A new report from global automotive systems supplier Bosch, predicts that by 2025 ‘connected car’ safety systems and cloud-based functions could prevent around 260,000 injury accidents, save 390,000 tons of CO2 emissions, and offer drivers more time for other activities.
The study, Connected Car Effect 2025, by Bosch and the Prognos consultancy, investigated the effect of the integration of cars into the Internet of Things (IoT). The two companies assessed a total of 11 technologies for private passenger transport, particularly their dispersion and impacts by 2025 in the USA, Germany, and metropolitan areas in China. The model is based on international statistics on vehicle inventories, accident data and current research, as well as estimates by Bosch and Prognos. For its model calculations, the team simulated the speed at which the new technologies would be adopted into the vehicle fleet.
As an example, according to the model calculations, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) will be available in up to 90% of all vehicles in the three countries covered by the study by 2025, with sensor-based automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane assistance in up to 40% of the car fleet. Systems for more comfort and connectivity will also be found in the majority of cars: in 2025, smartphones will be integrated into approximately every other vehicle’s infotainment system. ESP sensors will report upcoming sections of icy road, cameras will collect data on speed restrictions and fog, and functions such as internet-based parking solutions and wrong-way driver warnings in virtually real-time, will be in widespread use.
Individual findings from the study include:
Over 260,000 accidents involving personal injuries (USA: 210,000, China: 20,000, Germany: 30,000) will be avoided annually; An estimated 350,000 fewer people will be injured by traffic accidents (USA 290,000 fewer, China: 25,000, Germany: 37,000); About 11,000 people could be saved through connected assistance systems (USA: 4,000, China: 7,000, Germany: 300); Up to €4.3bn (US$4.6bn) in material and damage costs will be saved by connected assistance systems (USA: €3.6bn/US$3.8bn, China: €380m/US$405m), Germany: €450m/US$480m); Smartphone integration alone will contribute over €610m (US$651m) savings; Nearly 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be saved due to connected mobility functions. Concepts such as community-based parking and active parking lot management will reduce parking traffic by up to 236 million miles (380 million km), while highly automated driving saves additional fuel; Approx. 70 million driving hours will be shed by connected parking functions in the USA, China and Germany; Highly automated driving will make free around 80% of time behind the wheel.
“Connected mobility will mean fewer accidents, less fuel consumption, less stress,” said Dr Dirk Hoheisel, member of the Bosch board of management. “The hidden heroes of the connected revolution are assistance and comfort systems, which we are often already familiar with. Our study shows that the effects of connectivity will have a perceptible impact on every driver in 2025.”
