ADAS Failures, Luminar Data Deal, GM Hydrogen Plans - The Station

The Station: A Weekly Transportation Newsletter

Welcome to The Station, a newsletter focused on the evolving world of transportation. This publication delivers insights into the movement of people and goods, covering all stages from past innovations to future possibilities.

New IIHS Rating Program for Partial Automation

Recent news from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has sparked considerable interest. The IIHS is developing a new rating program designed to assess the safety features in vehicles equipped with “partial automation” technologies, specifically those intended to maintain driver attention.

Funded by auto insurance companies, the IIHS will categorize these systems as good, acceptable, marginal, or poor. Initial ratings are anticipated in 2022, although a precise date remains uncertain due to ongoing disruptions in the global supply chain, which are impacting vehicle availability for testing.

Key Findings from the IIHS Evaluation

The IIHS’s preliminary assessment reveals a significant concern: currently available advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) do not meet the organization’s proposed safety standards. Here are two crucial points to note:

• While most partial automation systems – such as those combining lane centering and adaptive cruise control – incorporate some safety measures, none fully satisfy the IIHS’s upcoming criteria. This deficiency can result in drivers exceeding the system’s operational limits, either deliberately or inadvertently.
• The new IIHS rating system concentrates solely on driver attention safeguards. It does not yet evaluate other functional aspects of these systems, like the effectiveness of their cameras or radar sensors in identifying obstacles. This represents a more extensive and intricate challenge – who should address this broader scope?

It’s important to note that this evaluation focuses on systems designed to keep drivers engaged, not fully autonomous driving technologies.

Consumer Reports’ Driver Monitoring System Evaluations

Consumer Reports (CR) will incorporate evaluations of driver monitoring systems into its 2022 Auto Top Picks, scheduled for release on February 17th. CR will award an additional two points to a vehicle’s overall score if it includes a system that actively promotes safe driving practices as part of its active driving assistance package.

A Look Back at 2021 Predictions

A review of past predictions for 2021 is now available. You can find the original article from January 11, 2021, here (with a recap of the first part at the bottom). Readers are encouraged to assess the accuracy of these forecasts.

Stay Connected

Feedback and contributions are always welcome. Please feel free to contact me via email at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or through Twitter @kirstenkorosec.

The Expanding Role of Micromobility in Urban Environments

The increasing adoption of micromobility solutions is reshaping urban transportation. Cities are actively exploring ways to integrate and enhance these options for residents.

Transport for London’s recent data indicates a significant shift in travel habits, with the proportion of journeys completed by cycling or walking rising from 27% to 42% throughout the pandemic period. Furthermore, a study by the National Bicycle Dealers Association, “Bicycling Buying 2021 Consumer Research,” revealed that 56% of female cyclists either began riding or resumed the activity during the same timeframe.

These figures demonstrate positive momentum, yet cities must prioritize improvements to their infrastructure. A survey conducted in Victoria, Australia, highlighted that 75% of individuals express interest in cycling, but harbor concerns regarding the absence of adequate safety infrastructure. This sentiment is likely widespread beyond Australia.

However, infrastructure isn’t the sole factor. Municipalities should also collaborate with micromobility companies to guarantee accessible and affordable bike and scooter services. Prague serves as a compelling example, having made free 15-minute bikeshare rides a permanent component of its public transportation system.

New York City is similarly partnering with Beyond, a Brooklyn-based bike and scooter subscription service, to investigate the integration of micromobility with existing public transit networks.

Additionally, NYC is collaborating with Lyft to provide complimentary 60-day Citibike memberships to healthcare professionals working in public and private hospitals during surges in COVID-19 Omicron cases.

In related developments, Helbiz, another micromobility startup, is integrating its services with Google Maps globally, which will undoubtedly contribute to the broader acceptance of micromobility within the overall transit landscape.

Conversely, Stockholm is reducing the number of shared e-scooters within the city by 50% due to the perceived disorder caused by 23,000 scooters in operation. The city will permit its eight current micromobility providers to continue offering a scaled-down service. While curtailing greener transportation options may initially seem counterintuitive, public perception is crucial for sustained adoption.

A recent survey of Stockholm residents showed that 57% held negative views on e-scooters, an increase from 50% the previous year.

Further Developments in the Micromobility Sector

HumanForest has established a partnership with Deliveroo to provide London delivery personnel with access to shared e-bikes. The company also recently launched the first of several challenges designed to promote sustainable riding habits among its customers.

The inaugural challenge, “CO2 Saver,” ran from January 17th to 23rd, and involved riders tracking their CO₂ emission reductions, time spent outdoors, and energy expenditure through cycling. Winners were awarded TreeCoins, redeemable for ride credits.

Gogoro is undertaking a second vehicle collaboration with Yamaha to develop the Yamaha EMF, which is specifically engineered to utilize Gogoro’s battery swapping technology. The EMF will be available in Taiwan starting in March.

Bird released a detailed blog post outlining its battery management system. This system performs real-time diagnostics and dynamically adjusts power limits on the company’s IP68-rated battery packs for e-scooters, while also communicating directly with the e-scooters’ CAN bus.

Bird’s BMS enables the company to monitor and address potential safety or sustainability concerns, such as battery malfunctions.

— Rebecca Bellan

Spotlight on Recent Investments

This week’s focus deviates from typical venture capital announcements. Instead, it highlights a growing trend: the increasing involvement of established automotive manufacturers in lidar technology for use in passenger vehicles.

Specifically, Mercedes-Benz has entered into an agreement with Luminar, integrating Luminar’s lidar technology into future vehicle models. This collaboration extends beyond simple technology adoption, encompassing data sharing and a minority equity stake for Mercedes-Benz, acquiring up to 1.5 million Luminar shares in exchange for data and services.

While the exact timeline for Luminar lidar integration remains undisclosed, insights from a previous interview with Markus Schäfer, Daimler AG board member and Mercedes-Benz AG’s CTO, offer potential clues. The discussion centered around the EQXX Vision, a technologically advanced prototype unveiled earlier this month at CES.

Developed in just 18 months, the EQXX Vision serves as a blueprint for Mercedes-Benz’s forthcoming electric vehicles, showcasing innovations in battery technology, drivetrain systems, and other features slated for implementation beginning in 2024.

It is plausible that Luminar’s lidar technology could also feature in Mercedes-Benz vehicles as early as the 2024 model year.

Additional Investment Highlights …

Factorial Energy secured $200 million in a Series D funding round, spearheaded by automotive giants Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis. These funds will be allocated to expedite the commercial production and widespread deployment of their solid-state battery technology.

Gogoro, renowned for its electric smartscooters and battery-swapping infrastructure, has bolstered its PIPE investment with contributions from strategic partner Hero MotoCorp, impact investment firm Engine No. 1, and further investors. This brings the total funding to $285 million, an increase from the previously announced $257 million. The company anticipates finalizing its SPAC merger with Poema Global by the end of the current quarter.

Monta, an electric vehicle charging platform, successfully closed a $15 million Series A funding round, led by Creandum, a Stockholm-based venture capital firm. Headline also participated with a substantial investment.

Parallel Systems, founded by former SpaceX engineers, emerged from stealth mode following a $49.55 million Series A raise. The company, having accumulated $53.15 million in total funding including a $3.6 million seed round, aims to establish a more efficient and sustainable freight network utilizing autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles on existing infrastructure.

Phantom Auto, specializing in remote operation software for vehicles, received a $42 million strategic investment led by ArcBest and NFI. This investment is coupled with a commercial agreement for the deployment of thousands of Phantom-powered forklifts in the coming years. Bessemer Venture Partners, Maniv Mobility, Perot Jain, and existing investors also participated. Initially focused on autonomous vehicles, Phantom Auto has shifted its focus to logistics vehicles, including forklifts, and previously partnered with Geodis for remote forklift deployment.

Recent Developments and Industry Updates

Here's a compilation of noteworthy news and smaller updates from the automotive and technology sectors.

Self-Driving Technology

Mitsubishi Electric, a leading manufacturer of electronic equipment for the automotive industry, is initiating a trial program focused on assessing the potential of autonomous robotic systems. This program will involve collaboration with Cartken, a startup founded by former Google employees that emerged from stealth mode last March. The aim is to deploy Cartken’s delivery robots within a Japanese shopping center to offer both indoor and curbside food delivery, beginning with customers of Starbucks.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Blink Charging, a company specializing in electric vehicle charging solutions, will be installing EV chargers at General Motors dealerships throughout the United States and Canada. The company is partnering with ABM, a provider of facility services, to supply its IQ 200 Level 2 chargers to GM. With approximately 30,000 EV chargers already operational across 13 countries, Blink anticipates this agreement will enhance its brand visibility and strengthen its competitive position.

Electrek provides a comprehensive overview of all electric vehicles currently eligible for the U.S. federal tax credit.

Scott Painter, previously the founder of auto pricing platform TrueCar Inc. and car subscription service Fair, is embarking on a new venture. Painter established NextCar in 2020, initially envisioned as a B2B software-as-a-service platform for vehicle subscription providers. While NextCar Holdings continues to operate, a new consumer-facing company, “Autonomy,” has been launched. Autonomy will offer customers the opportunity to rent a Tesla Model 3 for a fixed monthly fee, a model Painter describes as distinct from traditional leasing or loan arrangements.

According to German news source Golem, Volkswagen is planning to reintroduce the e-Up, a compact electric vehicle.

In-Car Technology and Other News

Ford has entered into a five-year agreement with Stripe, an online payment processing company, to expand its e-commerce capabilities. Stripe will manage transactions for vehicle orders and reservations, facilitate financing options for Ford’s commercial clients, and direct customer payments from the automaker’s website to the appropriate Ford or Lincoln dealership. Ford intends to begin implementing Stripe’s technology in the latter half of 2022, starting in North America.

General Motors is formulating plans to broaden its hydrogen fuel cell business and extend the application of this technology to areas beyond vehicles. This includes potential uses in power generators for military applications and as a power source for electric vehicle chargers. GM’s Hydrotec fuel cell technology is currently under development for integration into heavy-duty trucks, aerospace applications, and locomotives.

Hyundai is collaborating with IonQ, a quantum computing company, to create innovative variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) algorithms. The objective is to utilize these algorithms to investigate lithium compounds and the chemical processes involved in battery chemistry, ultimately aiming to develop batteries that are more affordable, safer, and offer improved performance.

Tesla shareholders have appealed to a judge to determine that CEO Elon Musk pressured the company’s board into acquiring SolarCity in 2016. Shareholders allege this acquisition was a “bailout” of the struggling solar company, in which Musk held a significant stake. During a recent court hearing, shareholders requested that Musk return the stock received from the deal and compensate Tesla with $13 billion.

Volkswagen and Bosch have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the formation of a joint venture focused on providing battery equipment solutions to the European market. The companies intend to offer comprehensive battery production systems, along with on-site support for ramp-up and maintenance for battery cell and system manufacturers. This venture is anticipated to assist VW in achieving its goal of establishing six cell factories by 2030, while also serving other manufacturing facilities throughout Europe.