Every month we release a new interview featuring some of the top female faces in Mobility across the globe. This month we are excited to announce that our very own CEO Sandra Phillips has been named one of Vulog’s 2019 ‘Top 19 Influential Women in Mobility’ along with 18 other women whose contribution to the mobility industry, influence and experience has been vital to the progress of the sector.
Vulog is the world’s leading shared mobility technology provider and are dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements in mobility. Women are still a minority in this sector, and in the tech industry as whole, so we are delighted that Vulog is encouraging greater gender equality. This particular publication profiles women in the transportation and mobility sector who are highly qualified, skilled workers that bring revolutionary ideas to the table.
Each expert on the list helps to create mobility solutions in their respective areas of expertise: from mobility and transportation providers, to consulting services and research organisations, to carmakers and start-ups. Each one of the Top 19 is an inspiration and we are delighted that movmi’s founder has received recognition for her dedication and passion to the world of mobility. Download the full publication here.
If you missed our WiSM interview last month, you can find it here. Want to have a look at all of Women in Shared Mobility interviews? View the entire category here.
Vulog’s Top 19 Most Influential Women in Mobility: WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY?
The final question Vulog posed to each expert was, ‘In three words: What is the future of mobility?’ Each transportation professional had their own unique idea on the topic, but what was interesting was how each answer reflected the next. The main themes throughout the answers included: accessible and affordable transportation (free movement for all), transportation that is both smart and connected and a future of fully electric and autonomous vehicles. We can certainly see the current efforts within the industry and how these ideas are, in places, already a reality and will, without a doubt become the future of how we move.
INCLUSIVE TRANSPORTATION
Access to high-quality public transportation will increase mobility within cities allowing for equal opportunity for its residents. This is particularly true for people with low incomes or people who are unable, physically, to move around a city unattended. Allowing urban dwellers the opportunity to meet everyday needs, whether its work or socializing, will create long-term economic opportunities within the city and provide environmental benefits also. Developing services and an infrastructure to allow complete inclusion within the transportation sector is key for this idea to thrive.
“Movement for All!”
Lynn Blake Vice President, Mobility, PSA North America
Presently, there are companies whose main goal is to create this all inclusive transportation network. An example is Wheeliz. Founder and Parisian, Charlotte de Vilmorin, has been in a wheelchair her whole life and found the constant lack of car share/car rental options available to her (in almost every city she has travelled to) very frustrating. This inspired her to take matters into her own hands. She cofounded Wheeliz, a French car-sharing service that easily connects people with disabilities to owners of adapted cars. Inclusive and competitively priced, Wheeliz has now spread across many French cities, including Paris, Nantes and Bordeaux, with plans to expand internationally.
“Sustainability. Accessibility. Affordability.”
Dr. B Sarah Haynes, Ph.D. Co-founder, Co-CEO, Chairwoman, Bolt Mobility
SMART & CONNECTED mobility
Integrating transportation services using smart technology such as the latest 5G networks, will transform industries, businesses, and consumers with and create total connectivity. These mobile networks will aid cities and municipalities, eventually helping improve every transportation service. Whether a person is moving themselves using a car, public transport or even on foot, connected systems will allow for a seamless and perhaps safer journey. Passengers and travellers will be given more options with added flexibility in how they get from point A to point B. Connectivity opens up new opportunities to develop and improve vehicles and mobility services, which makes mobility safer, more efficient, and more convenient.
“Connected. Shared. On-demand.”
Daniela Gerd tom Markotten CEO, moovel Group (becoming REACH NOW)
There are many cities around the world that have already started solving their transportation problems by embracing and implementing mobility-related technology, such as integrated mobility platforms. These municipal “operating systems” collect data from all over the region, particularly the city which in turn enable smarter city management and better communication between city government and citizens, particularly with regards to mobility and transportation.
A perfect example of a how a city has successfully adopted integrated and smart mobility platforms in Copenhagen in Denmark. Denmark is known for being a world leader in eco-friendly initiatives and has, by far, some of the world’s most advanced and progressive climate policies. One of the main initiatives the country is Copenhagen Connecting. This project involves tracking connected devices, such as cell phones, and using the information gathered to optimize traffic, reduce congestion and thus reduce air pollution. Tracking these devices also provides quick access to useful information, such as traffic, parking, transportation costs, etc. This means the city is completely aware of what current problems are faced by their residents face, which allows them to create effective solutions.
Real-time data exchange between infrastructure and vehicles
To stay up-to-date in the age of connectivity, software and tech companies, for example, Siemens, has created unique connected mobility solutions for use in urban areas. They have designed satellite-based prioritization systems for mass-transit and rescue vehicles, coordinated green phases for cyclists, intelligent road traffic digitalization for electric buses and a smart flow control system for trucks. Essentially, all movement within the city is tracked and on-demand data is available for each service.
“Shared. Connected. Voice-powered.”
Clare Jones Chief Commercial Officer, what3words
Another company that specialises in the smart and connected mobility market is Tornoto based Sidewalk Labs. Sidewalk Labs is currently designing a district in Toronto’s Eastern Waterfront that will tackle the challenges of urban growth. It is a joint effort between Waterfront Toronto and the local community with the aim of making Toronto ‘the global hub for urban innovation’. Using the cutting edge in people centred technology they are building new accommodation that is efficient and affordable, public areas that use data to create a comfortable and lively atmosphere and a brand new Mobility system in the area.
The mobility system will eventually be a safer way to travel and much more convenient that a private car, not only that, but it will be at a much lower cost. Sidewalk Labs believe that autonomous vehicle technology and digital navigation tools can give rise to a next-generation, point-to-point transit system that complements pedestrian, cycling, and bus or rail options to improve convenience, reduce costs, and enhance street safety.
AUTONOMOUS & ELECTRIC VEHICLES
While still relatively early in their development and adoption, autonomous and electric vehicles have rapidly advanced over the last decade and could very well be the automotive industry’s largest disruption in over a century. Electric vehicles essentially trade in the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and instead offer hybrid, or fully electric motors. These motors are usually powered by on-board batteries or hydrogen fuel cells. They have advantage over IECs which include low maintenance costs, less pollution and cheaper ‘fuel’. However, currently, they are more expensive to buy but it is estimated that this will change within the next decade as the cost of batteries begins to decline.
In fact, EVs have become so popular in recent year that they are now a feature of most carshare operators globally. A massive 66% of countries that offer car share services have both mixed, electric and IEC fleets or provide completely electric fleets. It is safe to safe that electric vehicles represent the current and definitely the future of mobility.
“Electric. Shared. Autonomous”
Olia Michou Team Product Leader, Vulog
Autonomous vehicles currently in operation and testing (AVs) rely on artificial intelligence to operate along with different levels on human input. Vehicles being piloted include passenger cars, trucks, and drones and compute billions of data points each second from an array of sensors, cameras, and radar systems. These vehicles can effectively ‘see’ the road and respond to changing conditions or navigate obstacles.
There are levels ranging from one to five that determine the sophistication of the autonomous vehicle and whether or not it is able to drive, unassisted. For AV technology, the highest level (and yet to be achieved) is level 5 automation, meaning there will be no need for human drivers. There are high end cars, currently available that are already capable of level 2 autonomy, such as Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ feature. Companies such a Waymo are slightly more advanced, having vehicles in operation that are level 4, meaning the can drive totally unassisted but only in designated, predetermined areas with optimal road conditions.
However, just this month we reached a new milestone in Autonomous vehicles technology when Daimler and Bosch received approval from German regulators to run their automated driverless parking function without a human safety driver behind the wheel. This is this the world’s first fully automated driverless SAE Level 4 parking function to be officially approved for everyday use.
The quick rise of the automatic vehicle and self driving technology has rendered a lot of debate and caused concern within the industry, particularly with regards to safety. Nevertheless, it is clear to see how this technology will revolutionize the future of how we move, creating more mobility options for more people than every before.
“Equitable. Shared. Automated. (…and Electric!)”
Susan Shaheen Professor at the CEE Department at the University of California (UC), Berkeley
What are your thoughts on the developments in shared mobility that occurred over 2018 and what is to be expected for next year’s developments and the future of mobility? What about the future implementation of shared mobility within rural areas? If you would like to be interviewed or to nominate a woman working in Shared Mobility for our next series, get in touch with us here.
