INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION BY RACONTEUR.NET #0753 29/07/2021

FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

ARE MECHANICS READY IMPROVING TRAVEL DECARBONISATION IN 03 FOR ELECTRIC CARS? 09 FOR DISABLED PEOPLE 10 THE AVIATION SECTOR 02 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY RACONTEUR.NET 03

FUTURE OF ARE EVs THE CHEAPER CHOICE? The costs of running an electric car compared with those of a petrol equivalent, TRANSPORT based on three years of ownership and an annual mileage of 12,000 & MOBILITY

74p Monty Rakusen via GettyImages via Rakusen Monty per mile Distributed in

Petrol BMW 318i

Contributors

Peter Crush Sam Forsdick £5,112 £445 £15,066 £824 £615 A freelance business Raconteur’s staff writer, Fuel Tax Depreciation Insurance Servicing and tyres journalist specialising with a particular interest in human resources and in technology. He has £1,336 £0 £16,707 £1,089 £565 management issues. previously written for (inc £354 home charger) He was deputy editor I-CIO, Press Gazette and of HR magazine. New Statesman.

Sam Haddad Heidi Vella A journalist A technology writer with specialising in travel, bylines in consumer and with work published in specialist publications The Guardian, The Times including E&T Magazine 67p and 1843 magazine. and Global Data. per mile

Electric BMW i3 If you’re Thatcham Research and Kee Resources, 2021

When it comes to breakdowns, EVs can suffer from many of the same looking at problems that afflict any car, says Sarah Winward-Kotecha, the RAC’s director of electric vehicles. These Brands such as include punctured tyres and other Vauxhall are saying S K I L L S wheel-related problems, or running this advert, down the 12V battery by leaving the that their entire lights on. These low-level problems fleet will be can be sorted at the roadside under the RAC’s regular membership; you electric by 2028. Electric vehicles pose challenge don’t need specialist EV cover. We haven’t got long “But it is important for drivers to then your realise that, unlike a conventionally Publishing manager Design Ellen Catchpole Pip Burrows powered car, you can’t just tow an Kellie Jerrard for automotive repairs EV, or a hybrid for that matter. It needs to be lifted, often with all Managing editor Celina Lucey Sarah Vizard Colm McDermott wheels off the ground,” she says. than the drivetrain of a convention- prospects Samuele Motta Normally, that would mean waiting ally fuelled vehicle, we’d expect Jack Woolrich As more British Sam Haddad for a flatbed truck, although the RAC fewer mechanical breakdowns, but Deputy editor Sean Wyatt-Livesley Francesca Cassidy is fitting­ more of its patrol vans with it’s too early to say this with confi- Illustration drivers switch to lectric vehicles are power- But this puts a whole chunk of of excellence, which has its own bat- a so-called all-wheels-up system, dence,” Winward-Kotecha says. Sara Gelfgren ing ahead in the UK, fuelled ­income at risk for the automotive tery simulator so trainees can learn which can recover most EVs. The EV revolution will be a learn- Sub-editor electric vehicles, E are too. by government support and ­repair ­industry, says Professor Peter safely without risking shocks. Thousands of drivers still manage ing experience for vehicle owners. Neil Cole Art director consumer interest. But what will the Wells, director­ of the Centre for But according to the RAC, only 5% to run out of petrol and diesel every For example, one of the challenges Gerrard Cowan Joanna Bird are garages and changing market mean for the auto- ­Automotive Industry Research at of the UK’s 200,000 mechanics are year. Could EVs suffer a similar of buying a used EV is knowing how Head of production Design director mechanics ready motive repair sector? Cardiff Business School. Although qualified to work on electric cars. problem, frequently running out of the battery has been treated. If Justyna O’Connell Tim Whitlock EVs have much in their favour. motorists must still put their car “We’re definitely behind the curve,” charge? It’s too early to say, accord- something goes wrong with it, driv- Advertise with Raconteur in The Times for the change? Their environmental benefits are through an annual MoT test, it’s says Wells, noting that mechanics ing to Winward-Kotecha. ers could face replacement costs of well known, while upfront purchase ­easier for an EV to pass, he says. require several courses to get up to “What we do know is that, sadly, about £5,000, according to Wells. and reach more senior business decision costs are set to tumble in the next “You’re doing away with the oil speed. “There’s not enough of these some drivers are reaching public “These are quite tricky issues to few years as battery tech improves. change, the filter change and ex- around, especially given that brands charge points and discovering that explain to consumers. This will be makers than any other national title. The sector also has official backing, haust changes. You’re not worrying such as Vauxhall are saying that they’re out of order and they don’t an interesting challenge for the with the government announcing about emissions, so that takes away their entire fleet will be electric by have enough charge left to get to a ­warranty companies,” he says. “I last November that petrol and diesel a big part of the problem. But it also 2028. We haven’t got long.” working one,” she says, noting that can imagine that there will be lots of

Although this publication is funded through advertising and cars will no longer be sold in the takes away a big part of the revenue And it’s not only about training drivers have also experienced prob- ­disputes, as there is no way for the Email [email protected] sponsorship, all editorial is without bias and sponsored features country after 2030. Research by the potential for the garages.” mechanics; working on EVs also lems charging their vehicles at home consumer to know what the life of are clearly labelled. For an upcoming schedule, partnership energy watchdog Ofgem has found When batteries do fail, they can be ­requires specialist tools and equip- over night. that battery has been like.” to learn more about our calendar inquiries or feedback, please call +44 (0)20 3877 3800 or that 25% of British consumers are difficult to repair. Mechanics need ment. “You’ve got to be able to drop The RAC is planning to offer EV Manufacturers will have this data email [email protected] planning to buy an electric car in the specialist training, given the voltag- these battery packs out and they are chargers in about 20% of its patrol to hand, as they collect such infor- of over 80 reports in The Times. Raconteur is a leading publisher of special-interest content and next five years. es involved, although Wells notes big, heavy pieces of kit – much more vans next year. It has also started an mation each time their EVs are used. research. Its publications and articles cover a wide range of topics, But for garages and mechanics, that it’s more a different type of risk so than an engine,” Wells says. EV leasing scheme and partnered But it’s unclear whether they will including business, finance, sustainability, healthcare, lifestyle and technology. Raconteur special reports are published exclusively in there’s a great deal to consider. EVs than an increased danger. So will garages focus on EVs alone with British Gas to provide a new share this with owners or use it to The Times and The Sunday Times as well as online at raconteur.net have an electric motor instead of an “Petrol and diesel vehicles also or upskill for the growing sector while electricity tariff for EV drivers. encourage drivers to stick with their The information contained in this publication has been obtained internal combustion engine, which come with risks, especially of fire and offering their traditional services? A EVs still represent only a tiny frac- service network, rather than using from sources the Proprietors believe to be correct. However, no means they have far fewer moving fumes, which are extremely toxic. It’s bit of both, says Wells. Petrol and die- tion of the company’s 2 million-plus independent garages. legal liability can be accepted for any errors. No part of this parts that can go wrong. That’s great more a change of risk,” he says. sel cars will still be around, “although ­call-outs each year. While it’s too It’s clear, then, that this sector, publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the news for consumers, as EVs cost at Training for mechanics takes the big debate is for how long. We’re soon to know for sure whether they from garages to used-car websites, Publisher. © Raconteur Media least 30% less to service and main- place in-house at manufacturers or already seeing specialist electric break down less, it certainly doesn’t will need to adjust to the EV age. As tain, according to research by data at technical colleges, such as Coleg used-car sales. I’d expect to see more appear they’re prone to more prob- Wells says: “The whole industry is @raconteur /raconteur.net @raconteur_london company KeeResources. Cambria in Wrexham, an EV centre of that on the servicing side”. lems. “With a lot fewer moving parts going to have to change.”

raconteur.net /transport-mobility-2021 04 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY RACONTEUR.NET 05

57%, while car journeys increased, as people regarded these as safer. Might this present opportunities for e-scooters, which could offer the best of both worlds? ­Halfords, which reported a 184% year-on-year rise COMMUTING in sales of e-mobility products in November 2020, claims that about a third of commuters would consider using one for short journeys. “Uncertainty still surrounds the Transport settling-down period that Covid ­created,” says Anna Wilson, trans- port planning director at WSP. “The longer that people do or don’t use planners plot certain transport modes, the harder it is for planners to plan.”

How towns and cities route through 3 will respond “City-centre management will be critical as the new normal unfolds – but it’s not easy to plan,” the unknown says Mike Waters, director of policy, strategy and innovation at Trans- port for West Midlands (TFWM). The The pandemic has turned the rise in remote working means that town centres will suffer unless they commute on its head and raised attract people for both leisure and work, he adds. difficult questions about the TFWM recently started schemes future for transport modelling that, it hopes, will encourage travel to towns and cities. This includes a car trade-in scheme, in which workers can scrap their vehicles and ­receive up to £3,000 in credits for Peter Crush use on public transport. Three months ago it also started trialling ith millions of employees The council has just published a a “demand-responsive travel” pro- W furloughed or working at transport plan to 2036, predicting about what the future of rail use will gramme, featuring Uber-style smart home, Covid-19 has thrown the end of rush hour. Smith says he be”, he warns. “Part of this is where buses that can be hailed. commuter travel into disarray. But envisages that hybrid working will people will commute to and from.” Environmental demands add a its longer-term impact could be even contribute to a 25% reduction in layer of uncertainty. The mayor of more profound, upending planning car journeys around the city, with How people will The longer that London, Sadiq Khan, wants 80% of assumptions for years to come. ­commuters choosing buses, trains 2 want to travel people do or journeys in the capital to be made Last summer, Leeds station, the or cycles when they do travel. There is now far greater un- on sustainable forms of transport busiest railway hub in northern Ewan Moore, client development certainty about the potential for don’t use certain by 2041, but declining bus and train England, was given six years to director at Bristol marketing agency “modal shifts” in transport than transport modes, usage is jeopardising this goal. boost its capacity or risk “failing”. Unlimited, is embracing this new ­before the pandemic, according to “Towns need people using them,” In 2016, there were warnings that reality. Since his company adopted Nick Richardson, transport planner the harder it is for says Alex Williams, TfL’s director of ­London’s Tube network was set hybrid working, he has commuted at the Chartered Institute of Logis- planners to plan city planning. Conurbations must to become “inoperable” within 15 by bicycle. “Bristol is a safe city to tics and Transport. think of the best uses for their years. What now for such forecasts cycle in and is getting better all the Train usage is at 40% of its pre-­ streets, he adds. as we emerge from the pandemic? time,” Moore says. “Bike lanes give Covid level, although it is expected to Homeworking will lead not to less It’s still unclear – so much so that me confidence when cycling at peak recover. The consumption of bus ser- travel, but to more disparate travel, the Department for Transport has times or even at night.” vices is particularly hard to predict, spring 2019, an emerging new trend ­according to Williams. Indeed, created what it calls an uncertainty Richardson says, with data from is adding uncertainty: the return of towns could see an increase in their toolkit to aid the planning process. Town and city the International Transport Forum the car. Transport for London (TfL) populations, as defunct space is As planners try to predict dem­ 2 centres are changing ­suggesting that 40% of commuters data from June shows that the pro- turned into residential areas. and, what do they know? And, just Predictions of the demise The shift to localism need to live close to work. In a sign never want to use them again. Yet portion of journeys walked, cycled This, he notes, “could mean that as crucially, what don’t they know? of the high street predate Covid, 3 Regardless of where hybrid of the times, Cornwall has over­ buses must still be considered. “Any or made on public transport over small towns and cities will require but this process is likely to be accel- workers choose to live, taken London as the most searched- city resurgence plan must incorpo- the calendar year fell from 63% to more infrastructure investment”. THREE THINGS THEY KNOW erated by hybrid working. Westfield, many travel experts envision a shift for location­ on Rightmove. rate bus access, as unpredictability for example,­ is reviewing whether towards localism, with employers But, according to Fran Collins, gives bus operators a reason not to There will be more future footfall would be enough to thinking holistically about com- chair of the Business South Mari- provide services,” he observes. COVID HAS HAD A BIG IMPACT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN LONDON 1 home working sustain its planned £1.4bn shopping muting’s impact on local amenities. time and Transport Action Group, If towns and cities do aim for a Only 5.7% of employees centre in Croydon. “The pre-Covid travel patterns we this raises big questions about what greener future, cycling could be the Total journeys on the London Overground in the 12 weeks leading up to each date were working from home before the Existing retail outlets could suffer were all used to will change,” says the trend will mean for rural trans- big winner. But the ­future in this ­pandemic, according to the Wales from a fall in commuter numbers. Andy Marchant, traffic adviser at port networks. While Dorset’s roads ­respect is also unclear. While fig- 60 Institute of Social and Economic For instance, Pret a Manger has TomTom. His company has found are at 100% capacity, planners don’t ures show that cycling in London Research and Data. Covid-19 has ­announced 2,800 job cuts and the that, when firms in business parks know whether “this is an immediate rose by between 7% and 22% to the 50 changed everything in this respect closure of 30 sites after reporting a cooperate to stagger their in-office post-pandemic trend or whether end of March 2021 compared with – and the effects could be lasting. 60% decline in trade. working days, they reduce overall the status quo will return in two to While many offices may be open Transport planners are trying to traffic levels and rush-hour delays. three years”. 40 again, McKinsey has found that 52% encourage more work and leisure Towns and cities are embracing About 12 million Britons in rural of workers globally want a hybrid trips by reimagining cities as green- localism, according to Marchant. areas have faced ­reductions in 30 working model. Likewise, research er and healthier spaces. Last sum- They are offering “smarter”, real­ transport infrastructure, according published by YouGov this April mer, for instance, Liverpool City time information to travellers in to consultancy WSP. More arri­vals, showed that 20% of Britons want to Council pedestrianised Bold Street areas such as car parking or charg- it warns, could leave these regions 20 work permanently from home. and Castle Street, as well as adding ing facilities for electric cars. looking like “transport deserts”, About 20% of Leicester’s working outside dining and trialling the hire where infrastructure development % journeysNumber (millions) of population have office jobs, accord- of e-scooters with Voi Technology. THREE THINGS THEY STILL lags population growth. 20 10 ing to Andrew Smith, director of Liverpool resident Ioana Popova, DON’T KNOW WSP’s transport planner for Leeds, planning, transportation and eco- who works centrally, has become a Simeon Butterworth, says that it’s of Britons want to work from home permanently 0 nomic development at Leicester regular e-scooter user. She no longer Where people will important not to over-analyse the after offices are reopened, raising questions about City Council. “We sense that there’ll needs to walk to work or catch a bus choose to live data, but “those working on the the future of commuting 1 3 Mar 2019 1 Apr 2021 be a shift to working in the office from the railway station. “Scooters Hybrid or remote working Northern Powerhouse Rail project, 26 May 2019 18 Aug 2019 10 Nov 2019 2 Feb 2020 3 May 202026 Jul 2020 18 Oct 2020 10 Jan 2021 two to three days a week”, he says. are faster and more fun,” she says. means that many of us no longer for example, are already nervous YouGov, 2021 Transport for London, 2021 06 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY RACONTEUR.NET 07

HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND ON WHO ARE THE TOP CAR-SHARERS? KING OF THE OUR CARS EVERY WEEK? Wealthy young urban families seem to be driving the car-sharing trend (percentages may not add up to 100 owing to rounding) 40-49

14% 18-29 Low income High income £27.80 50-64 45% 28% 44% ROAD: THE was the average weekly UK 4% household expenditure on new CAR REIGNS car and van purchases in 2020 Age Income

30-39 Middle income £41.30 36% 28% SUPREME is how much we spent on running those cars and vans on average Other Single person Megacity (over Rural community Office for National Statistics, 2021 11% 12% 5m inhabitants) 6% Despite the ongoing campaign for sustainability and a plethora of 12% public transport options, from hydrogen-powered buses to e-scooters, WE’RE NOT GETTING RID OF OUR CARS Large family Couple City with over Small town we Brits still love our cars. So, as car ownership increases and driving ANY TIME SOON (more than 20% 1m inhabitants 19% continues to be our favourite way to get to work, what options are there 2 children) Percentage of Britons Household 6% Type of Household car for the automobile lover who wants to be a little greener? who say the following is 64% 6% type community their most commonly used mode of transport for their daily commute Public transport 24% Small family CAR OWNERSHIP CONTINUES TO RISE Kantar Media, 2021 Large city Medium-sized town (up to 2 children) Statista, 2020 34% 23% Number of British households that own the following number of cars (millions) 50% Statista, 2020 40 1 car 2 cars 3 cars or more No cars Own bicycle 10%

35

Taxi 5% Statista, 2020 30

25 revenue earned by forecast the UK car rentals revenue 20 £760m market in 2020 £1.7bn by 2025 Car-sharing 2% 15 Own motorcycle 2% 10 Bike rentals/bike-sharing 1% HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED CAR-SHARING 12% Percentage of people worldwide who have used car-sharing at least weekly in 2020 5 Own motor scooter 1%

Ride-sharing/ride hailing 1% 0 Other 13% 2017 2019 2016 2015 2018 2020

10% 10% 1,176,000 1,986,000 2,109,0000 2,966,000 DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS ALSO INCREASING

Total number of plug-in electric vehicles sold worldwide McKinsey and the International Energy Agency, 2020

9% 9% 9% 118,000 204,000 329,000 547,000 752,000

8%

Before Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5 After pandemic pandemic (9-18 May) (27-29 May) (16-18 June) (15-17 July) (2-4 September) (forecast)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 McKinsey, 2020 08 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY RACONTEUR.NET 09 Commercial feature

Shen set about creating a passen- ger assistance app that would help Polestar facts ­people to plan their journey and ­notify rail operators of their accessi- bility requirements more easily. As an able-bodied Founded in Maskot via GettyImages via Maskot After three years of development, person, I can take the app has been rolled out across all rail providers, thanks to a part- travelling by train nership with National Rail. It’s been for granted. For 2017 downloaded more than 3,000 times. The slow pace of change is partly disabled people, down to outdated tech, according the anxiety kicks to Shen. “In the past, station staff ­relied on email and fax to see the in when they start Models booking information of people with planning the journey 3 accessibility issues, which can be Polestar 1 hard to track at a busy station dur- a high performance hybrid ing peak hours. With the app, this information is always up to date.” Polestar 2 There are plans to introduce new individual within the community,” features to help users plan bus, taxi Martin says. and underground journeys, and to More than 3,000 front-line employ- navigate their way around airports. ees at Govia Thameslink Railway 100% “Our vision at Transreport is to have undertaken training in disabil- Electric fastback provide a truly door-to-door, acces- ity awareness so far. sible travel experience,” Shen says. “It is really important that every “We need to realise that people are assistance works. One failed assis- Polestar 3 not disabled because of their medi- tance is one too many,” says Martin, cal or physical conditions; they are who will also highlight successful disabled by the inaccessibility of journeys made by disabled passen- 100% the society around them.” gers to boost the confidence of other This is an element of accessibility travellers with accessibility needs. Electric SUV launching 2022 that Govia Thameslink Railway, the “If in a year’s time I can say that nation’s busiest rail operator, is we’ve increased the number of peo- ­conscious of improving. Its newly ple with accessibility needs travel- Founded by Volvo and Geely ACCESSIBILITY disabled people. Pennick explains appointed accessibility manager, ling on our network, I will have done that contact assistance was, in Carl Martin, has the task of leading what I set out to achieve,” he says. Headquartered in some cases, “essentially scrapped” a cultural change at the company It’s important to remember that Gothenburg, Sweden because of the lockdown restric- and promoting the work it’s doing to catering for those with disabilities CEO is Thomas Ingenlath tions, while the move to al fresco improve accessibility. is not a minority pursuit. Just over Charting a dining has left little room for wheel- Martin readily admits that acces- 14 million people in the UK have a chair users to navigate city streets. sibility was not something that he disability. It is estimated that the “Unfortunately, what we’ve seen had considered for the first 36 years combined annual spending power during the pandemic is the very fast of his life, but he started to see the of households with at least one Cobalt, for example, is a perfect crucial to hold off some of the worst route to truly implementation of many initiatives world from a different perspective ­disabled member is £274bn. candidate for blockchain tracking. impacts of climate change, and avoid that didn’t necessarily have acces­ after a motorbike accident left him “Travel is a fundamental right – How Polestar plans to Cobalt is required for the battery, but irreversible damage to societies, econ- sibility in mind and have actually paralysed from the chest down. and accessibility should be central not all sources are equally sustainable. omies and the natural world. further excluded disabled people,” “I am very focused on people and to the design­ of any transport sys- Circulor ensures the origin and impact Johan Falk, head of the Exponential accessible she says. “It’s all very well having on how people deliver our services. tem,” Pinnock says. “It can no longer of cobalt is clear for all to see. Roadmap Initiative, says, “Electric an accessible bus fleet, but, if the This is because how you’re dealt be thought of as a luxury or just a eliminate all emissions “Caring about ethics and the envi- cars will be superior in terms of price bus stop or if the pavement on the with can make you feel valued as an nice thing to have.” ronment is key to Polestar,” says and performance and manufacturers way to the bus stop is inaccessible, Ingenlath. “This unprecedented level will start to cut their fossil production transport the buses are irrelevant.” The Swedish EV brand is on an ambitious mission of traceability means that Polestar can lines for economical reasons, sooner A new passenger assistance app DISABLED PEOPLE ARE LESS SATISFIED WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION promote sustainable and ethical prac- than later. Disruptive companies like is one way in which transport pro­ to create world’s first truly climate-neutral car tices in its supply chain, and provide Polestar play an important role in Navigating public transport can viders are hoping to improve the Satisfaction rates with local public transport information Disability No disability better transparency for consumers.” accelerating this transformation.” ­experience of travellers with special by disability status (England, outside London) For total transparency, the com- The result? A car brand that not only accessibility needs. After initially be a challenge for people with Amount of information pany published a full Lifetime Cycle leads the electric market on perfor- designing an app to improve the 55% Assessment (LCA) for the Polestar mance and aesthetics, but is a pioneer disabilities, particularly during customer experience of train pas- 58% op Gear magazine ran a spe- “By pushing ourselves to create a – a material manufactured from dis- 2, complete with methodology. The in sustainability, and transparency. the pandemic. How should sengers in general, Jay Shen, the T cial report in April to find completely climate-neutral car, we carded fishing nets. report encompasses aluminium pro- For buyers looking for a brand to match founder and MD of Transreport, Clarity of information the best electric cars on the are forced to reach beyond what is The toughest challenge is to eliminate duction and refining, plastics produc- their own outlook, Polestar is unrivalled. service providers respond? quickly realised the technology’s 56% market, and found the best all-rounder possible today. We will have to ques- carbon emissions across the supply tion, electricity used in component Polestar’s head of Sustainability, ­­potential to improve the journeys of 58% to be? The Polestar 2 of course. tion everything, innovate and look to chain. Electric cars require multiple manufacturing, logistics, and the end- Fredrika Klarén, is proud of the mis- those with disabilities. The editor wrote: “The Polestar 2 is exponential technologies as we design components such as battery cells, of-life of the vehicle. Everything is laid sion. She says, “We’re electric, so we While presenting the app to a Accuracy of information a standout. Not because it’s perfect, towards zero.” body steel, electronics, the wheels and bare. Overall, a Polestar 2 leaves the don’t have to worry about combustion Sam Forsdick panel of transport industry experts, 56% but because it has a gentle charac- This mission is forcing Polestar tyres, all of which generate emissions. factory gates with a CO2e impact of engines producing toxic emissions – Shen was approached by equality 59% ter that gives it just that little meas- to rethink how cars are made. The To track the impact of components, 26 tons. However, if charged exclu- but that doesn’t mean our job is done. consultant Nick Goss, who is a Ease of finding the right information ure of soul. If the future of electric Polestar factory in Chengdu was the Polestar is partnering with Circulor, sively with renewable energy, its emis- We will now work to eradicate all emis- sing public transport can “A lot of solutions in the transport wheelchair user. He explained how cars is built on first attempts like this, first LEED Gold-certified automotive a blockchain-based supply chain sion curve remains flat, as opposed to sions stemming from production.” U be particularly stressful for industry can be described as being the app could benefit people who, 52% then the future is bright for EVs. And, production facility in China. It was tracker. This means the origin and a fossil fuel car that will keep spitting She urges the entire industry to follow disabled travellers. Social accessible on paper, but actually the like him, have been left at railway 56% like the star that shares its name, the designed by the Norwegian architec- movement of components can be out tailpipe emissions throughout its Polestar’s lead: “Now is a historic and media feeds tell horror stories of journey can still be very difficult ­stations without someone to help Information about accessible buses Polestar leads the way.” ture firm Snøhetta and runs on 100% monitored – including by consumers lifetime. However, regardless of how exciting time for car makers, an oppor- people being abandoned on trains, and stress-inducing,” says Katie them board their train. 46% Polestar is familiar with winning renewable electricity. and third-party bodies. the energy is generated to charge tunity to seize the moment, do better while vital information can be diffi- Pennick, campaign manager at The conversation resonated with 54% awards. The Swedish electric vehicle Innovative materials are critical Polestar 2 it will have a lower carbon and dare to build the dream of climate cult to obtain. For instance, when Transport for All, an organisation Shen, who says: “As an able-bodied brand, founded by Volvo and Geely, to the journey. WeaveTech, a 100% footprint over life than an equivalent neutral, circular and beautiful cars.” ­National Rail Enquiries changed its aiming to improve the accessibility person, I can take travelling by train Availability of information to help people plan journeys produces arguably the most advanced vegan, durable and lightweight mate- combustion engine car. online timetables to black and white of London’s transport network. for granted. For disabled people, the 55% electric vehicles on the market today. rial, is used in the Polestar 2. The In June, Polestar joined the to mark the Duke of Edinburgh’s These challenges can vary from a anxiety kicks in when they start 60% But the real prize Polestar is searching amount of chemical plasticiser is Exponential Roadmap Initiative and UN death in April, it rendered them lack of accessible infrastructure to planning the journey. They need to for is unrelated to horsepower or looks. reduced from the industry standard Race to Zero. The initiative connects To find out more please visit ­unusable for many people with transport planning apps directing know whether the station is accessi- Reliability of electronic information at bus stops The brand wants to be a pioneer in sus- of 45% to around 1%. Precept, the businesses committed to taking action Polestar.com visual impairments. people to stations that aren’t step- ble, if they need a ramp to board, 52% tainability. In the same month it won the brand’s first concept car, now slated By pushing ourselves to create a in line with the 1.5 °C climate target, While figures published by the free. “Disabled people face barriers, whether someone will be there to 54% Top Gear award Polestar announced a for production, explores materials through exponential climate action ­Department for Transport indicate difficulties and inconveniences at help and whether there’s an acces­ Provision of public transport information overall moonshot goal to create the world’s first such as natural flax composite fibres completely climate-neutral car, and solutions. The target, outlined in that 99% of buses and 92% of trains every stage,” Pennick says. sible toilet.” truly climate-neutral car by 2030. and 3D tailored knit seat covers made the Paris Agreement, means restricting are accessible, this is not always The pandemic has exacerbated He adds: “This planning can take 54% we are forced to reach beyond 57% “Offsetting is a cop-out,” says from 100% recycled PET bottles. a global temperature increase to 1.5°C ­reflected in the lived experiences many of these problems and has hours on top of the journey itself, Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s CEO. Carpets are even made from Nylon 6 what is possible today above pre-industrial levels. This will be of ­travellers with disabilities. often created new challenges for which can be a stressful experience.” Department for Transport, 2021 10 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY RACONTEUR.NET 11 Commercial feature

DECARBONISATION consultation on how the UK can could reduce CO2 emissions by half lead progress. for smaller, single-aisle aircraft. “There’s no single technology Larger carriers consider aircraft that we believe can achieve carbon fuelled by ammonia or green hydro- neutrality by 2050,” says Bram It’s not a simple swap out gen to be the front-running tech- Aviation Peerlings, consultant for sustaina- of technology. We need to nology. But these aren’t expected ble aviation at Amsterdam-based almost start again with before 2035, owing to the amount research centre NLR and co­-­author of technological and supply-chain Equipping of Destination 2050, a report on how­ the aircraft design development still required. confronts its to decarbonise the industry. Howard, who’s worked for ­Airbus Nonetheless, NLR believes that for 35 years, says that FlyZero’s­ some approaches, such as sustaina- ­current thinking is that liquid automotive ble fuels and operational improve- ­cryogenic hydrogen – which is kept emissions ments, “can be implemented fairly at -253ºC – will be needed. quickly, whereas others are at a the European Commission has “It’s not a simple swap out of tech- very early stage of development and ­proposed a progressive tax on pol- nology. We need to almost start designers with commercialisation”, Peerlings says. luting jet fuel, as well as increasing again with the aircraft design,” he challenge The report suggests that 92% of minimum SAF blends to 2%, rising explains. Airbus revealed three ­industry-associated CO2 emissions to 5% in 2030 and 63% in 2050. ­hydrogen-powered concept planes from flights departing the EU and The World Economic Forum’s last year, all taking different engi- the tools to Aircraft manufacturers are making the UK can be reduced by the sector.­ ‘Clean skies for tomorrow’ initiative neering approaches. The remainder will require carbon also hopes to boost the consump- Any new technology adopted will progress with innovative decarbonising capture and reforestation. tion of SAF by means of a certificate need to be commercialised and – In some ways, the pandemic has programme that enables compa- crucially – universally trusted. create the cars technologies, but commercialising these expedited measures to reduce the nies to pay a premium for the fuel “Everyone is accustomed to oper- industry’s emissions. For instance, when flying, which can then be ating with kerosene-powered air- will be far from simple KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and BA used in their accounting for scope- craft,” Howard says. “There needs both substituted more efficient three greenhouse gas emissions. to be a level of technological matu- of the future ­carriers for their ageing Boeing 747s SAF needs no new infrastructure rity and cost minimisation before earlier than they had planned to. or equipment investment, unlike the equipment manufacturers, the Heidi Vella It’s estimated that next-generation electricity- and hydrogen-powered airlines and the public will accept models such as the Airbus A320neo aircraft, which require entirely new change, both technologically and The automotive world may have changed ew sectors have been hit Given all the turbulence that avi- are about 20% more fuel-efficient engineering. Despite the difficulty, in terms of cost, which is why we F harder by the pandemic ation has gone through, the timing than their predecessors. it looks as though shorter commer- need to act now to address the beyond recognition, but design remains at than aviation. But as vac- couldn’t be worse. But, despite the But it will take more than a fleet cial routes could be using electric carbon-reduction­ challenge.” its core. As experts in the field, Autodesk cine roll-outs help to ease restric- adversity, the industry is respond- upgrade to get the industry to planes by the end of this decade. The global aviation industry is tions and the industry plots a route ing. Last September, airline alli- where it needs to be. In the short In a notable move, United Airlines ­expected to be worth about £4tn by has moved with the times to provide back to profitability, it’s facing ance oneworld announced that all term, replacing kerosene or blend- announced in July that it would be 2050. Yet in April alarm bells rang another existential threat: the pres- 13 of its members, including British ing it with sustainable aviation fuel buying 100 19-seat electric planes in the UK after the Aerospace Tech- the tools to enable those designing the sure to decarbonise. Airways, had committed to net zero (SAF) is one of the most promising. from Swedish startup Heart Aero- nology Institute, which allocates Aviation contributes between 2% emissions by 2050. Made from renewable feedstocks space, on condition that they meet public money to the sector, was transport of the future and 3% of the world’s greenhouse Governments are also outlining such as waste oils and agricultural various safety and commercial forced to suspend its funding pro- gas emissions, but is on course to their ambitions for the sector. The residue, SAF can reduce carbon standards. Using battery ­power gramme for 2021. become the second-highest emitter UK is one of the biggest export- emissions by 70% compared with rather than jet fuel, these ­zero­- With so much investment and in 2050, as other sectors reduce their ers of aerospace products and ser- standard jet fuel. emission aircraft can fly up to 250 transformation required, a key impact. Owing to the technological vices globally. This month the SAF is two to three times more miles. They’re expected to be oper- question arises: will it make flying f you were to show someone Heermann observes, with an increased leaps required to reduce emissions, government, as part of its £125m ­expensive than conventional fuel ational from 2026. more expensive for the masses? I in the car industry 50 years focus on the interior and aesthetic as experts say the groundwork must ‘jet zero’ ambition to deliver the and production is only 0.05% of It’s unlikely that battery power “That’s what our modelling fore- ago what making a vehicle our experience changes as we become start now if the world is to meet the first zero-emission flight across total jet fuel consumption in the would ever be viable for bigger sees,” Peerlings says. “But it is pos- would look like in 2021, they probably more passenger than driver in increas- targets agreed in the Paris accord. the Atlantic, published a strategy EU. To incentivise its development, ­aircraft, though, owing to the sible that companies might decide wouldn’t believe their eyes. Vehicles ingly autonomous vehicles. designs and share ideas like never growing acceptance of such technology able to transport the intent to the pro- weight of the batteries. But there to internalise some of those costs.” today are unrecognisable compared before, but they also save time and means the automotive industry of the duction. Otherwise, you can come up will probably be levels of “hybrid­ He and Howard agree that, in to their predecessors and continue Digitalisation as a key for creativity make the whole process of collabora- future is likely to increasingly rely on it with the most amazing idea but it will isation” along the way, according order to achieve these ambitious to change and evolve, from how they It’s with these changes in mind that tion and design more efficient. He gives to ensure fast, flexible and agile design never reach production.” to Mark Howard, head of commer- goals, governments must create the work and the way they’re powered to Autodesk offers a range of solutions one example of Nissan’s chief designer and development of vehicles. “What’s When it comes to design, Autodesk’s cial strategy at FlyZero, a £15m right policies and provide funding what they look like and how they’re for the automotive industry, spanning giving a whole presentation at the interesting is the convergence between attributes don’t stop at technology. government­-funded initiative that streams to incentivise and support designed. Those changes aren’t stop- project management software, design Tokyo Motor Show via VR. But on a more the physical and digital worlds - they The company’s broad spectrum of is being delivered by the Aerospace the necessary investments. ping, with the transport of the future software and 3D visualisation and ani- hands-on basis, XR provides an envi- are always in sync. And no matter where experience makes it well placed to Technology Institute. Its remit is “By not doing this, governments set to be just as different from today’s mation to equip designers at original ronment that allows both creativity and you are, what device you have, you can help design the vehicles of the future, Yaorusheng via GettyImages via Yaorusheng to outline a future decarbonisation risk missing an opportunity to cap- as today’s is from yesteryear’s. equipment manufacturers (OEMs) collaboration, says Heermann. The lev- collaborate on the latest designs, share whether they’re electric vehicles, framework for the sector. italise on the sustainable aviation Such huge changes don’ t just happen. with the tools they need to explore erage of such technology means design your opinions, get stakeholders aligned. flying helicopters or vehicles for urban The Destination 2050 report cal- market,” Howard says. “It’s a global They’re the result of intricate design new ideas. “We give them tools so reviews can take place more easily than You can even make decisions on digital transportation. “Because we do engi- culates that range- and capacity-­ problem and a global industry, so work and inspirational creativity - a they can be creative,” says Heermann. ever, with designers, engineers, deci- models with confidence and that’s one neering, we do architecture, we bring optimised hybrid-electric aircraft there is a race to compete.” sphere that has also changed beyond “They can articulate ideas in 3D and sion-makers and stakeholders able to of the things that has set us apart over these domains together and give our belief. While people once modelled use tools to virtualise them to collabo- meet virtually from around the globe. the last couple of years.” customers a bigger and more inclusive the cars of the future with clay and rate over the ideas.” In another example, rather than fly to picture.” Take, for example, a customer WHAT DECARBONISING AVIATION COULD REALLY COST sketches, now state-of-the-art tech- That collaboration is key when it Korea from Europe for a design review, Freeing up designers to get creative who creates electric, personal urban nology is key to creating the transport comes to bringing designers and engi- one studio chief used VR to have a vir- Elsewhere, developments in compu- mobility systems that are connected Projected rates of CO2 reduction and European airline expenditure of the future, helping to explore new neers closer together, he adds, and tual session - a more effective way of tational design allow computers to via pillars in a city – converging archi- on economic measures for 2030 and 2050 designs and develop innovative, aes- while a big clay model in a studio may engaging than sharing on a computer generate solutions in minutes that tectural planning, mechanical design thetically impressive cars and vehicles. have worked before, the future lies in screen yet less time consuming than may previously have taken days. That and engineering together, he explains. 2030 2050 It’s an area that software corporation digitalisation. Whether it’s having the making the four-day journey around doesn’t just speed up the process, “There’s a lot of convergence of differ- Autodesk excels in, giving the creative ability to make changes at pace - what the world for a face-to-face session. says Heermann, but frees up design- ent themes. You’re not just having one minds of the automotive sector the Autodesk dubs the ‘need for speed’ - Such flexibility has not only been vital ers to get creative. “It gives them a solution. The entire concept is a solu- Airline tools they need to design the vehi- or a desire to digitise workflows and during the Covid-19 pandemic but a lot more time to experiment with dif- tion that has to work together. It will expenditure on economic €4.1bn €3.6bn cles of the future. “We’re a group of allow people to work together from ferent ideas - to be more playful and leverage what the creatives do in the measures passionate people with decades of wherever they are, digitalisation allows develop different thoughts.” Another design studio, and combine it with the annually experience in automotive design,” different people, departments and thing it allows is what Heermann refers entire strength of the company or this says Thomas Heermann, vice-presi- companies to collaborate at a scale and to as ‘design intent’, helping creatives artist, because coming together here dent, automotive, concept design & speed never seen before. convey that intent to the engineers offers seamless integration.” XR. “We’re in the position to provide charged with producing their crea- best-in-class tools for the automotive Extended reality as a key tions. “The tools that we have actually

CO2 reduction design studio and our customers in for collaboration allow those creative minds to be able To find out more about how Autodesk in megatonnes that space to get the latest and greatest A key development in technology that Huge changes don’t just to keep that design intent for the engi- is powering change for products, per year 57 27 designs on the market. Design is a dif- enables that collaboration is the world neer. So the engineer doesn’t come industry and customers, visit (including ferentiator. It’s not just about a badge of Extended Reality (XR), including both happen. They’re the result back and say no, that’s not feasible. blogs.autodesk.com/design-studio/ effect on or logo. It’s about the topology, the Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented of intricate design work These tools are actually having those demand) curvature.” What people want from the Reality (AR), says Heermann. Not components of visibility already inside Destination 2050, 2021 design of their vehicle is also changing, only do they allow people to visualise and inspirational creativity and it helps the creative to really be Supports vehicle development from concept through to verifi cation and validation Customisable vehicle physics models covering vehicle dynamics, powertrain, HVAC and control Ideal and physics-based perception sensor models – radar, LiDAR, camera Scenario based testing with test automation and validation to explore system performance Digital twins of real world locations and fully synthetic test environments Support for open standards: OpenSCENARIO, OpenDRIVE, Modelica, FMI

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