Most auto-industry observers agree that electric vehicles’ broad market penetration will eventually lead to widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles. The rate of EV acceptance today depends mostly on a car’s battery range and cost. However, the more critical factor for creating driver loyalty over time will involve the comfort and personalization designed into each car’s overall user experience.
The stakes could not be higher for global automobile makers, as this market is a trillion-dollar opportunity in the coming years. The worldwide electric vehicle industry is expanding rapidly at a 22.6% compound annual growth rate. The EV market is forecast to grow to $802.8 billion in annual sales by 2027, up from $162.3 billion in 2019, according to a recent report published by Allied Market Research.
Advances in EV development will help lead to the adoption of fully autonomous vehicles for several reasons. Early adopters are already seeking the latest technology innovations for both EVs and AVs. It is easier to add autonomous features to new EVs than to legacy internal-combustion-engine (ICE) vehicles. Also, charging systems, like battery swapping, can integrate seamlessly with autonomous models. Simultaneously, the efficiency of self-driving helps extend the vehicle’s range, overcoming a current pain point for EV owners.
Once the industry can prove the benefits of highly efficient electric and then autonomous vehicles, what will come next for future passengers in this self-driving world? The answer to that question provides a chance to create some real market differentiation.
It is clear that the automotive industry will need to redefine itself by approaching future vehicle designs from the user’s perspective. That means delivering consistent innovations to make the driving experience irresistible for users.
The current manufacturing infrastructure and battery costs will not be enough to satisfy all users today, but the prices of batteries, sensors, and instrumentation will drop as volumes scale. Automakers will activate new features such as advanced cruise control or lane-changing assistance by applying software upgrades on the same basic hardware framework.
The manufacturing processes and support systems for EVs are quite different than for ICE cars. That is because EVs have been developed natively in the mobile internet era, enabling a better user experience from the start. This advantage means that mobile internet technologies can be enabled through regular software updates to speed new user features into self-driving cars.
Voices of drivers should serve as a guide for developers, and user suggestions must be integrated into the very core of the R&D roadmap. Intelligent and personalized settings with our user’s permission will be the norm.
For example, in terms of customization, if users prefer, smart vents can be used to detect a specific person’s location in the car, alter, and learn how each user likes the airflow based upon his or her height and eye level. Likewise, each user’s seat-position, mirrors, lighting, and steering-wheel settings will be adjusted automatically when they get into the car.
Another form of personalization involves the onboard computer’s attention to young travelers. It can act as a kind of “digital nanny” to put parents’ minds at ease.
The smart dashboard screen will detect an infant or child’s car seat and whether the baby is moving around or reaching for something unsafe. It will even entertain children by playing games with them in the backseat. It will also immediately alert the driver if a child is accidentally left in the car alone.
We can only popularize electric vehicles when the charging and battery-swapping experience becomes more convenient than refueling, and the battery cost is acceptable to users without government subsidies. Even with government subsidies to help jump-start the industry, users will desire more direct benefits to develop a stronger emotional attachment to their cars. That desire will only grow as more features are added to improve the user’s comfort, safety, and overall driving experience.
Nio’s Lei Zhang and Emmanuel Saez wrote this article for Futurride.
Lei Zhang leads the global Digital Cockpit team for Nio at the Silicon Valley-based operations. The team is responsible for the single, highly capable domain controller and the holistic digital experience it enables in the company’s products. Lei has over ten years of experience in the technology industry and specializes in Android, embedded Linux, automotive IVI, mobile applications, and web services. Previously, Lei was VP, Software and Chief Architect at Huami Corp. and Tech Lead Manager at Google. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Peking University.
Emmanuel Saez is the Senior Director of the Software Program team within Nio U.S.’s Digital Cockpit department. Emmanuel is responsible for ensuring efficient communication among the software and hardware platforms that control various interfaces on one system within the car to control video, voice, user, cloud, and camera systems. With over 20 years of experience within the software industry, he specializes in connected devices, robotics, wireless, embedded software/firmware, hardware, and electronic systems. Emmanuel holds a Master’s of Science in Electrical, Electronics Engineering, and Computer Science from Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France and a Master’s of Science in Electrical, Electronics Engineering, and Computer Science from Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 in France.
Read more about Nio:
