The Future of Mobility: In-Car Tech and EVs Shine at CES 2023

Happy belated New Year! Welcome back to The Station, your source for past, present and future transportation solutions from Point A to Point B.

I’ve kicked off the past decade with a trip to Las Vegas for CES – and 2023 was no different!

Every year, I’m asked: what excited me? What stood out? And how does that shape the future?

CES 2023 was filled with exciting new tech and products. Here are a few highlights: AI-enabled home appliances made daily tasks easier; 5G enabled connected vehicles enhanced safety and convenience; Augmented Reality glasses provided stunning

At West Hall, the show floor was dominated by lidar companies. From Hesai to Innovusion, Luminar to Ouster (just a few of many), it was clear that not all could survive. My takeaway? We’ll have to wait and see!

There was a lot of autonomous vehicle technology on display, but the hype-y ROBOTAXIS WILL BE EVERYWHERE messaging was missing. Instead, it showed up in many commercial and industrial applications.

Autonomous toaster-shaped people movers and delivery vehicles are still a reality; Holon, Hyundai Mobis, and Zoox were among the many companies who showcased these futuristic creations.

EV charging and energy storage were seen everywhere at CES 2019, from Eureka Park to the North and West Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. There were also some exciting EV charging news announcements, such as Mercedes’ plans for a global charging network.

The car cabin is evolving into a digital, connected experience with augmented and virtual reality from companies like Holoride. BMW reimagined the head-up display, Chrysler showcased their vision for future cabins, suppliers Bosch, Forvia and Harman displayed in-car tech & GM/Microsoft demoed Dash Runner – a video game that highlights potential entertainment options while waiting for an EV to charge.

Stellantis had a big reveal of the Peugeot concept and Ram 1500 Revolution truck, but EVs were everywhere: from bikes to motorcycles, three-wheelers to small off-roaders.

I was surprised by the prevalence of robotics at Eureka Park, a showcase for thousands of startups.

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This week’s newsletter highlights the micromobility news and vehicles introduced at CES. From electric scooters to self-driving bicycles, here’s a roundup of what was unveiled this year.

Acer has introduced a new desk-bike that harnesses your energy while you pedal, to power your devices – no Point A to B required!

AtmosGear brought electric rollerblades to the game for just $500!

Bianchi, the Italian bike-maker, leveraged Ansys simulation software to create more efficient e-bike designs which led to a 70% reduction in frame prototyping. This increased efficiency enabled Bianchi’s E-Omnia e-bike to be brought to market quicker while reducing development costs.

Brightway unveiled its Navee V-series of electric scooters, including the Navee e-bike and sharing scooter.

Cake introduces the Åik utility bike: starting at $6,470 and shipping May 2021.

Davinci Motor unveiled their DC100 electric motorcycle, complete with a display to let people get a feel for the ride. Its bulky design belies its performance capabilities – 0-60 in three seconds and top speed of 124 mph makes it as powerful as 1,000cc combustion-powered motorcycles.

GreenStreet EV unveiled their 3-wheel electric Autocycle at CES, with plans to make it available in 2024.

Heybike unveiled its revolutionary folding e-bike made from a single piece of magnesium alloy – an engineering feat that’s both light and strong!

Icoma just unveiled their Tatamel Bike—a stylishly compact folding moped that folds into a box and can be customized with wood, fake grass, or leather. This funky design is perfect for slipping under your desk at work, though it may unfortunately remain merely a concept.

MoonBikes unveiled their electric snow bike at CES, and it’s as cool as ever! Prices start at a competitive $8,900 (batteries included), along with the launch of their app to give riders real-time performance stats.

At CES, RCA—the iconic brand behind the invention of the VCR—unveiled new e-bikes and e-scooters that deliver an optimal commute or off-road experience.

Verge has created a revolutionary electric superbike, the Verge TS. It features an integrated motor within its rear wheel for power directly to the road and more space in its center for a battery pack. Pre-orders are now live at $26,900 with U.S deliveries slated for late 2023.

Yadea, one of China’s leading electric two-wheeler makers, is entering the U.S. market with a bang. The company plans to roll out marketing campaigns and events to get their brand going in the States, while opening stores in San Francisco and Los Angeles by mid-2023 along with 100 other affiliated dealerships.

Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights from CES 2023: announcements, products, and more!

Goodyear and Gatik believe tire technology is the key to unlocking autonomous driving in winter conditions.

At CES 2023, the Indy Autonomous Challenge returned to Las Vegas Speedway. I had the chance to observe some of the cars and watch one take on a night lap with no lights. It was fascinating seeing what sensors, compute power and software can achieve! The autonomous racing team from mOve research groupo of Politecnico di Milano were this year’s victors in this thrilling competition.

At a recent talk, Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua outlined the company’s short- and long-term vision. He focused on advanced driver assistance systems, then delved into how consumer autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be made available at scale using Mobileye SuperVision technology.

I took a ride in George Hotz’s Kia EV6, equipped with Comma 3 dev kit. Running on openpilot, an open source advanced driver assistance system, the device is priced at $1,499 and works on over 200 models. It features three HDR cameras – two for road monitoring and one night-vision cam within the car – plus LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi access point, IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), high-precision GPS and microphones.

Openpilot has continually improved based on my experience, and the most recent drive was particularly smooth. It recognized red lights, kept in lane, made assisted lane changes and maintained a safe distance from other vehicles.

BMW debuted the four-door i Vision Dee concept car, showcasing its E Ink technology with a stunning display of colors and patterns. Its initial crisp white color shifted seamlessly to create an eye-catching show.

Honda and Sony have unveiled their joint venture, the new EV brand Afeela. With cutting-edge technology and design, they aim to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry.

Stellantis debuted the Peugeot Inception concept – a futuristic design with nods to the past. They also unveiled the Ram 1500 Revolution EV truck, set for production and release in 2024.

Stellantis announced a major eVTOL agreement with Archer, pledging $150 million towards the mass production of electric aircraft.

Volkswagen’s ID 7 electric vehicle was unveiled with electroluminescent paint that glows on command. But the real draw is what lies underneath: a high-performance electric engine, smart technology, and more!

Now, you can ask Alexa in your Amazon Alexa-enabled car to find the closest public EV charging station!

Chrysler imagines a future for car cabins that is more comfortable and connected.

Google announced an HD version of its vehicle mapping solution, Google Automotive Services, available to Volvo and Polestar’s L2+ or L3 assisted-driving systems. These automakers will be the first to benefit from this new layer of data.

Google recently launched new Android Auto features to make it easier for drivers to manage navigation, music, podcasts and communication while driving. The update includes a split-screen layout that enables users to view directions, music and texts simultaneously.

Hesai has been chosen to supply its long-range automotive lidar for SAIC’s electric vehicle brand, Rising Auto (Feifan in China). This new model is set to feature Hesai’s innovative design.

Holoride is launching a revolutionary new product that brings VR into any car – and we’ve tried it!

Austin Russell, founder and CEO of Luminar, gave an update on the company’s progress and how its acquisition of Civil Maps aligns with its long-term vision.

Nvidia is expanding its cloud gaming service, GeForce Now, to select Hyundai, BYD and Polestar electric vehicles. Additionally, Nvidia revealed a partnership with Foxconn and that Mercedes will use their Omniverse Enterprise software platform to design factories in the metaverse.

Stellantis has created Mobilisghts, a new business unit focused on monetizing vehicle data.

Bosch has launched a security dashcam and service specifically tailored to the needs of rideshare drivers.

Free2move, the mobility service brand of Stellantis, is expanding its car sharing, rental and subscription services in the U.S.