Bad Schönborn, Germany – PIONIX GmbH, a leading pioneer in open-source software for the electric vehicle (EV) charging ecosystem, today announced it has raised more than €5 million in an oversubscribed Seed financing round. The round was led by yabeo Impact AG and Pale blue dot, with Vireo Ventures, MobilityFund and Axeleo Capital also participating. The funding will help establish the company’s open-source stack EVerest as a world-wide standard for efficient development in the EV charging industry.
Founded in 2021, PIONIX GmbH, set its mission to accelerate and standardize the young industry of EV charging. Experiences fromfounders of other industries (Drone startup MAVinci, bought by Intel) about the power of open-source technology have led PIONIX to initiate the open-source software stack EVerest. EVerest is aiming to establish a standard for an unified EV eco system by eliminating the pain points like lacking compatibility, resource expenditure and innovation hurdles.
“Our mission is to boost the development of the EV charging industry – to make it quicker, cost-efficient and more innovative. With the funding, EVerest can become the unified and modular platform for EV charging technology. We will grow in a rather global position and enable even more features.” said Dr. Marco Möller, CEO of PIONIX GmbH. “It follows a similar approach like Android where we have a well developed widely used core which is customized by many companies out there. Less complexity, more standardization and lower costs for the entire EV charging business.”
EVerest is part of LF Energy, the open-source foundation focused on the power systems sector, hosted within The Linux Foundation. Formed in 2018, LF Energy’s aim is to spur the uptake of digital technologies within the electricity sector and adjoining sectors using open source software and practices. Many major tech companies have partnered with LF Energy to achieve those goals.
Today, many manufacturers of EV charging stations develop their own proprietary software, even though products need to work in an eco-system with other brands, cars and energy networks. PIONIX’s solution is offering a standardized core, which helps develop products quicker, save costs and make sure new products are compatible with the entire grid of players.
“We see the potential for PIONIX to be an absolute growth accelerator for charging stations. PIONIX’s solution can thus have a decisive impact on the global spread of electromobility. It is precisely this potential that we want to leverage together with the experienced founding team,” said Christian Dietsche, Managing Director at yabeo Impact AG, the early-stage investor from Munich that focuses on sustainable business models.
“Thanks to their great strengths and advantages, open source projects are also becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry. And not without reason. Open source has the transformative speed and disruptive power to become the game changer for mobility transformation. Pionix’s successful financing round is further proof of this,” adds PIONIX advisor Peter Mertens, automotive industry veteran (ex-CTO of AUDI and VOLVO).
Since its founding, PIONIX has successfully developed and distributed applications for different component and charging station manufacturers like Texas Instruments and Mahle. This pioneering work also led to multiple awards including Make it Matter by EWS Schönau, the >SMART> GREEN ACCELERATOR award, and 2022 startup of the year at Automobilwoche Kongress (organized by McKinsey).
MOVE is delighted to welcome you to the third installment of the MOVE Awards. This month, we will be shining a spotlight on the key players and leading innovators operating within government for transport!
The past few years have been especially difficult for this sector – with workforce shortages, operational constraints during the pandemic, rising fuel costs, supply chain disruptions, and disputes regarding pay all being challenges to overcome.
The MOVE 2023 awards plan to recognise the government officials arounds the world, whose hard work and dedication have kept this sector operating throughout these challenging times.
Despite all the recent obstacles, global governments have ensured that the transport industry is recovering much more swiftly than many other departments, making the outlook for the future is positive. Progress is being made in more ways than one, with large investments into technology and software driving innovation across the board. Public transport is being invested into to ensure we reach our net-zero targets and cities are being upgraded day-by-day to ensure there is room for electric and hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure.
For example, the UK government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is another key force of change in the transport industry today. With transportation representing the largest source of pollution throughout most of the world, it is important that this field adapts to new environmental standards and regulations if it is to continue to thrive in the coming decades.
With all these exciting developments taking place, now is the perfect time to reward those at the cutting edge of this sector, whose innovation and industriousness are propelling the field forward.
If you know someone who is making a difference in their field and deserves their story to be recognized then nominate them below! Nominations will end on the 31st May so get your nominations in now! The winner will be announced onsite at MOVE America 2023 in Austin, Texas this September.
QNX Software Development Platform 8.0 Maximizes Multi-Core Processor Performance for Generations to Come
WATERLOO, CANADA – May 17, 2023 – BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today announced the early access release of QNX® Software Development Platform (SDP) 8.0to enable automakers and IoT systems developers to deliver more powerful products at lower costs, while maintaining the unparalleled safety, security and reliability standards that QNX technology has long been known for.
Powered by its newnext generation QNX®operating system (OS), the company’s highest performance, safe and secure embedded OS ever, SDP 8.0 is designed to realize the performance potential ofthe increasing number of multi-core processorsthat automakers andIoT systems developers are selecting for their productsandis the result of intense R&D work utilizing BlackBerry QNX’s leading IP and unique experience in high performance EDGE computing.
Providing a step–change in performance while maintaining its competitive differentiatoras an inherently safe and secure, POSIX compliant, real-timemicrokernel–based OS, the new architecture has shown animpressive 1-to-1 performance scaling factor as the number of cores increase, unprecedented for a commercial real time operating system. With the next generation QNX OS, customerscan now fully realize the performance of next generation processors and reduce their overall costs by maximizing utilization of the available compute resources, a boon for the likes of automakers whose shift towards Software-Defined Vehicles has brought an exponential amount of software-based architecture complexity.
QNX SDP 8.0 lays the foundation for the next generation BlackBerry® QNX® product portfolio, including next generation QNX® OS for Safety, QNX® Hypervisor and QNX® Hypervisor for Safety, allowing developers to reap the benefits of this new technology irrespective of which BlackBerry QNX technology best suits their requirement.
“The automotive industry is redefining software in the vehicle,” said John Wall, Senior Vice President and Head of BlackBerry QNX. “Automotive architectures are transitioning to zonal, central compute and ultimately Software Defined Vehicles. The top to bottom scalability inherent to SDP 8.0, the QNX OS for Safety and the QNX Hypervisor makes thisa natural choice for automakers looking for a total car OS.”
BlackBerry is working with NVIDIA to integrate the QNX OS microkernel on the next-generation NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, which delivers 2000 TFLOPS of performance and consolidates automated driving with AI cockpit on a single centralized platform.
“The combination of our DRIVE Thor centralized computer and the new QNX OS will serve as a powerful foundation on which OEMs can build next-generation automotive systems that offer the highest levels of safety and security,” said Ali Kani, Vice President of Automotive at NVIDIA. “This represents another major milestone in a nearly 20-year collaboration with BlackBerry QNX that has helped both companies move to the forefront of the automotive industry.”
“With more than 300 million vehicles capable of over-the-air software updates expected to be on the road globally by 2032, automakers are clamoring for better tools to help them develop compelling technology features in the software-defined vehicle,” said Alex Oyler, a director at SBD Automotive, a leading global automotive technology research and consulting firm. “A secured-by-design operating system that seamlessly integrates with other software components on a high-performance system-on-chip represents the foundation of a safe, secure, and seamless experience for drivers. Both automakers and suppliers rely on validated software and well-integrated development tools to help them more efficiently build and maintain differentiating software for their fleets.”
The early access release of QNX SDP 8.0 is available now for evaluation and product development. General availability is scheduled for later in 2023.
For more information on BlackBerry QNX products and engineering services for embedded systems and to request early access to QNX SDP 8.0, please visit BlackBerry.QNX.com/SDP8EA.
About BlackBerry
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including over 215M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint management, endpoint security, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry’s vision is clear – to secure a connected future you can trust.
BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.
For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.
Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.
The former president and CEO of Nissan Hiroto Saikawa has joined a tech start-up based in the UK as they look to expand into the Asian market.
Coastr is a ‘shared mobility’ tech start-up aiming to completely digitise the car rental, car subscription, car sharing operations and customer experience ecosystem with its fully integrated, connected mobility enabled software as a service solution for shared mobility fleet operators.
Using their technology platform to enable shared mobility solutions, the firm aims to reduce private ownership of vehicles through faster, digital access to shared vehicles to reduce the overall number of vehicles and decarbonise the planet.
In recent years, travel and mobility technology has evolved from a pure focus on operational efficiency to digitising the customer experience, as well as other parts of the mobility ecosystem spanning industries such as insurance and finance.
This has been made possible by the data-driven approach adopted by mobility tech startups, such as Coastr, who generate swathes of useful operational data on customer and operator behaviour. As the shared mobility industry alone is projected to reach a market value of £1.49 trillion by 2027, the fast-growing start-up, originally based in Edinburgh, has been able to expand into three additional locations across London, California, and Bengaluru, India in just four years.
Now, as the firm looks to further their expansion into Asia, they have attracted former president and CEO of Nissan Hiroto Saikawa to join their ranks and guide the way.
Mr. Saikawa explains that, since his retirement from Nissan, he has been working with growing IT ventures in Japan, and believes that Coastr can be a dominant player as the shared mobility industry breaks new ground in the east.
“After 100 years of growth and prosperity, the automotive industry is now undergoing substantial change and evolution. As someone who was in the business of providing hardware for mobility over many years, it’s astonishing to see the pace of the growth of the MaaS (mobility-as-a-service) as a new business field, and it may become a dominant player quite soon – replacing most of the major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the market.
While OEMs are still dominant in Japan, the UK and US seem to be ahead of the curve and embracing this move towards MaaS. I believe Coastr is leading the way in this. I am very pleased and excited about this opportunity and looking forward to working with Biswajit and the Coastr team”.
Speaking on the new partnership, Coastr CEO Biswajit Kundu Roy says:
“We are extremely excited that Saikawa-san has agreed to be a part of Coastr’s journey. Having him join the advisory team will be a huge boost for Coastr, and not only in steering our expansion plans into the Japanese and Asian markets – his unparalleled experience in the automotive industry will be invaluable to our board to help us shape our strategy and achieve our long term vision”.
ABOUT COASTR
Coastr is digitising the vehicle rental, flexi leasing, car subscription, and car sharing ecosystem with its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for vehicle rental and fleet management. Coastr brings together unique tech-enabled partnerships with key players in the market and connected vehicle solutions using telematics (IoT) and direct integration with vehicle manufacturers to manage retail and commercial fleets and enable contactless services. Coastr’s mission is to decarbonise the mobility sector by enabling wider access to shared mobility services in the market and make fleet operators future ready to cater to new consumer demand and market trends.
Elysia is a world-leading battery intelligence software offering from WAE Technologies, designed for the mass automotive, e-mobility and stationary energy storage markets.
Drawing on more than a decade of high-performance battery expertise from WAE – which has designed, developed, and manufactured the world’s most advanced batteries for multiple sectors, from global electric motorsport programmes to electric hypercars and mining trucks – Elysia brings game-changing insight to the burgeoning global electric vehicle space.
Combining a quantum leap in battery software embedded in the vehicle, which features best-in-class BMS algorithms, with a powerful cloud platform, delivering standard-setting insights, Elysia not only gives OEMs, fleet operators and battery asset financiers unprecedented access to battery insights but the opportunity to enhance life, safety, and performance during the battery’s life.
Elysia’s unique software and cloud offering has the potential to unlock longer battery life, faster charging speeds along with increasing battery power and range, while at the same time leveraging never-before-seen through-life monitoring. This newfound transparency on battery health gives certainty to battery warranties, accuracy for residual value calculations and supports new models of battery financing.
MOVE spoke to Joe Jones, Commercial Lead at Elysia. Within this interview Joe touches on some of Elysia’s solutions that enhance battery intelligence and also about some of the factors driving the development of battery technology.
Green coach brand FlixBus has announced a new partner, earned recognition operator Stanley Travel joining its UK network on 25 May.
Delivering daily services between Newcastle, Leeds, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Manchester, the high-quality family-owned operator is the latest in a long line of coach firms expanding FlixBus routes across the country.
Established in 1961, family-run Stanley Travel originally began as a taxi firm and has built a strong reputation over decades.
The operation is now in its 3rd generation of management by the Scott family and is still based in Stanley in County Durham.
In recent years, Stanley Travel has focused investment on coaches for private hire, as well as contractual work with local schools and colleges, sports teams, and local Universities.
This diversification was the key to their success pre-pandemic, through which the company came out even stronger. Stanley Travel says joining the FlixBus network enhances its diversification strategy and gives more balance to its operation.
Stanley Travel’s Transport Manager Gavin Scott commented: “We know the value of spreading risk, particularly after the COVID years. That’s what initially attracted us to FlixBus express work, offering another string to our bow in terms of revenue. The team at FlixBus truly listened to us and did everything to make this work for Stanley Travel as well as themselves.”
The company is the first DVSA Earned Recognition operator on the FlixBus network, which holds organisation to high driver and vehicle standards. The scheme requires robust compliance regimes with strict safety regulations and frequent regulatory checks.
Stanley Travel is also part of the Guild of British Coach Operators, the association of quality coach companies.
Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK said: “We are thrilled to welcome Stanley Travel to the FlixBus network. Their glowing reputation among the industry is well-deserved, and we have seen their commitment to delivering excellence in operations through their accolades and achievements.
“Stanley already has strong relationships with some of our other key partners, and it’s fantastic to our network of operators supporting each other. We are building a team of ambitious quality-focused operators that share our vision of building the largest coach network in the UK.”
Throughout 2022, more than 60 million passengers in 40 countries on four continents travelled with the Flix group, which includes FlixBus, FlixTrain, Greyhound in North America and Kamil Koç in Türkiye.
Gavin added: “I see FlixBus as where Amazon were 10 years ago; anyone who got involved in the early stages is now reaping the rewards. The innovative technology behind FlixBus, which is unlike anything else we’ve seen in the industry, and their success within other markets. FlixBus has entered UK to stay, on a mission to overtake established market players. We are impressed by this vision and can see the rapid growth already delivering on their ambition.”
Neom has announced that they have signed an agreement with Riyad Bank for SAR 3 billion in debt financing to help fund the development of Sindalah, marking the first NEOM region to successfully financed with bank debt.
Tareq A. Al-Sadhan, CEO, Riyad Bank, added: “NEOM represents an incredible opportunity for our organization to play a small part in helping make this exciting project a reality. We are proud to be the first financial institution to partner with Sindalah and are confident in the prospect of their future success.”
Sindalah extends over an area of approximately 840,000 square meters and is one of a group of islands that will be developed in NEOM. Each will be developed in unique vision and design.
Rayan Fayez, Deputy CEO, NEOM said: “The Sindalah debt financing signifies NEOM’s desire to diversify its funding sources, involve the private sector and attract capital of all types in the development of NEOM. We have a number of projects currently underway, and in the pipeline, that represent very attractive commercial opportunities for the global financial community to participate in.”
Sindalah will start welcoming guests to enjoy its experiences, exquisite facilities and exclusive offerings from early 2024. It is anticipated that the development will create 3,500 jobs for the tourism sector and hospitality and leisure services.
With its incredible array of amenities, state-of-the-art marine facilities, strategic location and exceptional natural landscapes, Sindalah is expected to become established as one of the most alluring islands in the Red Sea.
Voi is one of the fastest-growing mobility companies in the world. Born in Sweden, they drive innovation through state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions, shaping the future of sustainable transportation and urban development.
The company offer a radically new approach to urban mobility, they revolutionise the way people move around, for greener cities and healthier communities, fueled by passion.
Voi has a vision to shift towards an urban mobility paradigm focused on community, inclusivity, environment and climate rather than individual car use. We aim for a tomorrow in which city dwellers live and move in a safe and healthy environment with less pollution, less noise and less stress.
“The future we see is a sustainable one where circularity is the norm and shared mobility the way to go. Where individuals, businesses and governments alike take responsibility and strive to reduce their climate impact, help to protect our planet and contribute to more liveable cities for all.”
MOVE spoke to Jack Samler, Regional General Manager for the UK, Ireland and France at Voi. Within this interview Jack touches on the importance of micromobility within cities and how it can be better integrated onto our streets.
Q: For those who may not know, tell us about Voi and what you do.
Voi is Europe’s leading micromobility operator, founded in Sweden in 2018. We run shared e-scooter and e-bike schemes across the whole of Europe, in partnership with local communities. We want to ensure that the micromobility transformation happens the right way – through innovative technology, open and transparent dialogue with towns, cities and governments and by adapting our products to local needs. Voi operates in over 100 towns and cities across 11 countries.
I am Regional General Manager for the UK, Ireland and France, leading a team of 250 fantastic people. I’m responsible for our business in these three countries, from setting our commercial strategy and driving operational performance, to liaising with national government and local authorities.
Q: Voi, along with many other leading micromobility providers, published ten recommendations for cities to better integrate shared micromobility vehicles onto their streets. How did this come about? What does it hope to achieve?
Micromobility companies such as Voi have made great strides since we started operating shared e-scooter and e-bike services. We’ve learnt what works well and what doesn’t. For the industry to survive – which it needs to do for the sake of our cities and towns and for our children who deserve to live in communities with clean air and less congestion – we need to share these learnings with cities. New cities and towns considering micromobility now have a ready-made framework to enable a smooth introduction of this new form of transport. Cities who have already adopted micromobility can also use the report to make improvements to their schemes if necessary.
We believe that we’ve together created an excellent common framework, covering basics such as fees, contracts and operational best practices to give micromobility the best chance of functioning well which is better for riders, for cities and for the industry.
Q: Did the recent legislation passed in Paris play a factor in this? To ensure cities are educated on how to help micromobility providers?
This joint stance pre-dated the result of the Paris referendum. However, we can’t deny it would have been fantastic if it had exerted a positive influence on the referendum result. If there had been more guidance available to Paris on how to successfully manage micromobilityschemes a year or so ago, perhaps we would never have had a referendum in Paris, or at least the result might have been different. France’s transport minister Clément Beaune has drawn up a Charter to guide operators in France – so there is a bigger move towards appropriate regulation generally. The Minister also published some recommendations for cities who want to adopt e-scooters. Micromobility has come along and disrupted incumbent forms of transport, offering a new sustainable alternative to cars. To become the norm, we need towns and cities to adopt a common operating framework which works well for operators and towns/cities.
Q: What can we expect to see from Voi in the next 12-18 months?
Globally, we intend to win more tenders, both in cities/towns where we currently operate as well as in new cities and towns, increasing our ridership and working towards our goal of safe, sustainable and reliable micromobility for everyone. We will continue to develop our product, both the hardware and software, with emphasis on safety and parking solutions. While nurturing existing partnerships, we will also seek new partnerships where relevant to our vision of cities made for living, free from noise and air pollution. We have a strong focus on achieving steady profitability and stability as we mature as a company.
In the UK, we are looking forward to legislation finally completing to provide a secure and sustainable future for the industry.
Q: What will you be touching on at MOVE 2023
A big focus for Voi in the UK is establishing permanence for shared e-scooter schemes. As you know, we’re still operating in government trials. Instead of indefinitely extending the deadline of trials, we need the government to pass e-scooter legislation to end the trials and make e-scooters a permanent solution for towns, cities and communities who want to benefit from the great net zero transport solution we provide. This surety will allow for investment, which in turn will drive continued innovation and improvement across the sector.
Q: What are you excited for about the event?
As usual there’s a great line-up of speakers and events at MOVE 2023. I’m looking forward to hearing what other people in the industry have to say, to meeting colleagues from across the industry and to the interesting discussions and conversations that the event provokes. Most of all, I’m looking forward to hearing new perspectives, being challenged, and taking learnings back to Voi so we can continue improving our proposition.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales jumped by more than 60% globally in 2022, hitting another record. Numerous factors contributed to this growth, from increased model choices and improved car battery range to government subsidies and high oil prices.
Yet, despite this fast growth, EVs still account for only about 14% of total new car sales and, at this rate, it will take decades to fully electrify all vehicles on the road. Governments need to do much more to encourage and prepare for EV adoption.
This is because transportation is a major contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 37% of CO2 in 2021, according to the IEA. Road travel accounts for three-quarters of transport emissions, most of which come from passenger vehicles.
Millions of additional EVs need to be on the road by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and to reach net zero emissions by mid-century. More than 100 million chargers, including 6.2 million public ones, are necessary to meet that demand, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.
National governments control many of the most important levers driving this transformation, but cities also play an important role. Oslo, London, Los Angeles and a growing number of other cities are investing in critical charging infrastructure and providing financial incentives, such as tax breaks, as well as quality-of-life perks, such as free parking and special road access, to encourage EV adoption, according to the latest Urban Mobility Readiness Index from the Oliver Wyman Forum and the University of California, Berkeley.
EV adoption: charging forward
Demand for EVs could increase in coming years as a number of nations, as well as US states, agree to ban sales of new combustion engine vehicles within the next 10 to 15 years. And China, the world’s largest automotive market, has declared ambitious decarbonisation targets.
Many consumers expect to switch before such rules kick in. About four in 10 said they plan to buy or lease an EV when they acquire their next personal car, according to a recent 10-country survey by the Oliver Wyman Forum. Germany had the most interest, with 51% of respondents planning to acquire EVs, but even there it will take decades to fully electrify.
What are the most important factors for consumers considering whether to convert to electric? Some fall to governments and others to automakers. The availability of charging stations is consumers’ top priority, according to the Forum survey. How far they can travel on a single charge is also key. ‘Range anxiety’ is decreasing, but ‘charging anxiety’ grows because infrastructure remains spotty and often unreliable.
Investing in infrastructure
Cities can play an important role in encouraging EV adoption by ensuring that adequate infrastructure is available in all neighbourhoods. People with their own garages or driveways can add the necessary charging infrastructure, while those that park on the street need to rely on public chargers, which are often scarce, utilised and can cost more than normal electricity rates.
Leading cities are already trying to ensure adequate access. Los Angeles, for example, has more than 18,000 commercial chargers, 3,000 of which are publicly accessible. It is working to expand those options and has installed over 450 chargers on streetlights and 50 on power poles in areas with apartment complexes or near amenities. It plans to add 200 EV pole chargers each year.
Amsterdam has set an ambitious goal of becoming a zero-emissions city by 2025. As well as significantly expanding its charging infrastructure, the city provides a variety of incentives and regulations to encourage EV adoption, including parking privileges for emission-free taxis and subsidies for business fleets and private owners.
Many cities are also increasing access by getting businesses to install more publicly accessible chargers. Places such as Tucson, Arizona, are using new building codes and zoning rules to get developers to install or leave space for rapid-charging stations when they construct a project.
Financial incentives
Cost remains a major barrier to EV ownership despite price declines and more model options in recent years. The most generous tax breaks typically come from national governments, but cities are also providing monetary benefits to encourage EV adoption.
Oslo, which topped the Urban Mobility Readiness Index’s Sustainable Mobility ranking, aims to be one of the first zero-emission cities in the world. Among its many incentives: it lets EV drivers pay lower road tolls and taxes.
London, which is also trying to reduce pollution, is investing in charging infrastructure and providing different incentives to EV drivers. It exempts them, for example, from fees charged for ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zones), which are expanding this year into all London boroughs.
Multiple Chinese cities are offering incentives – including cash subsidies and free parking – to encourage individuals to swap their gas cars for electric vehicles. Shanghai, for example, extended its 10,000 Yuan ($1,447 US) rebate.
Quality-of-life inducements
Some cities are looking beyond the pocketbook, offering convenience perks to EV drivers. In Oslo, for example, EV drivers get free parking and access to bus lanes. The strategy has been so successful that Oslo has begun to phase out some of the benefits.
Cities with fewer resources can help spur adoption by providing quality-of-life incentives. In Mexico City, for example, EV drivers are excluded from ‘Hoy No Circula’ driving restrictions, which are an effort to reduce emissions by restricting driving on certain days. Drivers can also use preferred parking spots in many public locations.
Hitting the accelerator
EV sales are on the rise, but time is running out. Significantly more need to be on the roads for cities and countries to meet net-zero goals. While automakers work to lower costs and improve range, cities can do their part by encouraging use and ensuring access to infrastructure for all residents and visitors.
This is a marketing communication. The information contained herein is based on sources we believe reliable and should be understood to be general risk management and insurance information only. The information is not intended to be taken as advice with respect to any individual situation and cannot be relied upon as such.
NAWA is a pioneer: they have created a revolutionary 3D carbon-based nano-material which enables breakthrough performance improvements across multiple application domains from energy storage to advanced composites.
Made with abundant carbon, NAWA’s Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes (VACNT) are the ultimate interface material. It can be used for reinforced composites, next-generation hydrogen fuel cell catalysts and ultra-fast battery electrodes.
NAWA’s VACNT technology boosts performance, safety and reduces weight, while also consuming less raw materials.
Day after day, NAWA focuses on solving the weak points in some of the most challenging fields to secure the energy transition. For over a decade of research and development, their employees have been building game-changing solutions for a more sustainable world.
MOVE caught up with Antoine Saucier, CEO at NAWA Technologies. Within this interview, Antoine talks about the company’s unique, revolutionary 3D carbon-based nano-material and how this will impact the mobility industry.
VinFast has today announced that it has selected Fixico for its European body repeair network and scalable EV aftersales service management platform. This new partnership enables VinFast to create a differentiating customer experience.
Through partnering with Fixico, VinFast offers customers access to a network of 3,000+ body repair shops across Europe. Under the European collaboration agreement, the service will be initially available in France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Through Fixico’s platform, VinFast can make a curated selection of high-tech body workshops that meet their requirements, whilst managing its training and quality assurance processes stated the release.
Most importantly, the partnership enables VinFast to have full control over the customer journey, including repair processes to constantly optimise customer experiences. Additionally, VinFast can onboard a unique mix of service providers to create a full-service setup to fortify its competitiveness in the European markets.
“In addition to excellent quality and good pricing, VinFast strives to stand out with its aftersales services. Alongside a 10-year warranty that VinFast offers, one of the industry-leading policies, and our outstanding services, the cooperation with Fixico and their innovative proposition will help bring an excellent aftersales experience for our customers in Europe. Together we will make electrified mobility a more reliable and enjoyable choice for everyone,” said Jean-Christophe Mercier, Vice President Aftersales and Customer Ownership Experience of VinFast Europe.
Customers will be able to conveniently schedule body repair services through a digital platform connecting them to a pan-European network of 3,000+ body workshops, which enables seamless customer journeys and full-service spare part management to ensure short service times.
“VinFast has rightly recognised the importance of delivering not only the best cars but also the best customer experience to stand out in a competitive industry. We are thrilled to partner with such a market-leading EV manufacturer as VinFast and prove how this revolutionary offering will redefine what it means to own an EV and accelerate the transition towards a more environmentally friendly future,” said Derk Roodhuyzen de Vries, CEO and co-founder of Fixico.
People often ask us, “what makes MOVE different to all the other events out there?”
The answer? It’s simple. Nowhere else connects the dots of mobility like MOVE does, and represents every aspect of this labyrinthine ecosystem the way we do.
Last week, we brought you battery manufacturing behemoths StoreDot, micromobility moguls Dott, electric truck revolutionaries Volta, car dealer doyens Incecape and so many more. See all 600 speakers here.
This week, we’re adding a connected vehicle data guru, an insurance giant, a payments pacesetter and a world leading transport operator. And that’s just the beginning.
Introducing…
Lilli Matson, Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, Transport for London
Richard Barlow, CEO, Wejo
Jillian Slyfield, Chief Innovation Officer, Aon
Ashley Klapwijk, Senior Investment Associate, Eneco Ventures
Chapin Flynn, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Urban Mobility, Mastercard
Günter Butschek, CEO, Cubonic
Jose Eluchans, Head of Finance, HumanForest
Andrew Grant, Head of Intelligent Mobility, BloombergNEF
Petra Dzurovčinová, Chief Innovation Officer, City of Bratislava
Steven Schoefs, Editor-In-Chief, Global Fleet
They’re coming to forge the new and novel partnerships required to meet the climate emergency challenge.
Archer Aviation has announced it has now completed the final assembly of its first Midnight aircraft. With final assembly and initial testing complete, last week the aircraft was shipped from Archer’s Palo Alto facility to its flight test facility in Salinas, California and reassembled.
Archer has said that it will now take this aircraft through a series of ground tests leading up to its planned first flight this summer. The Midnight aircraft has recently garnered significant attention from the U.S. Department of Defense given its payload capabilities.
This Midnight aircraft will enable Archer to perform critical “company testing” to accelerate and reduce risk on its certification program with the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) in advance of “for credit” certification testing that the company plans to begin early next year with piloted Midnight aircraft.
The strategy with this aircraft is to allow Archer to fly many of the same test points that will be needed during piloted “for credit” flight testing in order to further validate the aircraft before the FAA witnesses and participates in the testing – a customary practice in many aircraft certification programs.
Component manufacturing is already underway for Archer’s conforming Midnight aircraft. Archer is targeting the completion of final assembly of its initial conforming Midnight aircraft in Q4 2023 and to begin piloted flight test operations in early 2024.
“Today we announced our exciting progress that the final assembly of our first Midnight aircraft is now complete and it is preparing for its flight test program,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “This aircraft will accelerate and reduce risk on our certification program paving the way for our team to focus on building and conducting piloted operations with conforming aircraft to support the goal of entering into service in 2025.”
Archer’s industry-leading team, alongside its key strategic partners, Stellantis and United Airlines, continues to advance its aircraft development and commercial operations with impressive speed and efficiency.
The company has also established a significant lead over industry peers on the manufacturing and commercial operations fronts with the build out of its high-volume manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia underway and announced key strategic electric air taxi routes in New York and Chicago.
With a range of up to 100 miles, Archer’s Midnight aircraft is designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between. Archer’s goal is to transform inter-city travel, replacing 60-90 minute commutes by car that can take over an hour in traffic with ~10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise and cost competitive with ground transportation.
Written by Tarun Shome, Product Management Director, BlackBerry IVY Ecosystem
For over a century, most of the world has operated on a concept of transportation that focuses heavily on personal vehicles, particularly the car. From its first rolling off the assembly line, the passenger car appealed to our sense of freedom and individual empowerment. And while that trend might be changing as new generations come along that are less interested in vehicle ownership, it’s unlikely to go away entirely. Nevertheless, as the cities we live in get “smarter,” how cars fit into that ecosystem will change significantly, and a key enabling technology in that transformation will be the software-defined vehicle (SDV).
What Makes a City “Smart”?
A “smart city” is one that’s capable of harnessing the power of today’s most innovative technologies. These cities are defined as urban areas that utilise information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve government services and make them more efficient. Smart cities can also improve the flow and function of how you navigate through the urban environment. One example is a centralised traffic management system that changes traffic lights based on demand, instead of random timing, to reduce congestion. Drivers and businesses save time, save money, and reduce vehicle emissions created by idling at traffic lights.
SDVs Are Crucial to the Future of Urban Living
Most of the attention paid to the current transformation of vehicular transportation has been focused on electrification. But advanced electric vehicles (EVs) come equipped with connectivity features, and quite often, were built with a mind to increase integration of the disparate systems found in a conventional, combustion-powered car.
For much of the history of the automotive industry, carmakers have only made some of their components themselves, with many coming from specialist third parties, such as those that today provide high-performance brakes, premium entertainment systems, satellite navigation and other key subsystems. Now, however, new designs have made the way these components work together increasingly important, requiring a switch toward software that can provide the “glue” between them.
This is how the SDV was born. With so many car systems gaining computerisation and software controls, centralizing this stack around a common codebase has provided many benefits. For instance, having a satellite navigation system that communicates with an EV’s battery can enable the navigation screen to display the predicted remaining capacity when the driver reaches their intended destination. Another benefit is a temperature-preconditioned battery. This means that if the driver sets a destination known to have a charging station, the EV can make adjustments so that upon arrival, the battery’s temperature is optimised to get a maximum charge.
As the smart city moves from concept to reality, the SDV will become even more important as a dynamic node in this system. In the smart city, data and information technology are leveraged to improve operational efficiency, share services with public citizens, and provide a better quality of government. This includes helping traffic flow more smoothly, imposing environmental regulations, managing parking more effectively, and reducing energy usage where possible.
The SDV can become fully integrated into this ecosystem, because it connects its own local “edge” computing systems to the central cloud. Technologies such as 4G, 5G and their successors are enabling the SDV to share the data it is collecting with smart infrastructure, and in turn receive data back. For example, the SDV can send its average speed and location — even weather or road conditions it is encountering — back to the cloud, to enhance traffic data, which other vehicles can then use to optimise their routes. Tolls can be charged automatically based on vehicle location, without the need for physical barriers or license plate recognition. In the future, data from the vehicle’s cameras and other sensors could be used to enhance weather reporting, or to provide additional information for ensuring physical security. The car itself can even be integrated more directly into the energy flow of the urban environment.
We are already seeing some of this being implemented. Energy providers have been offering low night-time rates for some time, to incentivise EV owners to charge their electric cars when the grid is less utilised. But this fixed period, which drivers take advantage of via scheduled charging, can be provided on a more dynamic basis with an SDV. Although the night is usually the time of lowest demand, there could be other times of low utilisation, and services are emerging that can control your car to charge cheaply whenever there is free capacity, making more efficient use of the grid.
Beyond this, experiments in “vehicle-to-grid” technology have proven successful. This is where a car battery can also be tapped to send excess power from the vehicle back to the local utility grid, for use by homes and businesses. For these kinds of services, there needs to be full communication between the car, its battery and the grid, all occurring in real time.
SDVs, Autonomous Driving, and Micromobility
Pushing out further in the future, as autonomous driving becomes a reality, the dynamic connection between cars and their urban environments will become even more fluid. An acronym often applied to characterize SDVs is CASE, which stands for Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric. The “A” in CASE will become increasingly important moving forward as cars become part of a city’s transportation fabric. While public transportation and “micromobility” options (such as e-bikes and e-scooters), will continue to proliferate in the cities of the future, neither of these current transportation modes can support every journey. Autonomous vehicle features that mesh with their surroundings will eventually fill the gaps, enabling your car to drop you off, park itself for you, and then pick you up later, all based on smart-city-provided data services that tell the car where free parking spaces are, and the most efficient route to reach them.
BlackBerry’s Role as an Enabler
As automakers contemplate a rapidly changing future with SDVs at its centre, software expertise is becoming essential. Fortunately, there are SDV platforms emerging that can do much of the heavy lifting, such as by providing a common interface between cloud-based connectivity and local car sensors and systems. One platform at the forefront is BlackBerry IVY. In fact, Frost & Sullivan recently awarded BlackBerry IVY the 2022 North America Enabling Technology Leadership Award, thanks to the platform’s complete edge-to-cloud capabilities. BlackBerry’s expertise in Internet of Things, cybersecurity, mobile communications, and automotive software also provides best-in-breed abilities at every level of SDV development. Over 215 million vehicles currently on the road worldwide already rely on BlackBerry QNX real-time embedded software and this platform provides a solid basis of proven and trusted technology for automakers to build upon.
While urban mobility is changing, cars will remain one of the key transportation options. Many of us are already discovering that it can be more relaxing to let the car do most of the work on a busy motorway, and we could soon be enjoying self-driving taxis providing urban point-to-point transit. But personal vehicles for individuals and small groups will still have a place in our lives — even in the smart cities of the future. For that place to fit seamlessly with the smart city vision, however, automakers will need to fully embrace the potential of SDVs, and those that adapt quickly will gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
FlixBus, the UK’s fastest growing coach provider, has doubled its partnership with industry mainstay Berrys Coaches ahead of the summer season.
The new route between Taunton and Newcastle launched on 27 April, offering daily journeys to cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol University of West England (UWE) and Bristol city centre.
An initial relationship began in 2021, which saw Berrys connections available to book via FlixBus’ channels. This developed into an official partnership in April 2022, with Berrys joining the green FlixBus network to launch the Plymouth – London line. Berrys Coaches is now expanding its fleet with the brand.
Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK said: “This is a fantastic partnership, based on our shared values and entrepreneurial spirit of the Berrys team. The company has significant experience in express coaches which means they consistently deliver high quality. We’re delighted that Berrys has doubled their commitment to our network, bolstering the long-term partnership with new connections in line with passenger demand. We look forward to working together for decades to come!”
Established in 1920, Taunton-based Berrys Coaches has a rich history and is highly respected among the industry for its impeccable customer service and excellence in operations.
Alongside FlixBus work, Berrys has a diverse portfolio, including day tours, coach hire as well as a high-spec superfast service to London from Somerset and Wiltshire, which launched in 1983.
James Berry, Transport & General Manager of Berrys Coaches said: “FlixBus’ vision for long-term expansion appealed to us from the off and we’re witnessing their ambition to become the UK’s largest coach provider coming to life! Berrys has extensive experience in long-distance express work, which has helped us to assess the Flix model as the right choice.
“We have had a really enjoyable year building a truly equal relationship, and we’re looking forward to delivering more routes than ever before. Embarking on a partnership at an early stage in FlixBus’ growth journey has proved a strong strategic decision for Berrys, and we’re proud to be a part of the revolution of the UK coach industry.”
The recent network expansion, which coincided with FlixBus’ second anniversary in the UK, means that the sustainable travel tech company now serves 50 destinations across England, Scotland and Wales.
Adds Schorling: “Overwhelming demand for FlixBus services has shown the strength of our strategy since entering the UK express coach market. We saw 190% increase in passengers in Q1 of 2023 compared to the same period last year and we are doubling the size of the network.
“Network growth continues apace, and we have big plans for the summer months as we deliver on our mission to become the market leader.”
Coach operators interested in hearing more about collaborating with FlixBus should contact uk-partnerships@flixbus.com
ENDS
Notes: Berrys vehicles on the FlixBus network include two Van Hools and two Jonckheeres. Vehicles will include registration plates 0007 FLX and 0008 FLX.
Ember is building the future of public transport – fully electric and tech focused. The company has a mission to deliver a zero emission and zero traffic world.
Ember are developing a fully electric, intercity bus network. The company is now running the UK’s only electric coach services on two routes from Dundee to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The goal is to make the whole journey, from A to B, seamless. Ember is product led, with tech in their DNA. That’s in contrast to the legacy providers which tend to treat software as something you buy, rather than build.
MOVE caught up with Keith Bradbury Co-Founder at Ember. Within this interview, Keith touches on the company’s intercity bus network and the electrification of public transport.
Q: For those who don’t know tell us about Ember and what you do
At Ember we’re building the future of intercity transport – fully electric and tech enabled. Our goal is to replace the private car with a better alternative which makes your whole journey, from A to B, seamless. We currently run a network of intercity bus routes in Scotland, and we’re in the process of growing this into a national network across the UK.
Ember is product led, with tech in our DNA. That’s in contrast to the legacy providers which tend to treat software as something you buy, rather than build. We also have a relentless customer focus – our background was as bus users, not bus operators, so we have a good idea of the pain points.
Q: What makes Ember’s intercity bus network so unique?
We’re the only bus operator truly built from electrification-out, and we’re the only company in Europe running fully-electric vehicles on intercity trips of this distance. In fact, our buses are the highest utilisation EV’s in commercial operation anywhere in the world, with each bus covering 1000km per day.
Our technology-first mindset also means we have a unique view on the entire passenger experience, from booking all the way through to journey completion. We’ve built innovative features for passengers which simply aren’t available to other operators, and these allow us to deliver the best possible service to customers.
One example of this is our demand-responsive stops. We’re able to dynamically route our services to call only at the stops where we have bookings, thereby speeding up the end-to-end journey time, versus a traditional service which has to divert off the motorway at every stop even if there’s nobody waiting. This relies on feeding real-time data from our booking system directly to the vehicle and the driver’s console via our in-house technology stack. Tech-led innovations like this set Ember apart from traditional operators.
Q: If you had to pick one, what is the most influential factor driving the adoption of electric public transport?
The electrification of public transport is absolutely vital when you consider the climate emergency, and there’s real support for this transition from every level of society.
The true challenge though, and what we see as an opportunity for Ember, is to achieve modal shift from cars. Our aim is to deliver a service for passengers
which is genuinely better than using a car. Frequent departures, comfortable vehicles, onboard amenities, flexible tickets, and value-focused pricing are all individual aspects of this, and it’s only when all of these come together successfully that your product becomes a truly attractive alternative to the private car.
The great thing is that using electric vehicles actually enables some of these improvements – for example, our buses are more comfortable partly because they don’t have a diesel engine causing vibrations and rattles. Nevertheless, it’s very clear to us that electrification alone isn’t a silver bullet. You have to focus on all aspects of the passenger experience – both on and off the bus – to create a service which is genuinely attractive to users, and this is really what we’re achieving at Ember.
Q: What can we expect to see from Ember in the next 12-18 months?
We’ll be taking delivery of new vehicles in the next 12-18 months, and we’ll use these to launch new routes all across. Our target is to build a comprehensive national network across the UK in the next three years. We’ll also be continuing to iterate and improve other aspects of the Ember experience so that passengers can get the best experience for their entire journey.
Q: What can we expect to hear from you at MOVE 2023?
You’ll have to come and listen, but trust me, it will be mind-blowing stuff.
Q: What are you excited for about the event?
I’m always excited to introduce Ember and our approach to new audiences, and to talk to people whose experiences resonate with our mission to replace cars with attractive, electrified public transport. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of like-minded people at MOVE 2023, so I’m delighted to be attending as a speaker.
Last week we brought you our top seven panels from MOVE including speakers such as Marcus Welz, VP Smart Mobility, Hyundai; Welmoed Neijmeijer, Head of Licensing & Head of Public Policy, Bolt; Kammy Horne, Senior Vice President of Development, VIA Metropolitan Transit; and Even Heggernes, VP Supply Europe, Getaround.
This week we’re bringing you another top ten of mobility tech wizards changing the way we move, joining our line-up of 888 speakers across 33 conference stages.
Introducing…
Alice Lim, Head of Corporate Sustainability, London Metal Exchange
Henri Moissinac, CEO, Dott
Amir Tirosh, CBO, StoreDot
Hélène Chartier, Director of Urban Planning & Design, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
Julie Johnson, Head of US Market Development & Growth, Volta Trucks
Charles Butler, Founder, Freebike
David Flesher, Commercial Director, LNER
Eylül Callozzo, Cell Lead Engineer, Aston Martin Lagonda
Stephen Hill, CFO, Inchcape
Inderveer Singh, Founder & CEO, EVage
Tomorrow’s Journey builds configurable mobility software that optimises customer experience, maximises asset utilisation and automates transactions.
Their award-winning platform helps any fleet operators launch pay per use mobility businesses in rapid time. The ‘JRNY Demand’ app is designed to help you reach more customers and sell more vehicles. It lets you enter new markets with intuitive and seamless customer experiences that you can scale infinitely.
MOVE caught up with Chris Kirby, CEO of Tomorrow’s Journey to talk about the company’s unique platform and what we can expect to hear at MOVE in June!
inDrive is one of the world’s fastest growing online ride-hailing services. Its services are available in over 614 cities in 47 countries throughout the world.
The Company’s app has been downloaded over 150 million times. inDrive offers other services, including intercity transportation, freight and cargo services, as well as delivery services in different markets of operations.
In early 2021, inDrive achieved unicorn status after closing a $140m investment round with Insight Partners, General Catalyst, and Bond Capital, which valued the company at $1.23 billion.
MOVE spoke to Ilya Gusakov, Director of EMEA at inDrive to talk about the company’s international expansion and their InVision program.
Zoomo is the world’s leader in light electric vehicles (LEVs) and after-market servicing, built on the experience of thousands of delivery riders around the world.
Engineered in Australia and operating across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, Zoomo’s vehicles are built specifically for durability & performance.
Zoomo’s flexible rider subscriptions and business services allow tens of thousands of riders around the world to access the best light electric vehicles. Their mission is to sustainably transition billions of urban delivery miles from mopeds, cars and trucks to light electric vehicles.
MOVE caught up with Zoomo’s Co-Founder & CRO Michael Johnson. Within this interview Michael touches on how their unique business model has evolved and what we can expect to hear at MOVE 2023!
Q: For those who may not know, tell us about Zoomo and what you do.
Zoomo is accelerating the electrification of global transport, starting with last-mile delivery. We design and procure commercial grade light electric vehicles and after-market servicing to same day food, grocery and parcel delivery players. We currently operate in Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe (Spain, France and Germany).
Our solutions are used by major players in Urban Logistics including Purolator, Ocado, UberEats, Doordash, JustEat Takeaway, Amazon, Deliveroo, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Gopuff, Getir, Flink and more.
In my role at Zoomo as CRO, I am responsible for cultivating and growing Zoomo’s value proposition and customer relationships, building deeper connections with existing and prospective partners and securing new deals to drive Zoomo’s top line.
Q: Zoomo’s business model has evolved over the years to target both couriers (B2C) and enterprises (B2B), can you talk me through this? What makes Zoomo’s business model unique for these different market segments?
Zoomo was founded in 2017 when we identified a gap in the market whereby e-bikes were the fastest and most efficient vehicle for food delivery but not many gig-workers could afford (or find) quality e-bikes. To solve this problem, myself and Mina Nada (Zoomo Co-Founder) focused on financing smart utility e-bikes for food-delivery couriers, via a flexible weekly subscription which included maintenance and other services (like theft recovery).
We soon realised business fleets – who employed their drivers – were also looking for more delivery fleet solutions too, so we expanded our courier offering to enterprises. Our one-stop shop, commercial grade solution was an even better product market fit: commercial grade light electric vehicles, fleet management software, specialist servicing and even financing was extremely appealing to enterprises scaling up their last mile solution.
Fast forward to today, Zoomo is the preferred supplier with all of our enterprise customers. What makes us stand out is our ability to provide customers across a diverse range of segments with our all in one fleet solution, which is traditionally hard to find from one player.
Q: What can we expect to see from Zoomo in the next 12-18 months?
Over the next 12-18 months, Zoomo has ambitious plans to strengthen its full stack micromobility solution for last mile delivery companies by making strategic investments in core technologies. As urban logistics continues to face challenges such as congestion, lack of parking, and harmful emissions, we recognise the growing demand for alternative vehicle solutions that can seamlessly integrate into existing systems. We are excited to seize this opportunity and support our diverse set of global partners as they transition an increasing portion of their van and car fleets to these new form factors.
To cater to our customers’ evolving needs, we will be introducing a wider range of new vehicle types – mainly bikes with larger carrying capacity – via partnerships with leading OEMs in each vehicle category. These vehicles will be integrated into the Zoomo platform and offered alongside our fleet management software, servicing, and flexible finance, forming a comprehensive vehicle-as-a-service offer. This will enable us to provide more efficient and sustainable delivery solutions to our customers across existing and new segments, including parcel delivery.
We will continue to build on our proprietary fleet management software which allows us to operate smart fleets in the most efficient way and provide customers the real time data and features they need for their operations and peace of mind.
Q: What will you be touching on at MOVE 2023?
I will focus on the transition from traditional vans to light electric vehicles (LEVs) and the current inflection point that we are facing. I will dive into the essential requirements to facilitate this shift towards LEVs and explain why it is a logical move for urban logistics. Moreover, I am excited to showcase some compelling real-world examples of customers who have already embraced this transition.
Q: What are you excited for about the event?
Our mission is to transition every urban delivery mile to light electric vehicles. I’m looking forward to connecting, educating and engaging with like minded individuals who also want to shape the future of mobility.
We’re always looking for more innovative partners to improve our value proposition for our customers – be it hardware, software, government, auto fleet management companies etc – and there will be a number of potential partners at this event that I know I want to speak to (and plenty I don’t yet know I want to speak to!).
