Touring’s smart route planner predicts availability of charging stations

Ghent, 25/01/2022

Mobility organization Touring and smart mobility service provider Be-Mobile launched a route planner for electric cars this week. Users of the Touring website and application can generate a realistic route that takes into account available charging stations and stopping times. Touring has been offering a route planner that takes into account the current traffic situation on their website for a long time, but is now expanding it to respond to the further electrification of vehicles.

In May 2021, the federal government decided that all companies in Belgium must have a fully electrified vehicle fleet starting in 2026. In addition, several car manufacturers declared they would stop developing new internal combustion engines and focus entirely on electric motors. However, research by Be-Mobile showed that drivers of electric cars suffer from “range anxiety” or the fear that they will not be able to complete a long trip on their current battery charge due to external circumstances, such as traffic jams, bad weather or a queue at electric charging stations.

To address these concerns, the route planner shows where the driver can stop and whether there are any charging stations available. Particularly innovative is the fact that it estimates whether the charging station will be available when the driver arrives based on current availability and historical data. Icons are also used to indicate which leisure facilities in the area can be used while the car is being charged. Touring and Be-Mobile hope that with the adapted route planner they can continue to support their customers and facilitate the switch to electric travel.

Bruno de Thibault, CEO of Touring: “Taking care of personal mobility in all its forms, that is Touring’s DNA. Now that electric driving has started to take off, Touring is helping to remove the last obstacles. An extensive network of charging stations is of course a must, but with this smart route planner we are going a step further to increase the ease and security of charging, thus giving consumers confidence. Being able to put Be-Mobile’s smart technology and rich data processing at the disposal of our Touring members and every car user is a great proof that electric driving is becoming more accessible day by day.”

Back side of the car loading energy. Detail of the power supplier for charging of an electric car.

A new year message from TISA President – 2021

Dear TISA Members,

We are at the end of another year that has brought a lot of difficulties for all of us. The focus was once again on the COVID crisis, not just because of its direct health effects, but also the economic consequences remained problematic. The markets faced unexpected challenges and the social life underwent profound changes.

Now it is time for something new to emerge if our future is to evolve positively. For TISA, this means making adjustments to the administrative structures and expanding the focus on areas of activity that were not previously part of our immediate core business.

With the EAW application, we have shown the world that TPEG is not just the right instrument for services on transport issues. And the cooperation with Deutsche Bahn as one of the largest transport companies in Europe shows that TPEG solutions are not only meant for the road sector. We have created something new. A current UCP on the subject of information for bicycle traffic shows that this development is far from over.

The members of TISA have proven that our organization is highly innovative.

I would therefore like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your commitment and your trust. We can start the new year with confidence.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

TISA President
Thomas Kusche-Knežević

 

Mercedes-Benz receives world’s first internationally valid system approval for conditionally automated driving

Die Bedienelemente für den DRIVE PILOT sitzen im Lenkradkranz oberhalb der Daumenmulden rechts und links. Aktiviert der Fahrer den DRIVE PILOT, regelt das System Geschwindigkeit und Abstand und führt das Fahrzeug souverän innerhalb der Spur. // The controls for DRIVE PILOT are located in the steering wheel rim above the thumb recesses on the right and left. If the driver activates DRIVE PILOT, the system regulates speed and distance and guides the vehicle confidently within the lane.

Mercedes-Benz is the first automotive company in the world to meet the demanding legal requirements of UN-R157 for a Level 3 system1. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has granted system approval for this on the basis of the technical approval regulation UN-R157, thus paving the way for offering such a system internationally2, provided that national legislation allows it. Germany has taken a pioneering role in this with the opening of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) for Level 3 systems in 2017. This is why the first customers will be able to buy an S-Class with DRIVE PILOT in the first half of 2022, enabling them to drive in conditionally automated mode at speeds of up to 60 km/h in heavy traffic or congested situations on suitable stretches of motorway in Germany. The special DRIVE PILOT equipment takes the strain off the driver and allows him or her to perform ancillary tasks3 on the central display such as online shopping or processing e-mails in the in-car office. The system approval also applies to the EQS.

“For many years, we have been working to realise our vision of automated driving. With this LiDAR based system, we have developed an innovative technology for our vehicles that offers customers a unique, luxurious driving experience and gives them what matters most: time. With the approval of the authorities, we have now achieved a breakthrough: We are the first manufacturer to put conditionally automated driving into series production in Germany,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Purchasing. “With this milestone, we are once again proving our pioneering work in automated driving and also initiating a radical paradigm shift. For the first time in 136 years of automotive history, the vehicle takes over the dynamic driving task under certain conditions. At the same time, we are pleased that Germany is continuing its pioneering role in automated driving with this approval.”

The technical approval regulation with which such a system can be certified did not come into force until the beginning of 2021. Since then, it can be implemented in Europe – an opportunity that Mercedes-Benz was quick and the first manufacturer to seize. With the opening of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) for Level 3 systems in 2017, Germany was the first country to create a legal basis for the intended use of these systems.

Mercedes-Benz is initially offering DRIVE PILOT on 13,191 kilometres of motorway in Germany. Extensive test drives for this systems are already underway, for example in the USA and China. As soon as there is a national legal framework for conditionally automated operation in additional markets, the technology will be rolled out step by step.

DRIVE PILOT also has to cope with surprising traffic situations

On suitable motorway sections and where traffic density is high, DRIVE PILOT can offer to take over the driving, initially up to the legally permitted speed of 60 km/h. The controls needed for this are located in the steering wheel rim, on the left and right above the thumb recesses. When the driver activates DRIVE PILOT, the system controls the speed and distance, and effortlessly guides the vehicle within its lane. The route profile, events occurring on the route and traffic signs are correspondingly taken into consideration. The system also reacts to unexpected traffic situations and handles them independently, e.g. by evasive manoeuvres within the lane or by braking manoeuvres.

With LiDAR sensor and redundant systems

DRIVE PILOT builds on the surround sensors of the Driving Assistance Package and comprises additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers indispensable for safe conditionally automated driving. These include LiDAR, as well as a camera in the rear window and microphones, especially for detecting blue lights and other special signals from emergency vehicles, as well as a wetness sensor in the wheel well. As well as the sensor data, the DRIVE PILOT receives information about the road geometry, route profile, traffic signs and unusual traffic events (e.g. accidents or roadworks) from a digital HD map. This is made available and updated via a backend connection. The S-Class with the optional DRIVE PILOT also has redundant steering and braking systems and a redundant on-board electrical system, so that it remains manoeuvrable even if one of these systems fails and the safe handover to the driver can be ensured.

If the driver fails to take back control even after increasingly urgent prompting and expiry of the takeover time, e.g. due to a severe health problem, the system brakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner and with suitable deceleration. At the same time the hazard warning lights and, once the vehicle has come to a standstill, the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system is activated and the doors and windows are unlocked, to make access to the interior easier for any first responders.

High-precision positioning system

The top priority for Mercedes-Benz when introducing such a system is safety, which includes high demands on operational reliability. The exact location of the S-Class is determined using a highly accurate positioning system. This is much more powerful than conventional GPS systems. In addition, data obtained from satellite navigation are matched with sensor data and data from an HD map. Sensor data collected by LiDAR, camera, radar and ultrasonic sensors can be, for example, information on road geometry, route characteristics, landmarks or traffic signs.

The HD map provides a three-dimensional street and environment image. The map data are stored in back-end data centres and updated constantly. Each vehicle also stores an image of this map information on board, constantly compares it with the backend data and updates the local data set if necessary. The HD map thus offers stable positioning through a representation of the surroundings independent of e.g. shadowing effects or a soiled sensor. It also provides information on road geometry or special traffic events such as roadworks. This high-precision map differs from maps for navigation devices by, among other things, its higher accuracy in the centimetre rather than metre range and its detailed intersection and track model.

A powerful central control unit provides the necessary sophisticated software functions for conditionally automated driving. Within the framework of modern security architecture, important algorithms are calculated redundantly.

Conditionally automated driving on suitable motorway sections where traffic density is high

During the conditionally automated journey, DRIVE PILOT allows the driver to take their mind off the traffic and focus on certain secondary activities, be it communicating with colleagues via In-Car Office, surfing the internet or relaxing while watching a film. In DRIVE PILOT mode, applications can be enabled on the vehicle’s integrated central display that are otherwise blocked while driving.

1SAE Level 3: the automated driving function takes over certain driving tasks. However, a driver is still required. The driver must be ready to take control of the vehicle at all times when prompted to intervene by the vehicle.

2ECE contracting states (57) incl. states of the EU, GB, Japan, Korea, Australia

3Which secondary activities of the driver are legally permissible depends on the respective national road traffic regulations.

TISA discusses Cycling and Emergency Alerts & Warnings at December Committee Meeting

On 7 December 2021, TISA Members gathered virtually for the last Committee Meeting of the year. Following some opening remarks by TISA Executive Director Matthias Unbehaun, the report from the Executive Office, the different working groups, and task forces were discussed and finally, TISA Members were addressed by Cycling Industries Europe CEO Kevin Mayne, GEWI CEO Hagen Geppert, Haas Alert Senior Vice President Jeremy Agulnek, and Teatownlake Principal Teun Hendriks.

TISA Committee Meeting was once again carried out online this month, with all members looking forward to having on-site meetings in Brussels again. Important current matters were discussed during the presentations from Content & Service Provision Committee, Technical & Standardisation Committee, and Products Committee. Presentations from four Keynote Speakers both internal and external to TISA were followed with a big interest. Cycling Industries Europe CEO Kevin Mayne talked about cycling and ITS, how the ubiquity of bicycles can be exploited, what smart connected cycling solutions along with automated mobility can further be explored from a cycling focused perspective. The second Keynote Speaker was GEWI CEO Hagen Geppert and he presented GEWI: TIC for Cycling, latest update on GEWI’s software to support greener means of transport such as cycling. As the third Keynote Speaker, Teatownlake’s Teun Hendriks talked about the latest developments and next steps for TPEG-EAW. The last presentation was by Haas Alert Senior Vice President Jeremy Agulnek who talked about Haas Alert’s Safety Cloud and how it can be used for the safety and protection of all road users.

TISA and Members are ready to tackle the new year’s challenges with high spirits with the next Committee Meeting foreseen for March 2022.

 

TISA and Members at the ITS World Congress Hamburg 2021

 

ITS World Congress 2021 organised in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg this year had a big success being one of the first face-to-face events of this size in some time with more than 13,200 participants from 66 different countries. Many Special Interest Sessions and Technical Paper Sessions alongside Plenary Meetings and many sessions from the High-level Programme were held where one of the six predetermined congress topics was discussed.

TISA and its members NNG, GEWI, TomTom, BBK, WDR, and BMT had a very busy schedule during the congress. They presented the partnership and the latest updates at the Special Interest Session 28 organised by Stéphanie Chaufton, TISA Coordinator at ERTICO. TISA members also talked about the latest updates especially on TPEG-EAW protocol and the results of early trials on other Special Interest Sessions TISA was invited to. Furthermore, TISA and its members had a stand where two demonstrations were made: Interactions of Automated vehicles with approaching emergency vehicles as well as the effectiveness of the TPEG-EAW protocol: official emergency alerts and warnings to travellers.