sector.
Electrification and autonomy
But the most important piece of the puzzle is represented by technology, the true enabler of innovation. Key advances in technology and infrastructure are key to shaping “Next-Gen Mobility”, the mobility of the new generations. This is especially true for electric and autonomous vehicles. With regard to the former, in fact, mass adoption at a global level could remain elusive without innovations that extend the range in battery technology and charging networks. Likewise, autonomous technologies are nearing wider adoption thanks to the increasing and more competitive availability of LIDAR and radar sensors, advanced cameras and more efficient semiconductors coupled with cutting-edge software development solutions. Again, as with electrification, as the scale grows, the production cost per unit is expected to decrease, accelerating the adoption of these technologies.
End to end travel experiences
When it comes to technology and consumer expectations, one cannot fail to mention connectivity . More and more, we want to be able to move in a few clicks, with the possibility of changing different modes of transport, of living an interconnected, fluid and agile digital experience. Private cars currently account for 85% of our mobility spending but are only used 4% of the time. This makes mobility the second-largest expense after housing. The question to this problem is: what should be done to discourage people from using their private cars? The solution is to offer a convenient service that offers the same comfort as your vehicle, or almost, with the promise of getting you from point A to point B just as quickly.
What do you think next-generation mobility will be like? Write it in the comments! #WhyNotNow
