“Electric Vehicle Telematics” reached this conclusion using metrics like average revenue per user and market concentration. Analysts note that 90% of plug-in vehicles sold in 2011 featured basic telematics. This number should grow to 94% of vehicles sold per year by 2017. Pike Research cites a projected 80% of plug-in EVs with advanced telematics systems as the prime mover in the market. Automakers and telematics manufacturers should benefit greatly from this growing market with an average revenue per user (ARPU) of $13.27 by 2017. This ARPU estimate compares favorably to the 2011 figure of $10.65.

Pike Research notes that the EV telematics market should be pushed by four industrial sectors working toward a common goal. The auto industry will push for greater adoption of telematics to increase profits from green vehicle sales. Manufacturers of telematics hardware and software could vault from niche to mainstream in five years if Pike’s estimates come to fruition. “Electric Vehicle Telematics” indicates that these manufacturers need to develop telematics that last a decade rather than a few years to accommodate vehicle buyers. Another industry that should push telematics to the fore is the wireless communications industry that offers call centers and communications infrastructure.

The emergence of a strong EV telematics market should compound the benefits of green vehicle use. An EV driver with access to traffic reports, maps and routing information can commute more efficiently while increasing safety. Utilities and municipalities can use more sophisticated telematics to reroute drivers to charging stations or roadways with little traffic. Advancements in EV telematics allow drivers to network with each other and communicate with emergency service providers. The primary issue facing automakers entering the telematics market is avoiding the temptation to overprice these products. Pike Research’s report should encourage municipalities, utilities and automakers to unite behind affordable telematics options for consumers.

The first phase of the Federal Realty/Car Charging Group partnership starts with six installations across the country. Federal Realty hopes that EV chargers at Santana Row in San Jose, California could spur interest among drivers in Northern California. The remaining installations in this first phase are concentrated in Maryland and Virginia where Federal Realty has invested heavily in suburban shops. Car Charging Group will install ChargePoint Network units at Bethesda Row, Congressional Plaza and Rockville Town Square in Maryland. Additional installations at Pentagon Row and The Village at Shirlington in Arlington, Virginia would take advantage of commuters throughout the Beltway.  

Car Charging Group will go beyond the 240-volt ChargePoint station to provide service to Federal Realty. The ChargePoint Network acts as a virtual gathering place for EV drivers searching for information about charging stations and traffic. This online resource also offers payment options for consumers who want flexibility in paying off their electrical use. Car Charging Group uses a cloud-based storage system that allows subscribers to access usage details about each station, charging maps and applications for Apple, BlackBerry and Google operating systems.

Federal Realty and Car Charging Group encourage development projects that leverage assets to encourage plug-in vehicle use. Advancement of EV charging infrastructure should not be relegated to parking ramps and city streets. Federal Realty represents the type of corporate partner that could be integral to EV infrastructure development. Car Charging Group not only benefits from a reliable corporate partner but can also test out their ChargePoint Network with a new audience. High-end customers at Federal Realty’s quaint shopping centers and malls alike should offer critiques necessary for improved EV charging.

Nissan developed the STAR WINGS route guidance system for Chinese clients in 2008. This system has been funded in part by the New Energy and Industrial Development Organization (NEDO) in an effort to head off increased traffic, fuel consumption and emissions. Nissan and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport are installing up to 12,000 PNDs in Wangjing. These devices will also be used to study the impact of traffic routing on emissions, fuel consumption and safety within a group of 600 drivers. This subsection of the Wangjing trial helps the city tout green routing as a means of cutting emissions even as traffic congestion grows.

Drivers participating in this trial will test Nissan’s Dynamic Route Guidance and Eco-Drive Support over the next year. The Dynamic Route Guidance feature delivers traffic information including accidents, stop lights and points of high congestion from a virtual clearinghouse. This guidance system would update in real time, thus providing an overview of Wangjing traffic unavailable through existing applications and GPS systems. Nissan also includes Eco-Drive Support in the PND, which tracks fuel economy and educates drivers about their habits. The PND offers advice that can improve fuel economy and compares drivers within the system.

The Nissan/Beijing collaboration offers a blueprint for green transportation necessary in China’s growing urban populations. Forbes Magazine has included Chinese cities like Chongqing and Chengdu on lists of the world’s fastest growing cities. These cities offer alternatives to existing urban giants like Beijing where traffic congestion and smog contribute to a lower quality of life. Nissan’s work on STAR WINGS in Beijing could be used proactively in growing cities over the next generation. This foresight could head off problems currently beleaguering public health and safety in China while showing the potential for green routing around the world.

The University of California-Riverside was among the 40 recipients of recent U.S. Department of Energy grants designed to support advanced vehicle technology. Researchers Matthew Barth and Kanok Boriboonsomsin along with student researchers will use $1.2 million in grants to develop driver feedback systems. These systems would help drivers reduce fuel consumption and emissions by determining the best driving techniques for existing conditions. The primary goal of the school’s driver feedback research is to design a system that could cut fuel consumption by 30% compared to control subjects.

This federally funded project builds on several years of research dealing with eco-friendly driving techniques. A previous study at UC-Riverside found that small-scale feedback systems could reduce fuel usage by at least 5% per driver. Universities in China, Japan and Germany have found fuel consumption reductions of 20% when comprehensive feedback systems were tested. Barth and Boriboonsomsin are interested in developing a prototype feedback system that would work over an entire region. This regional feedback program would incorporate trip design, driving tutorials and driver journals to generate a clearinghouse of information for participants.

Researchers at UC-Riverside have several innovations on their minds that should benefit from the DOE grant. A comprehensive trip-planning tool would integrate current fuel prices, traffic congestion and appointments on a driver’s calendar to determine the most fuel-efficient route. This research could yield audio feedback systems that provide ongoing updates on eco-friendly techniques while eliminating visual distractions. The UC-Riverside model of driver feedback includes cloud computing that would keep track of driving performance in real time. Drivers would be scored on their performance with potential for virtual rewards, thus leveraging competition to promote fuel-efficient driving.

UC-Riverside and its research partners will conduct lab testing in the Center for Environmental Research and Technology. Test drivers and corporate fleets in Riverside and San Bernardino will be selected to provide field tests for driver feedback systems. The school’s public partners include the University of California-Berkeley and the California Department of Transportation. GIS developer ESRI will provide trip planning software for the project while NAVTEQ will focus on satellite mapping equipment. Additional partners in the private sector are software firm Earthrise Technology, Automatiks and Beat the Traffic. The results of this project could increase efficiency by traditional, hybrid and electric vehicles, a significant return on a mere $1.2 million public investment.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced grants totaling $175 million to projects dealing with advanced automotive technology. These grants will be issued to 40 projects located in 15 states that deal with advanced fuels, body construction, batteries and drive systems. Recipients of the latest DOE grants already possess $300 million in private, state and federal grants needed to advance green vehicle technology. This holistic approach to eco-friendly vehicle development could yield lower prices and higher fuel efficiency over the next generation.

Grants issued to battery, electric motor and advanced fuel producers should help automakers meet the needs of eco-conscious consumers. Penn State University received $5 million to develop lightweight lithium-sulfur batteries while Amprius Inc. ($4.9 million) is researching advanced silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries. General Motors headlined electric motor projects by receiving $6 million to develop advanced power inverters. The Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC will use $1.5 million in DOE grants to study fuel additives that could increase efficiency in internal combustion engines.

The U.S. DOE was also interested in promoting lightweight vehicle frames and waste capture technology to boost automotive efficiency. Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies Inc. is among five recipients focusing on lightweight materials used in the production of vehicle development. This research firm received $6 million to develop an efficient and inexpensive process for producing magnesium vehicle frames. Amerigon Incorporated was among the big winners in this round of DOE funding with $8 million in federal grants. Amerigon is researching methods of converting heat from exhaust gas into electricity for green vehicles. This waste capture system could increase fuel efficiency by 5% without prohibitive costs to automakers and consumers.

Six recipients were awarded grants to facilitate fleet vehicle improvements as well as green vehicle testing. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company will use $1.5 million to create fuel-efficient replacement tires that could help aftermarket customers increase fuel efficiency by 3%. The University of California-Riverside ($1.2 million) and Eaton Corporation ($914,000) are developing tools to increase accuracy while eliminating driver bias during fleet vehicle testing. The Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. was the recipient of the biggest grant at $26,420,018. Engineers at the firm are developing realistic lab tests for green vehicle prototypes that simulate alternative fuel consumption, road conditions and driving behaviors.

Daimler and the city of Austin, Texas initiated an urban
mobility program called car2go in November 2009. This program allows car2go
members to rent vehicles by the minute or hour without the hassles of the
rental counter. This partnership mirrors a similar experiment in urban mobility
in Ulm, Germany. As car2go approaches its public unveiling in Republic Square
Park on May 21st, the public-private collaboration appears to be
heading in the right direction. Representatives from Daimler recently announced
a new partnership with high-end Austin real estate firm urbanspace.

This latest partnership builds on car2go’s early success
with Austin-based customers. The first major client for car2go was Lance
Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG, which signed a deal with car2go this February. The
state of Texas also arranged a deal with car2go in March to expedite the
membership process for state employees. The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central
Texas joined the car2go family with an agreement penned in April. These
partnerships not only boost car2go’s profile but also ensure a sufficient
customer base to expand its rental fleet.

The car2go system was attractive to urbanspace, which
employs 30 agents and administrative assistants that travel throughout Austin.
Urbanspace and other car2go members can access a fleet of 200 smart fortwo
vehicles at public lots in the Austin area. The partnership maintains an
updated map of available vehicles on its website for laptop, PDA and iPhone
users. Members simply scan their cards against vehicle sensors in windshields
to complete their rentals. Car2go charges $0.35 per minute and $12.99 per mile,
making it possible for urbanspace realtors and other members to travel short
distances without spending a lot of money. These rental rates include maintenance,
auto insurance and prepaid gas cards for the convenience of customers.

The flood of public and private partners for car2go bodes
well for urban mobility schemes from Better Place and the Renault-Nissan
Alliance. Daimler and Austin officials have to be excited that their list of
members includes major consumers in the state capitol. In less than six months,
car2go has gone from a pilot program to a public transit corollary that can be
replicated in other major cities. Lingering questions about upfront costs,
rental prices and fleet maintenance will be answered in Austin and Ulm in the
near future. The demonstration of a sustainable business model by car2go should
energize other cities to hop aboard the urban mobility train in the next five
years.

MIT’s SENSEable City Laboratory has announced that they will initiate a new biking project in Copenhagen to reduce carbon emissions and increase fitness. The Danish city will be the urban laboratory for MIT’s SmartBiking project starting in November 2009. This start date dovetails with Copenhagen’s duties as host of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

MIT has developed smart bike technology that will allow easy mobilization, energy conservation and citywide mileage tracking. The SENSEable City Laboratory has created a rear wheel compartment that contains a lithium ion battery, smart tag and other electronic components. This compartment will be tested for durability and efficiency during the Copenhagen project. The goal of the SmartBike’s rear wheel compartment is to add these elements to traditional bicycles throughout the world. MIT wants to make the SmartBike component compatible with mountain and racing bicycles worldwide for easy conversion.  

The SmartBike will also feature regenerative braking similar to brakes in hybrid cars. Copenhagen commuters will be able to generate energy for the lithium-ion battery with each use of regenerative brakes. This energy is stored in the rear wheel unit until the rider begins to pedal again, easing the strain necessary to get up to speed.

The SmartBike tag will be used to test out ridership in Copenhagen and determine if the project should be expanded to other cities. MIT will study total mileage for SmartBike participants to determine the emissions savings from keeping cars in their garages. While MIT has a larger goal of encouraging emissions trading and clean transportation outside of Copenhagen, the publication of test results from the SmartBike project may encourage similar projects with public health aims.

If the SmartBike project does not catch fire outside of Copenhagen, government leaders and experts will be to blame. Every city using electronic and traditional bikes with rear wheel compartments could ease vehicle congestion, reduce emissions and get commuters out of their cars. The long-term consequence of the SmartBike project could be a healthier public that needs less fuel, asks for additional public transit and uses cars for out-of-town trips. If city councils, state legislatures and Congress don’t invest in infrastructure appropriate for SmartBike offshoots, they will show their ignorance of America’s need for sustainable transportation in the 21st century.

Every driver interested in cutting back on fuel consumption, saving their brakes and learning to be a better motorist should be interested in Fiat’s EcoDrive software. This software was announced at the 2008 Paris Motor Show as a product that Fiat will begin to offer on a large scale by the end of this year. The EcoDrive software package is capable of analyzing a driver’s average speed, braking, gear efficiency and fuel use over thousands of miles.

Fiat’s new software requires drivers to purchase a Microsoft Blue & Me system before analyzing driving patterns. The Blue & Me is a versatile onboard unit that allows motorists to focus entirely on the road. This onboard computer provides audio for incoming text messages, access to hands-free cell phone use and compatibility with most MP3 players.

The Blue & Me features a USB port that allows drivers to transfer the EcoDrive software easily. Every motorist can download the software from their computer to a USB drive and upload EcoDrive into the Blue & Me. The software provides driving suggestions and detailed reports on fuel consumption once the USB drive is inserted back into a home computer. Fiat is also developing a social networking component through its website that will help newcomers navigate through EcoDrive reports. While Microsoft intended this unit to improve the daily commute, Fiat hopes that the Blue & Me can help reduce carbon emissions by 15 percent.

Fiat has already started offering EcoDrive software for Fiat and Alfa Romeo models following the Paris Motor Show. Ford Motor Company has expressed interest in the EcoDrive software and other automakers are keeping an eye on Fiat’s progress. While devices like the Scan Gauge II exist to provide diagnostic reports for concerned motorists, Fiat’s EcoDrive takes the use of onboard computers to the next level.

The Paris Motor Show unveiling of EcoDrive exposes a significant gap between computer technology and the auto industry. While automakers are finding ways to accommodate MP3 players and DVD players, they have largely ignored the use of portable technology to reduce fuel consumption. The Toyota Prius is the one vehicle on the road today that comes to mind when thinking about onboard computing as a catalyst for efficient driving. If Ford, Chrysler and other motor companies want to stay competitive, they will need to copy Fiat until they have sufficient R&D capabilities to leap ahead.

Most commuters are as comfortable with their daily routes to and from work as they are with their favorite shoes and pajamas. This comfort level comes from the familiar mile markers, billboards and exits that zip by as we head back from a hard day’s work. While you may feel better about taking the same path during your daily commute, this path may not be the best in terms of fuel efficiency.

The lure of the high-speed interstate may be taking you out of your way to get to work. Highways may offer high speed limits for commuters in a rush to get to work but they offer little flexibility during your commute. If you miss your exit because of inconsiderate drivers, you will need to backtrack and waste gas in the process.

One school of thought promoted by the State of Michigan and others says that commuters should take the shortest possible routes to work. These routes reduce the total miles your vehicle travels in a day, which cuts down on gas used each time you sit behind the wheel. The caveat for the shortest route idea is that you also need to consider road conditions. If you are driving on a pockmarked road that cuts your commuting distance in half, you may be putting your vehicle at risk for damage that would negate fuel savings.

Another idea to reduce your gas burden during the daily commute is finding a route with the least amount of stop signs and speed changes. You may be able to find a county highway or local road with a consistent 45 MPH speed limit that allows cruise control in light traffic. By reducing stop and yield signs during your commute, you cut down on wear on your brakes and avoid repetitive acceleration that wastes gas.

There are two ways to map out your fuel-efficient commute without starting up your car. You can use Google Maps and Street View to find a route from your home to work that fulfills the requirements mentioned above. If you are familiar with back roads and county highways in your area, you can take a quick bike ride to determine if the route will work for your needs.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported last week that the average American household could save $9,596 each year by using buses, trains and ride sharing programs for daily commutes. Given these figures, why aren’t more Americans using public transportation? The easy answer is that cities throughout the United States have either cut back on public transit or failed to extend these systems to suburban areas. Every commuter concerned about gas prices should take a closer look at public transit options before dismissing them completely.

The number of express buses, highway flyers and other options available through regional transportation districts may surprise some drivers. It is critical for each commuter to look at updated maps and timetables before eliminating public buses as an option. The APTA website has links to municipal transit websites throughout the country to aid this research. I have been able to use Milwaukee’s bus system (which has been declining in recent years) to reach jobs and meetings downtown for several years.

Most commuters dislike the time wasted waiting for buses and stopping at every street corner for passengers. These drivers should think about coordinating carpools with their neighbors and colleagues every day of the workweek. These pools defray the costs of gasoline, allow colleagues to spend time with each other outside of work and act as substitutes for poor public transit systems. Employers may be willing to coordinate and sponsor carpools to help their employees save money while getting to work on time.

Many families have more than one vehicle available for daily commutes to work and school. Every family can save money during daily commutes by planning vehicle usage carefully. The driver who travels the furthest during each trip can decrease fuel usage by using the most fuel-efficient vehicle available. Remaining vehicles can be assigned based on the length of daily commutes with the lowest MPG vehicle used for short trips.

The best way for commuters to get around high prices at the pump is experimenting with all of these travel methods. Drivers should conduct trial runs on each of these methods to find the best tools for reaching work on time without wasting fuel. Many commuters may find that they can create mixtures of express buses, occasional car pools and smart vehicle usage that are flexible enough to handle different daily schedules.