New technologies and new forms of mobility are strictly redefining the frontiers in the automotive industry. The last GERPISA conferences pointed out the interconnection between the technological trajectories, the role of incumbents and newcomers in the industry, the state and private actors in the transport system.
The “new” automotive industry requires many innovations: product (raw materials, architecture definition…), service (car-sharing, connected cars…), business models and marketing (battery rental, after-sale activities…), policy (aids, regulations...).
Papers on the respective role of market, which might be covered by each technology, are welcome: electric vehicles (full size and micro), full and plug-in hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, but also LPG, CNG and biofuel vehicles. A major hurdle regards the electric vehicles massive diffusion.
We also need to describe the role and impact of public (environmental or transport) politics in supporting the new powertrains and forms of mobility and in shaping the integration with old technology. For example tightening regulations and technology innovations are driving automakers to switch to 48-volt system, but this solution has implications for the whole automotive industry.
Some topics have only been tangentially addressed in the previous GERPISA conferences:
The national legal framework, that is regulations and laws which may favour or disadvantage the introduction of new mobility services in cities: depending on the legal framework, services which can be provided will of course differ leading to different strategies and business models.
It might be useful to suggest papers taking a demand approach to the market of new powertrains, vehicles, and new mobility services, including customers/citizens’ needs and mobility patterns but also their acceptance to changing their behaviour, and the incentives that cities and/or companies implement to promote new mobility services.
The issue of charging infrastructure that might be linked to public and private investments (public policies, but also carmakers investments or even commercial facilities investment to attract EVs owners, to generate an eco-image). It might also be related to energy questions depending on charging resources which are focussed on.
Autonomous and more connected cars will be launched into the market. Which is the real state of the art in terms of cybersecurity? Which is their impact on mobility tendencies?
New technologies to improve fuel efficiency do not regard only powertrains. The reduction of emission can be reached also by downsizing and lightweighting. These involve new component design, new material mix and innovation in manufacturing process. Are these key trends sustainable and affordable?
