Steel is meeting the requirements of Smart City transportation

Councils and local governments are turning to smart city technologies to help to manage the challenges of a rapidly growing population. The UN estimates that 68% of the world’s population will be living in urban centers by 2050. Connected technologies and innovative transportation network solutions are required to ensure environmental, economic and social sustainability in the midst of rapid growth.

The Steel E-Motive program is developing connected mobility as a service (MaaS) solutions which meet the needs of smart city environments. Steel is playing a key role in meeting the challenges of developing mobility solutions which are connected, safe, sustainable, affordable and accessible.

What is a smart city?

Smart cities use digital and connected technologies to make systems and services more efficient and effective for the benefit of its population. Smart cities use technology to improve transportation networks, make more effective use of energy, and to better manage amenities and infrastructure.

In our vision for the future urban environment, transport solutions will connect seamlessly with the city’s infrastructure and our personal mobile devices. Vehicles will connect the city’s traffic control infrastructure to manage levels of congestion and emissions. Passengers will be alerted to the availability of parking spaces and charging stations. Autonomous ride hailing services will provide on demand services at peak times for passengers and delivery services in off-peak times.

What does a smart city need from its transportation solutions?

Smart Cities will be required to provide inexpensive and accessible transportation that truly mobilizes the whole population. Mobility Service Providers (MSPs) will need to keep costs down whilst providing vehicles which are accessible to people from all walks of life. We expect to see a mixture of autonomous ride-hailing vehicles and conventional vehicles on the roads as technology develops. Therefore, safety will be a key consideration for both passengers and other road users.

As space on the roads becomes a premium, vehicles will be designed to multi-task. They will carry passengers during peak periods and deliveries in off-peak times, thereby enabling maximum vehicle and service productivity.

Finally, sustainability will be a major factor in the development of smart city transportation. Low to net zero emissions are a must in a densely populated environment. There also needs to be consideration for the amount of energy used to power vehicles and the amount of waste going to landfill at the end of the vehicles’ serviceable lives.

How is steel making Steel E-Motive smart city ready?

Steel E-Motive vehicle concepts for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) aims to demonstrate steel’s distinctive abilities to meet the challenges of moving people and goods in urban and intra-urban routes. Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) are enabling our vehicle concepts to meet the needs of Smart City environments

Advanced High-Strength Steels are enabling us to create a mobility solutions that meet the requirements of Smart City transportation

The use of steel is making our vehicles more affordable and accessible to consumers. Steel is the most affordable material for vehicle manufacture. Keeping down the cost of production lowers the total cost of ownership for fleet vehicles who can therefore pass on cost savings to their consumers. Steel is also enabling new accessible vehicle architecture designs including the inclusion of automated ramps, wide door apertures and a flat floor.

Steel is a diverse material with a spectrum of grades to meet vehicle design challenges. Consequently, vehicles can be designed to multi-task, carrying passengers during peak periods and deliveries in off-peak times, thereby enabling maximum vehicle and service productivity. Steel is also the proven and trusted material for engineering crash structures that provide passenger comfort and security.

There are many ways that the use of steel will reduce the environmental impact of these vehicles. The use of Advanced High-Strength Steel significantly reduces the total life cycle impact of the vehicle, from emissions to water usage. The recyclability of steel also reduces the impact of the vehicle at the end of its serviceable life. Finally, AHSS can be kept thin and lightweight without compromising strength or ductility. This gives vehicle efficiency benefits, meaning less power is required to operate the vehicle.

Learn more about Advanced High-Strength Steels.

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