AVOIDING A FUTURE OF CRIPPLING CAR CONGESTION

Bill Ford, the chairman of Ford Motors, spoke at the 2012 Mobile world congress where he outlined a plan for connected cars to help avoid traffic congestion. Connected cars he explained are vehicles linked to various mobile networks and intelligent systems and capable of M2M communication (Efraim Turban, 2013). During his address in Barcelona, Ford explained to the delegates that the number of cars on the world’s roads is forecasted to grow from 1 billion now to up to 4 billion in the next few years and The proposed solution to avoid the potential problem of a global gridlock due to overcrowded road network is to create a global transportation network that utilizes communication between vehicles, transport infrastructure and individual mobile devices. The proposal is called “Blueprint for Mobility”, and Ford’s idea takes the idea of in car connectivity beyond using it just for navigation and in car entertainment. The idea is to look at vehicles on the road in a similar we look at smartphones, laptops and tablets and as pieces of a much bigger, richer network. These intelligent cars have a lot of untapped potential and could be used in the creation of an interconnected transportation system where cars are intelligent and can talk to one another as well as the infrastructure around them. This mobility solution proposes to avoid a future prospect of global gridlock, a never ending traffic jam that wastes time, energy and resources and even compromises the flow of commerce and healthcare (Efraim Turban, 2013). There should a drive to make cars talk to each other outside the same brand. They need to be interconnected and they can’t discriminate based on model. We need standardization while providing competitive advantages of one brand over another, because at the end of the day this is what will sways one consumer towards one particular brand. Bill Ford suggests that No one company or industry will be able to solve the mobility issue alone and the speed at which solutions take hold will be determined largely by customer acceptance of new technologies.

                This blueprint sets short and long term goals for significant reductions in the company’s global environment footprint, and seeks to visualize what the transport networks will look like in 2025 and beyond. Such as (Ford, 2012):

1.       Near term goals: 5-7 years

- Ford is attempting to develop innovative in car mobile communications and driver interfaces  

- The Developmental of vehicle to vehicle warning systems are also in progress

- Ford is also developing an efficient driving experience with limited autonomous functions which has better connectivity.

 - There is progress being made in the development and definition of new vehicle ownership models like the zip car initiative.

2.       Mid Term goals (2017 – 2025)

- Ford will be introducing semi-autonomous driving technology in the next couple of years.
- There will also be a significant increase in the interactions between the individual cars.
- Technology will be enabled to utilize the cloud interfaces and vehicle to infrastructure communication
- Integrated transport network, will feature cars plugged into public databases for exchanging information.
- To help manoeuver city streets there will there will an introduction of 1, 2 and 3 passenger vehicles.

3.       Long Term goals (2025+)

- A single connected network will be developed which will attempt to weave in the where pedestrian, bicycle, private car, commercial and public transportation traffic and thus altering the transportation landscape.
- Development of smart vehicle which will have the capability of fully autonomous functions.

- Push for a greater use of connected and efficient shared services with the development of a true network of mobility solutions.
 

Everything in the Blueprint is achievable in the future based on existing technology we have today. However the key challenges is in making the offerings affordable and attainable to all customers and finding ways for all stakeholders the auto industry, governments, technology companies and more to make the adaptations needed to the transportation infrastructure.