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India is moving towards electric vehicles, and new technologies are making electric delivery vans and trucks more efficient than ever. These smart vehicles can ‘talk’ to each other and to the roads, allowing them to work together seamlessly. This wireless communication between vehicles and infrastructure is set to transform commercial transport as we know it.
Most modern vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), use multiple (sometimes over 100) electronic control units (ECUs) to manage their various subsystems. Leading EV manufacturers are now integrating these disparate ECUs into a centralized computing architecture, where a powerful GPU-powered central processing unit takes on most of the control, AI, and telematics requirements. This regional approach consolidates the vehicle’s electronics, reducing complexity and improving efficiency.
The centralised computing unit is designed to handle most of the vehicle’s control, artificial intelligence (AI) and telematics requirements. Its advanced telemetry system can stream more than 500 monitoring points to the cloud, enabling continuous performance, safety and efficiency analysis. The system also includes modular 800V battery packs with an in-house battery management system, a new central steering setup and an in-house designed lighting system including daytime running lights. This tight integration of the vehicle’s main systems is key to unlocking the full potential of electric and connected commercial transport.
This revolution is being driven by vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications. In this setup, vehicles can share live updates on their location, speed, and driving conditions via wireless data links. This allows them to move in perfect sync, avoiding unnecessary braking and speeding that lead to traffic jams.
The domino effect of sudden braking is a major reason behind urban traffic jams. But with V2V, if one truck slows down, the trucks behind it are immediately notified to reduce speed as well. Smooth traffic flow not only saves time and fuel – it also makes roads safer by avoiding sudden stops, which often lead to rear-end collisions.
Imagine an electric truck that has a sixth sense to know about traffic conditions beyond its line of sight. Advanced route planning and optimization helps it stay away from congestion using a city-wide data network. It instantly plans the most efficient route when conditions change. And by staying updated about closed lanes, accidents, or available parking spaces, it can get you there easily without wasting time circling the block. It does all this while keeping you safe by helping you avoid risky maneuvers like sudden lane changes or illegal parking.
These smart vehicles don’t just talk – they collaborate. If one has to brake hard due to an unseen hazard, it warns the person behind with a one-second alert, giving them the extra time needed to gradually slow down. Now there’s no need to brake hard when the vehicle in front stops suddenly. This vehicle-to-vehicle communication helps mitigate dangerous situations and pile-ups before they happen.
In crowded urban areas, electric trucks can receive alerts about nearby pedestrians, cyclists and smaller vehicles that may not be visible. They automatically adjust speed to pass safely when needed. No more surprises around blind bends or intersections – your van’s sensors increase your awareness in all directions. Pedestrian recognition systems also help in this context, automatically braking if someone unexpectedly steps in front of the vehicle.
But the biggest helpers may be the vehicle’s smart driver-assistance features. Automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control take tedious tasks out of your hands. You stay refreshed and focused on the road ahead instead of getting tired and making mistakes that could compromise safety. Supported by an array of cameras and sensors, these co-pilot systems are an extra pair of eyes protecting you from accidents.
There is even truck platooning – where a digitally bonded line of smart vans or trucks move together aerodynamically by synchronising their speed and distance. This slipstreaming effect substantially increases their range and efficiency. With platooning, fewer lane changes are required, making driving easier and reducing the risk of sideswipe collisions. The path of the leading vehicle is shared with the entire platoon, making their movements coordinated seamlessly.
To reap all these high-tech benefits, vehicle manufacturers and infrastructure providers must agree on common communication standards that allow different brands and systems to talk freely. India has a unique opportunity to help set these global guidelines, as well as adapt them to local conditions such as traffic patterns and road characteristics.
Financial incentives, demand aggregation mechanisms and partnerships with insurers can help even small regional fleets go high-tech in an affordable way. The initial costs of equipping trucks with connectivity and smart safety systems can be daunting. But incentives that reduce these initial expenses can pay dividends in efficiency gains and insurance discounts for proven safety technology.
However, robust third-party validation and compliance testing must be prioritized. Vehicle systems and wireless communication protocols need to reliably deliver their promised benefits – not just in controlled tests, but also in the real world. Only then can the public adopt these solutions with confidence.
As India rapidly moves towards electric mobility, it has a rare opportunity to build a smarter, safer and more sustainable transport ecosystem from the start. By adopting intelligent mobility solutions powered by connected vehicle technology and tightly integrated vehicle architectures, we can increase productivity as well as make our roads safer for all users – drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. So, let us drive transformational change that delivers great efficiency while protecting what matters most: human life.
This article is written by Rohan Shravan, Founder and CEO, Tresa Motors.
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